Indefinitely postponed
Prohibit certain fees by residential landlords and require notices and disclosures of consumer reports ↗
| Sponsor | Sen. John Cavanaugh (District 9) (Introduced 01/09/2025) |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Ranking | The Nebraska Legislature is officially nonpartisan, and no published ideology measurement of its members is in our database - so none is shown. This page shows how members voted, never where anyone places them. |
| KJV verdict | PASS · 6 grounds ↓ |
| Committees | Judiciary |
| Latest Action | 04/17/2026 Indefinitely postponed |
| Roll Call Votes | There have been no roll call votes |
| Source | view on nebraskalegislature.gov (new tab) → |
Brief (4)
If it passes, what changes
This bill limits what fees landlords may charge tenants and forces disclosure of costs upfront. It rewrites the citation section and inserts a new, detailed fee-and-screening statute.
- §1 restyles the Act's title section to include the new section.
- §2(1)-(2) bars landlord fees generally, allowing only rent, deposits, NSF fees, late fees, and application fees.
- §2(2)(d) caps late fees at 5% of the payment past due or $50, whichever is less.
- §2(2)(e) caps application fees at the actual cost of a consumer report.
- §2(5)-(7) requires landlords to give applicants a copy of any consumer report and written denial reasons within 20 days.
- §2(11) requires written disclosure of total rent cost, including all fees, before application.
- §2(12) makes violations enforceable as Consumer Protection Act violations, with civil penalties up to $300 per violation.
- §3 repeals the original section 76-1401.
Does it do what it claims
The title says it prohibits landlord fees, requires disclosures, and provides Consumer Protection Act enforcement with civil penalties — the operative sections match this closely.
- "Prohibit landlords from charging fees as prescribed" matches §2(1)-(3), which bans fees except a specific enumerated list.
- "Require disclosures" matches §2(5), §2(10), and §2(11), covering consumer reports, optional goods/services, and total rent cost.
- "Provide for enforcement under the Consumer Protection Act" matches §2(12), tying violations to section 59-1602.
- "Provide civil penalties" matches §2(12)'s up-to-$300-per-violation figure.
- "Harmonize provisions" is not itemized anywhere beyond the citation update in §1.
The case each way
The dispute is whether capping fees protects tenants or squeezes landlords' ability to manage risk and costs.
- For: §2(2)(d)'s late-fee cap and §2(11)'s upfront disclosure prevent surprise or excessive charges.
- For: §2(6)-(7)'s adverse-action notice requirements mirror federal FCRA-style transparency for applicants.
- Against: §2(1)'s near-total fee ban could bar cost-recovery fees landlords currently use for legitimate expenses.
- Against: §2(12)'s civil penalties and Consumer Protection Act exposure raise landlords' litigation risk per violation.
What the text cannot settle
This reading covers only the text provided; it does not extend to how the bill interacts with the rest of the existing Act's sections (76-1402 to 76-1449).
- The bill text does not define "reasonable fees" used in §2(10) for optional goods or services.
- No dollar or percentage impact on landlords' overall revenue or costs is stated anywhere in the text.
- §2(9)(b) references sections 29-3527, 43-2,108.05, and FCRA provisions not reproduced here, so their scope is unverifiable from this text.
- The text does not say whether §2 applies to existing tenancies or only new rental agreements going forward.
- §2(12) leaves "knowingly violates" undefined, so the state-of-mind threshold for penalties is unsettled.
Written by claude-sonnet-5 from the Introduced of this bill on 2026-09-13, and from nothing else. It is a reading, not a source: bullets naming a section this bill does not contain are dropped before the page is built, but the prose is not otherwise checked. The verdict above does not come from it.
KJV verdict (6)
PASS — Aligns with the KJV
The bill limits what a landlord may take from a renter to rent, a deposit, and fees tied to actual cost, and it requires every charge to be stated plainly in writing before a person applies. That is honest dealing and a just measure toward people who are often poor. Nothing it enacts does what the standard forbids.
6 grounds: 0 FAIL, 6 PASS. Any FAIL fails the bill.
PASS Sec. 2(2)(e)
“An application fee not to exceed the actual cost of obtaining a consumer report on the prospective tenant”
“A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.”Proverbs 11:1
“He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.”Proverbs 14:31
A fee held to the real cost is a just weight, and taking more than that from a renter oppresses the poor.
PASS Sec. 2(3)(a)
“Charge a prospective tenant a rental application fee when the landlord knows or should have known that no rental unit is available”
“Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!”Isaiah 10:1-2
“He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.”Proverbs 14:31
Forbidding a charge for a unit that does not exist stops the needy from being made prey.
PASS Sec. 2(3)(d)
“Charge a prospective tenant a rental application fee different than the rental application fee charged to another prospective tenant”
“Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.”Leviticus 19:15
“My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?”James 2:1-4
One fee for every applicant to the same unit is judgment without respect of persons.
