Committee hears annual DMV/State Patrol update bill to align Nebraska rules with federal standards

Senator Beau Ballard, R‑Lincoln, introduced LB781 as an annual housekeeping bill to keep Nebraska statutes aligned with federal motor‑vehicle regulations and ensure continued eligibility for federal highway funds. “I introduced LB781 on behalf of the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles and the Nebraska State Patrol,” Ballard said in his opening remarks.

Rhonda Lam, director of the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles, urged the committee to advance the bill, saying it updates statutory references in the motor vehicle certificate of title act, the motor vehicle registration act and the motor vehicle operators act to mirror federal rules as of Jan. 1, 2026. She told senators the updates cover commercial driver licensing, the Unified Carrier Registration Act and the International Registration Plan, among other federal regimes.

Lieutenant Mike Maytem of the Nebraska State Patrol described enforcement activity that the agencies say supports the updates. He told the committee that in fiscal year 2025 the patrol conducted 27,432 roadside inspections, identified 14,135 driver violations, placed 1,370 drivers out of service and performed 6,456 vehicle inspections that averaged 2.03 violations per vehicle; 4,049 vehicles were placed out of service. “These directives create a significant deterrent effect and lead to fewer crashes on Nebraska's roadways,” Maytem said.

Committee members asked whether the changes are substantive this year and how civil penalties are set and collected. Agency witnesses said most language changes are updates to cross‑references and penalty figures and that the federal government sets the civil penalty framework; the State Patrol confirmed collected civil penalties are returned to the state general fund. Mayors and senators also asked operational questions about inspection priorities and exemptions for farm and agricultural vehicles; the State Patrol said covered farm vehicles are subject to certain FMCSA provisions but are generally exempt from routine roadside inspections.

Senator Ballard closed by thanking agency staff and said he looked forward to moving LB781 to general file. The committee recorded no vote during the hearing.