Neb. Rev. Stat. § 20-301 et seq. § 20-342

Statute of limitations; civil action; rights and duties of parties; remedies allowed; attorney's fees and costs.

In Force
Verified 10/26/2026 · Next check 11/25/2026
effective 10/5/2026NebraskaFair Housing & Anti-Discrimination

Operative Text

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 20-301 et seq. § 20-342
(1)(a)(i) An aggrieved person may commence a civil action in an appropriate district court not later than two years after the occurrence or the termination of an alleged discriminatory housing practice or the breach of a conciliation agreement entered into under section 20-327 , whichever occurs last, to obtain appropriate relief with respect to such discriminatory housing practice or breach.
(ii) The computation of such two-year period shall not include any time during which an administrative proceeding under section 20-336 is pending with respect to a complaint or charge under the Nebraska Fair Housing Act based upon such discriminatory housing practice. This subdivision shall not apply to actions arising from a breach of a conciliation agreement.
(b) An aggrieved person may commence a civil action under this section whether or not a complaint has been filed under section 20-326 and without regard to the status of any such complaint, but if the commission or a local agency has obtained a conciliation agreement with the consent of an aggrieved person, no action may be filed under this section by such aggrieved person with respect to the alleged discriminatory housing practice which forms the basis for the complaint except for the purpose of enforcing the terms of the agreement.
(c) An aggrieved person may not commence a civil action under this section with respect to an alleged discriminatory housing practice which forms the basis of a charge issued by the commission if a hearing officer has commenced a hearing on the record under section 20-336 with respect to such charge.
(2) Upon application by a person alleging a discriminatory housing practice or a person against whom such a practice is alleged, the court may, if in the opinion of the court the person is financially unable to bear the costs of an action:
(a) Appoint an attorney for the person; or
(b) Authorize the commencement or continuation of a civil action under subsection (1) of this section without the payment of fees, costs, or security.
(3)(a) In a civil action under subsection (1) of this section, if the court finds that a discriminatory housing practice has occurred or is about to occur, the court may award to the plaintiff actual damages and, subject to subsection (4) of this section, may grant as relief, as the court deems appropriate, any permanent or temporary injunction, temporary restraining order, or other order, including an order enjoining the defendant from engaging in such practice or ordering such affirmative action as may be appropriate.
(b) In a civil action under subsection (1) of this section, the court may allow the prevailing party, other than the state, reasonable attorney's fees and costs. The state shall be liable for such fees and costs to the same extent as a private person.
(4) Relief granted under this section shall not affect any contract, sale, encumbrance, or lease consummated before the granting of such relief and involving a bona fide purchaser, encumbrancer, or tenant without actual notice of the filing of a complaint with the commission or a civil action under the act.
(5) Upon timely application, the Attorney General may intervene in the civil action if the Attorney General certifies that the case is of general public importance. Upon intervention the Attorney General may obtain such relief as would be available under section 20-343 .
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Nebraska Revised Statute § 20-342 establishes the rules governing private civil lawsuits brought under the Nebraska Fair Housing Act for alleged discriminatory housing practices. An aggrieved person generally has two years from the last occurrence of the alleged discrimination—or from the end of any related administrative proceeding—to file suit in district court. Courts handling these cases may award actual damages, issue injunctions, appoint attorneys for financially unable parties, and allow the prevailing party to recover reasonable attorney's fees and costs.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 14, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 20-342, property owners and managers who are named in a fair housing complaint should be aware that a civil lawsuit can be filed independently of, or alongside, any administrative complaint process. A compliant operator maintains thorough records of all housing decisions—applications, denials, lease terms, and communications—because those records may be relevant if a civil action is commenced within the two-year window. Operators who have entered into a conciliation agreement should understand that the agreement's terms remain enforceable in court, and that relief granted under this section generally does not unwind transactions completed in good faith before a complaint was filed.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 20-342 gives individuals who believe they have experienced discriminatory housing practices the right to bring a civil lawsuit in Nebraska district court, generally within two years of the last discriminatory act or the end of a related administrative proceeding. If cost is a barrier, the court has authority under this section to appoint an attorney or waive filing fees for those who cannot financially bear them. Tenants exploring their options may consider contacting a tenant-rights organization, a legal aid office, or the Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission to understand how the administrative and civil processes interact before deciding how to proceed.

General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.

Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

Effective Timeline

Current
Oct 5, 2026
Click on timeline segments to view historical versions.

References Out

Rules and statutes cited by this regulation

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 20-327
Not yet ingested
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 20-336
Not yet ingested
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 20-326
Not yet ingested
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 20-343
Not yet ingested

References In

Rules and statutes that cite this regulation

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 20-301
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 20-301

Related Rules

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§ 5.106 Equal access in accordance with the individual's gender identity in community planning and development programs.
§ 5.109
§ 5.109 Equal participation of faith-based organizations in HUD programs and activities.
§ 2
Policies; recommendations

Source Information

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