This bill amends the Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska to strengthen protections against housing discrimination based on lawful sources of income, which now includes forms such as social security, child support, public assistance, and housing assistance. It prohibits discrimination in housing transactions based on this new category, in addition to existing protected classes like race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, and familial status. The Nebraska Fair Housing Act will be administered by the Equal Opportunity Commission, with county attorneys also given the authority to enforce the act. The bill emphasizes that it is unlawful to refuse to sell or rent to individuals based on their lawful source of income and outlines exceptions to ensure that support for public assistance recipients is not hindered.

Furthermore, the bill grants the Equal Opportunity Commission the authority to collaborate with testing organizations for investigative purposes, while ensuring that compensation for these organizations is not linked to the outcomes of their investigations. It also includes a provision to repeal several original sections of the Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, indicating a significant update to the legal framework governing the commission's operations and its interactions with testing organizations. Overall, the bill aims to promote equal housing opportunities and eliminate discriminatory practices in Nebraska.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 20-139, 20-301, 20-303, 20-317, 20-318, 20-320, 20-321, 20-322, 20-325