The proceedings of the Legislature of this state, or any state of the Union, or of the United States, or of any foreign government, are proved by the journals of those bodies, respectively, or of either branch thereof, and either by copies officially certified by the clerk of the house in which the proceedings were had, or by a copy purporting to have been printed by their order.
§ 25-1290.Legislative proceedings; how proved.
Article 12: Evidence and Witnesses · Not amended since original codification · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceThis section lets the legislative proceedings of Nebraska, any other state, the United States, or a foreign government be proved through the official journals of those bodies, using either a copy certified by the clerk of the house involved or a copy purporting to have been printed by that body’s order.
Full Text of § 25-1290
Source
R.S.1867, Code § 418, p. 463; R.S.1913, § 7983; C.S.1922, § 8924; C.S.1929, § 20-1290; R.S.1943, § 25-1290.
Plain-English Summary
Legislative journals are the official record of what a lawmaking body did, what bills passed, what motions carried, what votes were taken. Section 25-1290 lets those journals stand as proof of legislative proceedings, whether the body in question is the Nebraska Legislature, the legislature of any other state, the Congress of the United States, or the lawmaking body of a foreign government.
Two forms of proof will do. A party can offer a copy officially certified by the clerk of the house where the proceedings took place, or a copy purporting to have been printed by that body’s own order. Either route lets a court accept the printed record of what a legislative body did without a live witness to the proceedings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What legislative bodies does this section cover?
The Nebraska Legislature, the legislature of any other state, the United States Congress, and the lawmaking body of a foreign government.
What document proves legislative proceedings under this section?
The journals of the relevant body, or of either branch of it.
What two kinds of copies satisfy this section?
A copy officially certified by the clerk of the house involved, or a copy purporting to have been printed by that body’s order.
Does someone from the legislature need to testify?
No, a certified or officially printed journal copy is enough.
Does this section cover only Nebraska’s own Legislature?
No, it also reaches other states, the United States, and foreign governments.
Source & verification. Section text and the amendment-history citation are
reproduced verbatim from the Nebraska Legislature, Revisor of Statutes, enacted by the
Nebraska Legislature. Last verified July 22, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: proving legislative proceedings nebraskalegislative journal as evidencecertified copy of legislative journalproving what the legislature didforeign legislature proceedings evidence