This bill amends section 29-2221 of the Revised Statutes Cumulative Supplement, 2024, to modify the provisions related to habitual criminal enhancements in Nebraska. The bill establishes that individuals who have been convicted of two or more felonies, with sentences of at least one year each, will be classified as habitual criminals upon conviction of a new felony. The mandatory minimum sentence for habitual criminals is set at ten years, with a maximum of sixty years. However, if the new felony is related to specific violent crimes or if prior convictions involve similar offenses, the mandatory minimum increases to twenty-five years.

Additionally, the bill removes a provision that allowed for a lower mandatory minimum sentence of three years for certain non-violent felonies, thereby tightening the sentencing guidelines for habitual criminals. The bill also clarifies that if a greater punishment is provided by another statute, that law will take precedence. The original section 29-2221 is repealed, consolidating the changes into the updated legal framework.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 29-2221