Nebraska Legislation Limits Secret Settlements

Lincoln, NE – The Nebraska Legislature has given final approval to a bill that would end secret settlements paid with taxpayer funds.

After the City of Papillion reached an undisclosed settlement with a female office assistant who filed a claim of sexual harassment against former Mayor James Blinn, The World-Herald initiated an investigation of the deal.

Legislative Bill 742 cites that cities, counties and other government entities must maintain a record of legal settlements over $50,000 or more than 1 percent of the public entity’s annual budget. These settlements must be disclosed on meeting agendas.

State Sen. Beau McCoy of Omaha, chief sponsor of the bill, told the Omaha World-Herald, “Nebraskans deserve to know where their taxpayer dollars are going.”