Constitutional carry since 2023 (LB 77). No AWB, no mag limit, strong preemption strengthened by LB 77. Castle doctrine but duty to retreat in public outside vehicle/home. Suppressors legal. No waiting period, no red-flag.

Medical cannabis approved by voters Nov 2024 (Initiatives 437/438). First-offense possession of <1oz decriminalized to civil infraction. No recreational. No psychedelic reform. Recent medical program implementation contested in courts.

State minimum wage $15.00/hr. MIT living wage for 1 adult: $14.94/hr. Ratio 1.00 — minimum-wage workers earn 100% of what's needed to live there alone.

USNews #5 overall, above-average NAEP scores, decent infrastructure, low uninsured rate. Moderate tax burden delivers strong services. Solid efficient delivery.

IJ grades NE B+ (LB 1106, 2016 - conviction required for state forfeitures, equitable-sharing opt-out). No QI reform. No-knock allowed. No body cam mandate. No comprehensive privacy law. Limited ICE cooperation.

No-excuse mail voting. Early voting 30 days. No same-day registration. Photo ID required after 2022 Initiative 432. Felons vote 2 years after sentence completion (LB 20 in 2024 reduced from prior). Nonpartisan unicameral legislature; bipartisan redistricting with moderate bias. ID law new restriction.

Medicaid expansion adopted 2020 (by ballot). 12-week abortion ban (combined with trans youth restrictions in single 2023 LB 574). Trans youth gender-affirming care heavily restricted. Rural healthcare strain.

No qualified immunity reform. No statewide BWC mandate. Personnel records confidential. NE Crime Commission decertifies. No no-knock ban. No necessity standard. Local DAs prosecute. Chokeholds banned (LB 51, 2020). Per-capita killings above median.

12-week abortion ban combined with gender-affirming care ban for minors under 19 (LB 574). Failed Initiative 439 to enshrine abortion rights (2024 - opposite Initiative 434 won, locking in 12-week limit). No statewide LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination. Active Christian-nationalist trend in legislature.

Right-to-work state (constitutional). No paid family leave. Paid sick leave (Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, voter-approved 2024). Federal OSHA only. Prevailing wage limited. Weak wage theft enforcement. Above-median fatal injury rate (meatpacking).