PASS Sec. 2(11)
“A landlord must disclose the total cost of rent in writing to a tenant before the tenant submits an application”
“Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.”Ephesians 4:25
“Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.”Proverbs 12:22
Stating every fee in writing beforehand is dealing truly with one's neighbour.
PASS Sec. 2(6)
“the landlord shall provide a written notice to the prospective tenant that states the reasons for the denial or adverse action with specificity”
“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”Micah 6:8
“Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.”Proverbs 12:22
Giving the true reason for a refusal is doing justly rather than hiding it.
PASS Sec. 2(12)
“A landlord who knowingly violates this section may be subject to civil penalties of up to three hundred dollars per violation”
“For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.”Romans 13:3-4
A penalty on the one who knowingly does wrong is the ruler bearing the sword against evil, not against good.
Read against the KJV standard from the Introduced text on 2026-09-13. Every quotation of the bill is checked against the bill's text and every verse is quoted from the 1769 text, not from the model.
Text (1)
- Introduced (new tab) (application/pdf)
Each link opens the legislature's own document.
All Actions (7)
| Date | Actor | All Actions |
|---|---|---|
| 04/17/2026 | Indefinitely postponed | |
| 01/07/2026 | Title printed. Carryover bill | |
| 02/06/2025 | Notice of hearing for February 20, 2025 | |
| 01/14/2025 | Conrad name added | |
| 01/13/2025 | Referred to Judiciary Committee | |
| 01/10/2025 | Hunt name added | |
| 01/09/2025 | Date of introduction |
Votes (0)
There have been no roll call votes on this bill.
Sponsors (3)
- Sen. John Cavanaugh [District 9] — primary sponsor
- Sen. Danielle Conrad [District 46] — cosponsor (01/14/2025)
- Sen. Megan Hunt [District 8] — cosponsor (01/10/2025)
Committees (1)
| Committee | Activity | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Judiciary | Referred | 01/13/2025 |
Amendments (0)
There are no amendments to this bill.
Fiscal Notes & Statements (2)
The legislature's own companion documents; each link opens the official copy.
Related Bills (0)
No related bill information was received.
How this was worked out (1)
1. What was read
| version | Introduced |
| file | 01-introduced.pdf |
| sha256 | 2495a2c78de67978c3aeab23789f3304 |
| characters | 8,707 |
2. What it was read against
| the standard | bills/kjv_prompt.txt, sha256 79671b42553a40fe28a8ac9c8ce9e60a |
| model | claude-fable-5-1 |
| read on | 2026-09-13 |
| the model was shown | the standard -- the verses of the 1769 text, quoted in full -- and the bill's words, and nothing else |
3. The grounds (6)
| PASS | |
|---|---|
| PASS | Sec. 2(2)(e)
“A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.” Proverbs 11:1 “He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.” Proverbs 14:31 A fee held to the real cost is a just weight, and taking more than that from a renter oppresses the poor. |
| PASS | Sec. 2(3)(a)
“Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!” Isaiah 10:1-2 “He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.” Proverbs 14:31 Forbidding a charge for a unit that does not exist stops the needy from being made prey. |
| PASS | Sec. 2(3)(d)
“Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.” Leviticus 19:15 “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?” James 2:1-4 One fee for every applicant to the same unit is judgment without respect of persons. |
| PASS | Sec. 2(11)
“Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.” Ephesians 4:25 “Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.” Proverbs 12:22 Stating every fee in writing beforehand is dealing truly with one's neighbour. |
| PASS | Sec. 2(6)
“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Micah 6:8 “Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.” Proverbs 12:22 Giving the true reason for a refusal is doing justly rather than hiding it. |
| PASS | Sec. 2(12)
“For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” Romans 13:3-4 A penalty on the one who knowingly does wrong is the ruler bearing the sword against evil, not against good. |
4. How the verdict follows
| FAIL grounds | 0 |
| PASS grounds | 6 |
| the rule | any FAIL ground fails the bill -- even one, even beside good provisions (1 Corinthians 5:6), even for a good end (Romans 3:8); PASS grounds alone pass it; no grounds, no verdict. No counting, no weighing, nothing added up. |
| verdict | PASS — Aligns with the KJV |
5. What this cannot tell you
Every ground above quotes the bill and quotes the verse, so each can be checked. What the model did not raise cannot be checked the same way: a provision it passed over looks exactly like one that is not there. How often a ground is wrong, and how often one is missing, are not known.
Bill data comes from the Nebraska Legislature's own website, scraped and stored by our own pipeline; titles, sponsors, actions and vote tallies are shown as the Legislature published them. Nothing is generated. Nebraska's Legislature is unicameral and officially nonpartisan; its members carry no party label here because they carry none there. No published ideology measurement is in our database, so no bill or member on this site is placed on a left-right axis: every meter is a roll-call tally, labeled (Vote Record).