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Committee hears proposal to double Nebraska marriage-license fee to $50 to cover administrative costs
Summary
LB896, introduced by Sen. Dan Linowski and supported by NACO, would raise the county marriage-license fee from $25 to $50 and increase certified-copy fees from $9 to $16, citing a 2024 estimated cost of $50 per license and follow-up administrative work.
Sen. Dan Linowski introduced LB896, saying the bill reflects a NACO effort to have fees more closely mirror the cost of county services. Linowski told the committee the estimated actual cost to issue a marriage license in 2024 was $50, and the bill would raise the fee from $25 to $50 so that the users of the service bear the cost rather than cross-subsidizing through other county revenue.
Candace Meredith of the Nebraska Association of County Officials testified in support and provided comparative data and a handout with license issuance counts and surrounding-state fees. Meredith noted the proposal also increases the certified-copy fee from $9 to $16 to align with the state's current certified-copy charge.
Supporters said the change is not intended to raise excess revenue but to cover staff time, follow-up work on incomplete returns, administrative supplies and technology. The sponsor asked the committee to advance the bill; the clerk recorded online comments at the time of the hearing (7 proponents, 1 opponent, 0 neutral).
