The bill amends the Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska to update the regulations governing judicial nominating commissions. Key changes include the requirement that all members and alternate members must be residents of the judicial district they serve, and it introduces a limit on consecutive service, reducing the maximum term from eight to twelve years. Additionally, the bill specifies that if a lawyer member resigns, the vacancy will be filled by the alternate lawyer member of the same political party, or if none exists, by an alternate not affiliated with any political party. The bill also allows for electronic nominations and ensures the election process maintains ballot secrecy, while clarifying the responsibilities of the commission's chairperson and establishing procedures for handling vacancies.

Moreover, the bill enhances the nomination process by permitting the commission to seek additional candidates before and after public hearings, with a requirement to submit candidate names to the Governor within specified timeframes. It introduces stricter residency requirements, stating that a change in residency affecting a member's eligibility will be enforced. The previous provisions that classified independent voters as members of the same political party and automatically terminated a member's tenure upon removal from the state or change in party registration have been removed, reflecting a shift towards more stringent residency criteria for commission members.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 24-802, 24-803, 24-805, 24-806, 24-808, 24-809, 24-810, 24-810.01
Final Reading: 24-802, 24-803, 24-805, 24-806, 24-808, 24-809, 24-810, 24-810.01
Slip Law: 24-802, 24-803, 24-805, 24-806, 24-808, 24-809, 24-810, 24-810.01