New Nebraska laws slated to go into effect on Thursday

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska will see a flurry of new state laws take effect this week, including safeguards to fight prescription painkiller abuse, looser gun regulations and a policy that will make it easier to massage horses for money.

The 117 laws will go into effect Thursday, three months after this year's legislative session adjourned and the end of the normal grace period for new state statutes.

Here's a look at some high-profile measures:

ANIMAL MASSAGE: Massaging a horse, dog or cat will no longer require a state-sanctioned license. The law was originally aimed at horse massage, a common practice to relieve tension in high-performance horses, but was expanded to include other animals. Nebraska previously required so-called "equine massage therapists" to be a veterinarian or a licensed human massage therapist with special training. The law is LB596.

LOOSENING GUN RESTRICTIONS: People who are released from mental health facilities will get the opportunity to ask a mental health board to reinstate their rights to buy a handgun or obtain a concealed-carry permit. The law requires boards to reinstate gun rights if petitioners show "clear and convincing evidence" that the restriction should be removed. The law is LB100.

Read more: https://siouxcityjournal.com/news/state-and-regional/nebraska/new-nebraska-laws-slated-to-go-into-effect-on-thursday/article_a0c68ca6-94e9-5bc9-8183-b717446e4676.html