This bill proposes comprehensive reforms to Nebraska's laws concerning solicitation of prostitution, rebranding it as "commercial sexual exploitation" and modifying the associated penalties and definitions. Key changes include the establishment of a grant program to support law enforcement, the requirement for individuals convicted of solicitation and certain trafficking offenses to register under the Sex Offender Registration Act, and provisions for the expungement of first-time offenses. The bill also mandates educational outreach by the Department of Health and Human Services on topics related to healthy families, pornography, and prostitution, while introducing specific penalties for first-time offenders based on the age of the person solicited.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws related to trafficking offenses, clarifying definitions and establishing an affirmative defense for victims of trafficking. It modifies penalties for trafficking, categorizing labor trafficking of a minor and sex trafficking of a minor as Class IB felonies, while other trafficking offenses are classified as Class II felonies. The legislation also introduces a mechanism for victims of sex trafficking to vacate their prostitution-related convictions and expands the criteria for sealing criminal records. Furthermore, it enhances the registration requirements under the Sex Offender Registration Act and promotes educational campaigns on family health and the societal impacts of pornography and prostitution, with the act set to become operative on January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 28-101, 28-801.01, 28-830, 28-831, 28-1354, 29-110, 29-3005, 29-3523, 29-4001, 29-4001.01, 29-4003, 29-4007, 29-4802, 76-1410, 84-941.01