As personal injury attorneys in Omaha, Nebraska, we closely monitor legislation that could affect the rights of injured Nebraskans. Legislative Bill 1100 started as a modest, two-page bill to modernize language in Nebraska’s civil procedure statutes. But through a series of late-session amendments, it has grown into one of the most consequential pieces of tort reform legislation Nebraska has seen in years. If you’ve been injured in an accident, harmed by a negligent business, or suffered abuse at the hands of someone in a position of power, this bill affects you. At Johnson, Tabor, & Johnson Law, LLC, we believe every Nebraskan deserves to understand what’s at stake. Here’s a breakdown of LB 1100 and why it matters.
What Is LB 1100?
LB 1100 was introduced by Senator Sorrentino of District 39 on January 16, 2026. In its original form, it simply abolished the old distinction between “actions at law” and “suits in equity” — purely a housekeeping update with no real-world impact on injury cases. Then came six separate amendment packages — AM2481, AM2483, AM2484, AM2485, AM2688, and AM2689 — striking the original language and replacing it with dozens of new provisions. Taken together, these amendments touch nearly every corner of Nebraska civil litigation: auto insurance, government liability, sexual abuse claims, medical damages, trucking accidents, asbestos cases, litigation funding, and seatbelt evidence. The bill that emerged is almost unrecognizable from what was introduced in January.
Key Provisions and What They Mean for You
LB 1100, as amended, is not a neutral procedural update. It is a systematic rewriting of Nebraska civil law that, in nearly every instance, benefits insurance companies, corporations, and institutions — at the direct expense of injured people. Here are the major provisions:
- Medical Damages Cap Tied to Medicare Rates (AM2688, Sections 2–5): Limits what you can claim for medical bills to Medicare reimbursement rates — often a fraction of actual charges. If your hospital billed $80,000 for emergency surgery, the Medicare rate might be $18,000, and your case would be valued on the lower figure even if you owe the full amount. This shrinks your entire case value, including pain and suffering awards.
- $5 Million Cap on Trucking Accident Damages (AM2688, Section 6): Caps noneconomic damages (pain, suffering, loss of life enjoyment) at $5 million against commercial trucking defendants, regardless of how catastrophic the injury. This removes the power of juries to set damages based on the facts and hands it to corporations and their insurers.
- No Stacking of UM/UIM Insurance Policies (AM2483): Prohibits combining uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage across policies held by family members in the same household. If you and your spouse each have $25,000 in UM coverage, you could previously combine them for $50,000 in protection. Under this bill, you would be limited to the highest single policy limit, eliminating coverage families thought they had and paid for.
- Seatbelt Evidence Now Admissible Against You (AM2689, Section 33): Allows juries to reduce your damages by up to 25% simply because you weren’t wearing a seatbelt — even when someone else’s negligence caused the crash. Under current law, that evidence is not admissible on the issue of damages at all.
- Asbestos Trust Transparency Requirements (AM2689, Sections 11–17): Requires asbestos victims to file and document all trust claims within 30 days and produce medical reports meeting exacting technical standards — creating procedural traps that can delay or derail legitimate claims. Many asbestos victims are elderly and seriously ill, and these hurdles make it less likely they will see any recovery.
- Near-Impossible Standard for Chemical Exposure Claims (AM2688, Sections 7–10): Requires victims of ethylene oxide exposure to prove gross negligence by clear and convincing evidence — the highest evidentiary burden in civil law, typically reserved for fraud. This provision exists to protect businesses that use ethylene oxide, not the communities that live near them.
- New 3-Year Personal Injury Deadline (AM2689, Section 27): Creates a hard three-year filing deadline for personal injury claims that could bar cases from injured people who didn’t immediately know the full extent of their harm.
What the Bill Does Right — and Why It Still Falls Short
In fairness, AM2485 does something meaningful: it creates the State and Political Subdivisions Sexual Abuse Liability Act, allowing victims of child sexual abuse and sexual abuse of individuals with developmental disabilities to bring claims against government entities. This is a genuine step forward reflecting years of advocacy by survivors and their families. However, the Act strips away procedural protections the normal tort claims framework provides, and collecting on a verdict is an entirely separate legal battle. The Legislature gave with one hand and complicated things significantly with the other.
Who Is Really Behind This Bill?
LB 1100’s amendments were introduced by the Judiciary Committee and by individual senators, but the fingerprints of the insurance industry, trucking industry, and corporate defendants are visible throughout. Medical damage caps, anti-stacking provisions, seatbelt evidence, asbestos claim barriers, and elevated standards of proof — these are items that have appeared on insurance and corporate lobbying wish lists for years. Nebraska’s legislature is being used as a vehicle to deliver them all at once, tucked inside an omnibus civil procedure bill. The people who benefit are the companies that pay out less when Nebraskans are injured.
Why an Attorney Is Crucial If You’re Injured
Whether or not LB 1100 passes, navigating the legal landscape after an injury in Nebraska requires experienced counsel. An attorney can:
- Protect Your Full Recovery: Ensure your medical damages reflect your actual costs, not artificially deflated figures, and fight any attempts to reduce your compensation.
- Maximize Your Insurance Coverage: Review all available policies and identify every source of recovery, including UM/UIM coverage and third-party claims.
- Meet Critical Deadlines: Ensure your claim is filed within all applicable statutes of limitations and procedural requirements.
- Hold Wrongdoers Accountable: Build the strongest possible case against negligent parties, whether they are individual drivers, trucking companies, or government entities.
Take Action and Protect Your Rights
LB 1100 is heading to the floor for a vote. The most powerful thing you can do right now is contact your Nebraska state senator directly and tell them you oppose LB 1100 and its amendments. And if you or a family member has been injured and you have questions about how this bill might affect your case, don’t navigate the legal process alone. At Johnson, Tabor, & Johnson Law, LLC, we represent injured Nebraskans on a contingency basis — you pay nothing unless we win. Contact us today for a free consultation to review your case and protect your right to full compensation. The law may be changing, but your right to fight for what you deserve has not changed yet.
