This bill amends sections 32-1405 and 32-1412 of the Revised Statutes Cumulative Supplement, 2024, concerning initiative and referendum measures in Nebraska. Key changes include the requirement for the Secretary of State to post the text of a measure and a notice of its circulation on their website upon receiving a sample copy of the petition. Additionally, the bill clarifies the process for residents to challenge the Secretary of State's refusal to place a measure on the ballot, allowing for legal action within ten days of such refusal. It also specifies that if the refusal is based on legal insufficiency, the Secretary must announce the reason for the refusal at the same time as posting the notice of circulation.

Further amendments introduce a timeline for legal challenges to the sufficiency of initiative or referendum petitions, requiring such suits to be filed within sixty days of the notice of circulation. The bill establishes that the district court of Lancaster County has jurisdiction over related litigation, but cases not asserting signature insufficiency may be heard by the Supreme Court. It also allows for the substantive facial insufficiency of a measure to be raised as a defense in legal actions, ensuring that such claims cannot be dismissed for lack of ripeness. The original sections of the law being amended are repealed.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 32-1405, 32-1412