Veto of accessible housing bill sustained as lawmakers leave session

The Nebraska Legislature ended its 2026 session Friday by sustaining Governor Jim Pillen's veto of a bill designed to increase affordable housing for people with disabilities, as lawmakers voted 19-28 to override the measure—well short of the 30 votes needed.

LB839, sponsored by Bellevue Senator Victor Rountree, would have required cities to report on the number of accessible multifamily housing units within city limits. The bill also would have prohibited the state Department of Economic Development from approving affordable housing projects funded through the Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund unless at least 5 percent of units were accessible for people with mobility impairments and at least 2 percent were accessible for those with hearing or vision impairments.

The bill passed the Unicameral 34-15 on April 10 before Pillen vetoed it April 16. Pillen argued the requirements would create "needless regulatory burdens" and force developers to opt out of affordable housing programs. "During a time when housing prices continue to rise, this new mandate will force builders to opt out of affordable housing programs or spend additional resources on accessible dwelling units," the governor wrote.

Rountree countered that the bill's requirements match federal housing standards already used by most Nebraska developers. "This fund is taxpayer dollars that have an obligation to fund the needs of Nebraskans, not the needs of developers and big businesses," he said during debate.

Pillen suggested working with the Department of Economic Development and disability rights advocates to develop a scoring system that would incentivize building accessible units rather than mandating them.

Notably, 30 lawmakers changed their votes between passage and the override attempt. Supporters noted an interim study found an "acute need" for affordable housing units accessible to people with disabilities, while opponents cited construction cost concerns.

The veto was among five bills Pillen vetoed on the final day, all from progressive lawmakers. The Legislature sustained all five vetoes, making it unusual for any veto to be overridden when lawmakers reconvene next year.