LINCOLN — Supporters of the EPIC Option ballot initiative have paused their effort to gather signatures to place the proposal on Nebraska’s 2026 ballot after concluding they will not collect enough support before the deadline. The initiative sought to amend the state constitution to eliminate property, income and inheritance taxes and replace them with a broad consumption tax. Organizers needed roughly 125,000 valid signatures statewide, plus a minimum number from at least 38 counties, to qualify for the ballot.

Campaign leaders say the pause is a “reset,” not the end of the proposal. After failing to qualify a similar measure in 2024 and struggling again in the current effort, supporters plan to regroup and try for the 2028 ballot, this time using paid petition circulators instead of relying mainly on volunteers. The group hopes to raise about $1.86 million to fund the signature drive, while critics continue to question whether the consumption tax rate needed to replace existing taxes would be much higher than supporters estimate.

For the full article, click HERE.