Bill > LB646

This bill amends the Livestock Brand Act to make several changes to brand inspection requirements and fees in Nebraska. The bill defines the "brand committee" as the Nebraska Brand Committee and modifies inspection procedures, including establishing fees for physical and electronic brand inspections. It creates provisions for late notice surcharges, travel expense surcharges, and sets inspection fees at up to $1.50 per head of cattle. The bill expands exemptions from brand inspection requirements, including for cattle transferred within families, sold for educational purposes, sold at private treaty for calves under 30 days old, seedstock cattle, and cattle shipped to or from qualified dairies. It also maintains the registration process for feedlots, keeping the annual registration fee structure based on the maximum livestock capacity of the feedlot. The bill provides more flexibility for electronic inspections and allows for random audits instead of mandatory in-person inspections for enrolled cattle. Violations of brand inspection requirements can result in citations with fines up to $200 per head, and the brand committee retains the authority to inspect and audit registered feedlots to ensure compliance with brand laws.