Nebraska Amends Language Support Requirements

The Details

Nebraska has enacted legislation (Legislative Bill 921), which strengthens the language support services an employer or their representative must provide. Legislative Bill 921 takes effect on July 18, 2026.

Legislative Bill 921

Under the law, an employer with an employee population of more than five percent (previously 10 percent) non-English-speaking employees who speak the same non-English language, must:

• Provide a language interpreter; and
• Employ an individual to serve as a referral agent to community services for the non-English-speaking employees.

Required Interpreter

An employer must make an interpreter available at the worksite (previously, the law required the employer to find a bilingual employee).

If a Spanish-speaking interpreter is needed, the employer must select an interpreter from a list of interpreters developed by the commissioner. If an interpreter is needed for a language other than Spanish, the employer must select an interpreter capable of explaining and responding to questions regarding the terms, conditions, and daily responsibilities of employment.

Required Referral Agent

An employer must also employ an individual to serve as a referral agent to community services for the non-English-speaking employees. The primary responsibility of the referral agent is to develop and maintain a list of community services provided within the community where the relevant worksite is located and assist non-English speaking employees in working with those services.

The name of the individual serving as the referral agent must be provided at each worksite. The information will be provided in the language of the non-English-speaking employees.

Next Steps

Update the required language support services by July 18, 2026.