Nebraska legislation · 109th Legislature
Nebraska LB578: Change provisions relating to compensation and employment of jail and prison inmates and disbursements of such funds and require payment of the minimum wage for inmates and government employees
Status: Failed, April 17, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text:
One Hundred Ninth Legislature - First Session - 2025 Introducer's Statement of Intent LB578 Chairperson: Senator Carolyn Bosn Committee: Judiciary Date of Hearing: March 12, 2025 The following constitutes the reasons for this bill and the purposes which are sought to be accomplished thereby: LB 578 would mandate that incarcerated individuals employed by a city, county or any other person be paid at least minimum wage for their labor. Jail Standards Board and Department of Correction is given authority to promulgate regulations on wages and working conditions. Wages would go into an account for the inmate. After payments are made for restitution orders, the inmate would be responsible for the expenditure of the remaining amount in the account. Upon release of the inmate the remaining account is transferred to the inmate. LB 578 removes current statutory authority for a portion of the inmate's wages to go to the Victim's Compensation Fund and reimbursement to the state for damage or loss of property, or injuries and other damages caused by the inmate. LB 578 mandates jails and the Department of Corrections operate by OSHA standards even though they are otherwise exempt from those standards. Principal Introducer: ________________________________ Senator Machaela Cavanaugh
Sponsors
- Machaela Cavanaugh (NP, 6) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Indefinitely postponed
- : Spivey name added
- : Title printed. Carryover bill
- : Notice of hearing for March 12, 2025
- : Referred to Judiciary Committee
- : Date of introduction
Common questions
- What is LB578?
- LB578 is a bill in the Nebraska Legislature (109th Legislature): Change provisions relating to compensation and employment of jail and prison inmates and disbursements of such funds and require payment of the minimum wage for inmates and government employees.
- What is the status of LB578?
- Failed as of April 17, 2026. Latest action: Indefinitely postponed (April 17, 2026).
- Who sponsored LB578?
- Machaela Cavanaugh (NP, 6).
- Where is the official record for LB578?
- On the Nebraska Legislature website: https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59816
Source: official Nebraska record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.