Senators advance sprawling judiciary package after hours of debate over court fees

The Nebraska Legislature moved a divided judiciary committee package, LB 935, forward late Wednesday after extended floor debate that split the bill into eight separate divisions and produced several recorded roll calls. The package bundles a range of measures — from a private civil remedy for online child exploitation to changes in lien, paternity and protective‑order rules — but the most contested item was a new slate of court docket fees and a $10 per‑case case‑management fee intended to fund an upgraded statewide case management system.

Senator Boson, who carried the committee package, framed the measure as a set of technical and protective changes and urged the body to advance the amended package. "Colleagues, I ask for your green vote on AM 29‑35," she said on the floor, asking senators to support the committee’s negotiated compromises.

Opponents — led on the floor by Senator Conrad and others — argued the court fee components were regressive and would put new costs on ordinary litigants, tenants and small‑claims filers. "My primary concern is the regressivity of the court fee increase," Senator Conrad said, urging senators to step back and consider alternatives to shifting core governmental functions onto user fees.

Supporters, including Judiciary chair Senator Bazin and Senator Holcroft (the original introducer of the docket/automation proposal), said the current statewide justice system is antiquated and that a modest, predictable revenue stream is necessary to replace it. "Our case management system is antiquated," Senator Holcroft said, describing the operational difficulties clerks and judges face and the need for a stable funding mechanism for modernization.

The body adopted a number of floor fixes and carve‑outs intended to blunt the impact on very small claims — including a graduated waiver for low‑amount county‑court cases — and accepted amendments that reduced the overall fee increases from the originally proposed level. After votes on amendments and the full divided package, the body advanced LB 9‑35 to enrollment and review by a recorded vote (advancement recorded as 35 ayes, 4 nays).

What happens next: LB 9‑35 (as amended) will move through the enrollment and review process and is expected back for final action later in the session. Lawmakers and advocates said they intend further work on fee waivers and protections for indigent litigants during select‑file consideration.

Vote at a glance: Adoption of major committee divisions and fee‑related floor amendments passed on recorded votes; the committee package advanced to E & R initial by 35–4.