Lincoln, Neb. — As time winds down for the 2024 session, Attorney General Mike Hilgers is pleased with the passage of new bills that strengthen protections for vulnerable Nebraskans who have been exploited.
Hilgers says he’s especially grateful to Sen. Bosn and Sen. Armendariz for successfully carrying the bills. He says as a result, his office will be better able to protect Nebraskans from financial exploitation and stand up for survivors of sex trafficking, abuse and assault.
Senator Carolyn Bosn sponsored and prioritized LB934 which allows the Attorney General to impound or freeze stolen money or assets, increasing the likelihood that consumers are made whole. The bill also harmonizes Nebraska’s two main consumer protection statutes and allows for consumer claims to be heard by juries.
Senator Christy Armendariz sponsored LB1096 to combat the proliferation of child exploitation, human trafficking, and sexual assault content online, with the primary goal of standing up for survivors. The bill is a continuation of the ongoing partnership between the Legislature, the Attorney General, and the Nebraska Human Trafficking Task Force.
The two bills were combined and the resulting priority bill, LB934, passed 46-0 on April 10. Governor Jim Pillen signed LB 934 into law on April 15. The bill took effect immediately because it had an emergency clause attached.
Nebraskans can report financial exploitation and exploitative content directly to the Consumer Affairs Response Team in the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office at 402-471-2682.
