Nebraska
Weird Laws in Nebraska: Which Are Still on the Books?
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited October 21, 2026). · 4 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
Nebraska's entries on weird-law lists mostly fall apart on contact with the statute book. We checked four of them against the full text of the Nebraska Revised Statutes as of October 21, 2026, and only one traces back to a real law, which says close to the opposite of the claim. For other states, see our weird laws by state guide.
Weird laws in Nebraska: the verdicts
Each claim below was checked against the Nebraska code and, where it names a town, the local code. 4 claims checked.
The claim: Sneezing or burping during a church service is illegal.
What the law says: No Nebraska statute prohibits sneezing or burping in church; the closest is intentional disturbing the peace (28-1322).
No state law found in the Nebraska code as of October 21, 2026.
How we searched
We searched the full text of the Nebraska Revised Statutes for sneezing or burping and read the criminal code for any offense of disturbing a church or religious service.
Parts of the code read
- Nebraska Revised Statutes Chapter 28 (Crimes and Punishments), full text
- Nebraska Revised Statutes sections 28-1301 to 28-1358 (public order and public health offenses, including disturbing the peace and funeral picketing)
No town code was checked for this claim.
Primary source · Checked October 21, 2026.
The claim: It is illegal to fish for whales (Nebraska is landlocked).
What the law says: No Nebraska statute mentions whales or whale fishing.
No state law found in the Nebraska code as of October 21, 2026.
How we searched
We searched the full text of the Nebraska Revised Statutes for any mention of whales, including the game and fishing chapter, the criminal code and the state agencies chapter.
Parts of the code read
- Nebraska Revised Statutes Chapter 37 (Game and Parks), full text
- Nebraska Revised Statutes Chapter 28 (Crimes and Punishments), full text
- Nebraska Revised Statutes Chapter 81 (State Administrative Departments), full text
No town code was checked for this claim.
Primary source · Checked October 21, 2026.
The claim: Beer cannot be sold unless a kettle of soup is brewing.
What the law says: No current Nebraska liquor provision ties beer sales to a kettle of soup. A repealed pre-Prohibition rule is not excluded.
No state law found in the Nebraska code as of October 21, 2026.
How we searched
We searched the full text of the current Nebraska Revised Statutes for any rule tying beer sales to soup or a kettle, and read the liquor chapter in full.
Parts of the code read
- Nebraska Revised Statutes Chapter 53 (Liquors), full text
- Nebraska Revised Statutes Chapter 28 (Crimes and Punishments), full text
No town code was checked for this claim.
Primary source · Checked October 21, 2026.
The claim: A parent cannot give a daughter a permanent wave without a state license.
What the law says: Nebraska licenses cosmetology only when performed for compensation, and the Cosmetology Practice Act expressly does not apply to domestic administration, meaning services on a person's immediate family. A parent giving a daughter a perm is not covered.
“The Cosmetology, Electrology, Esthetics, Nail Technology, and Body Art Practice Act does not apply to or restrict the activities of the following: ... (4) Any person when engaged in domestic or charitable administration;”
No court opinion in our database cites this section.
Primary source · Checked October 21, 2026.
Checked October 21, 2026. This is legal history and information, not legal advice. Laws change; the linked official text is the authority.
A perm for your daughter
The claim says a parent needs a state license to give a daughter a permanent wave. Nebraska does license cosmetology, but only when it is performed for compensation, and the licensing act carves out family members on top of that. Neb. Rev. Stat. 38-1075 says:
The Cosmetology, Electrology, Esthetics, Nail Technology, and Body Art Practice Act does not apply to or restrict the activities of the following: ... (4) Any person when engaged in domestic or charitable administration;
The act's definitions, in sections 38-1016 and 38-1019, explain that domestic administration means services for a person's immediate family. A parent giving a daughter a perm falls outside the act.
Three claims with no state law found
Sneezing or burping in church
No Nebraska statute was found that prohibits sneezing or burping during a church service. We searched the full statutes for both words and read the criminal code, including sections 28-1301 to 28-1358 on public order offenses, for any offense of disturbing a religious service. The closest provision is the general offense of intentionally disturbing the peace, section 28-1322.
Whale fishing in a landlocked state
No Nebraska statute mentioning whales was found. The search covered the full statutes, with a full read of the Game and Parks chapter (Chapter 37), the criminal code and the state agencies chapter.
Soup with your beer
No current Nebraska liquor provision ties beer sales to a kettle of soup. We read the liquor chapter (Chapter 53) and the criminal code in full. One caveat: the search covered the statutes as they stand today, so an old rule from before Prohibition that was later repealed cannot be ruled out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to give your daughter a perm in Nebraska?
The Nebraska cosmetology act does not apply to a person engaged in domestic administration, meaning services for the person’s immediate family (Neb. Rev. Stat. 38-1075, with definitions in 38-1016 and 38-1019). Nebraska licenses cosmetology only when it is done for compensation.
Is it illegal to sneeze or burp in church in Nebraska?
No Nebraska statute was found that prohibits sneezing or burping in church, as of October 21, 2026. The closest offense is intentionally disturbing the peace under Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-1322.
Is whale fishing illegal in Nebraska?
No Nebraska statute mentions whales or whale fishing, as of October 21, 2026, based on a search of the full statutes including the Game and Parks chapter.
Do Nebraska bars have to brew soup to sell beer?
No current Nebraska liquor provision ties beer sales to a kettle of soup. The search covered current statutes only, so a repealed rule from before Prohibition cannot be ruled out.
What are some weird laws in Nebraska?
The claims about burping in church, whale fishing and soup with beer were not found in the Nebraska statutes as of October 21, 2026. The perm claim traces to a real cosmetology law, but that law exempts services for a person’s immediate family.
Updates
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources
Sources and References
- Neb. Rev. Stat. 38-1075, Cosmetology, Electrology, Esthetics, Nail Technology, and Body Art Practice Act exemptions (Nebraska Legislature)(nebraskalegislature.gov).gov
- Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-1322, disturbing the peace (Nebraska Legislature)(nebraskalegislature.gov).gov
- Neb. Rev. Stat. Chapter 37, Game and Parks (Nebraska Legislature)(nebraskalegislature.gov).gov
- Neb. Rev. Stat. Chapter 53, Liquors (Nebraska Legislature)(nebraskalegislature.gov).gov