By Nebraska Bankers Association
LINCOLN, Neb. - Two key legislative bills aimed at protecting Nebraskans from fraud were signed by Governor Pillen last week. Their passage marks a major accomplishment for the Nebraska Bankers Association and members of the Fraud Free Nebraska Coalition, emphasizing their continued commitment to combating fraud and protecting consumers across the state.
Legislative Bill 838, introduced by Senator Mike Jacobson (North Platte) was signed by Gov. Pillen on April 14. LB 838 amends existing elder and vulnerable adult statutes to allow financial institutions to designate an "authorized contact" in the event of an emergency, a loss of contact with the customer, or suspected financial exploitation. LB 838 was designated as the Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee's banking priority bill and was amended to include LB 1118.
LB 1118, introduced by Senator Carolyn Bosn (Lincoln) on behalf of the NBA, combats the rising use of fraudulent social media advertisements to perpetrate fraud. LB 1118 amends the Nebraska Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act to require social media platforms that accept paid advertising to establish programs to verify the identity of their customers, and create a process for detecting, investigating and removing fraudulent advertising.
Senator Carolyn Bosn stated: “This bill is important because it imposes tighter safeguards and protections against online scams while still providing the flexibility to ensure Nebraska small businesses can continue to easily and securely place digital ads to help grow their businesses.”
Another piece of legislation advancing efforts to combat fraud is LB 785, introduced by Senator Bob Hallstrom (Syracuse) on behalf of the NBA. LB 785 amends existing statutes for possession of burglary tools to include the unauthorized possession or use of keys or locks for mail receptacles, including those used by the U.S. Postal Service and commercial carriers.
Such possession would be a Class IV felony. This legislation directly targets organized mail theft rings that have fueled identity theft and financial fraud across the state. The provisions of LB 785 were amended into LB 965 which was signed by Gov. Pillen on April 16.
“On behalf of the Nebraska Bankers Association’s 150 members, we thank our senators and Governor Pillen for their leadership and support in protecting our fellow Nebraskans. The passage of this legislation represents a significant step forward in the fight against fraud, and we are proud of the collective efforts of NBA members and the Fraud Free Nebraska Coalition members that helped make this achievement possible. Successes like this require a united front and serve as a powerful reminder of the value and impact of NBA membership. While we know the work is not finished, we are proud of this notable accomplishment and remain committed to continuing the fight against fraud,” said NBA Chair Mark Linville with First State Bank in Randolph.
Fraud Free Nebraska Coalition Members:
Honorable Governor Jim Pillen
Honorable Attorney General Mike Hilgers
AARP Nebraska
Better Business Bureau
Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson
Nebraska Bankers Association
Nebraska Credit Union League
Nebraska Department of Insurance
Nebraska Independent Community Bankers
Nebraska Insurance Federation