GOV. PILLEN AND SEN. HANSEN PARTNER TO MAKE NEBRASKA MORE COMPETITIVE ON NIL

LINCOLN- On Wednesday, Gov. Jim Pillen and State Sen. Ben Hansen partnered to introduce new legislation aiming to make Nebraska more competitive in the name, image, and likeness (NIL) space. "I am committed to making sure Nebraska has the tools it needs to win," said Pillen in a press release, "We need to encourage young athletes to move here."

The bill, according to the press release from the Governor's Office, is meant to empower postsecondary institutions to utilize all tools available to them to attract the best talent. The bill will also give postsecondary institutions the authority and ability to work more closely with student-athletes to ensure that they are not being misled by NIL organizations.

"I applaud the Governor and University of Nebraska's Athletic Department on seeing the competitive advantage to update these statutes," said Sen. Hansen, "I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues to ensure we have all the tools to recruit talent to Nebraska."

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STATE TAX BRIEFING: THE COMING EPIC DISASTER

LINCOLN- As debate over the proposed EPIC Option Consumption Tax continues, some argue that such a drastic change would negatively impact much of Nebraska. The EPIC Option, if passed on the 2024 ballot and regulated by the Nebraska Legislature, would eliminate all property, income, inheritance, and corporate taxes in the state.

According to a fiscal impact analysis conducted last year by the OpenSky Policy Institute, enacting the EPIC Option in Nebraska could result in a $7.4 billion annual tax revenue loss and would require a tax rate of 22.1% for revenue to become neutral. Others have criticized the language of the EPIC Option proposal, including the imposition of a uniform tax, which would prohibit the use of multiple rates of tax for different goods and services.

Others point to the "one-size-fits-all" nature of the proposal, as it would charge all Nebraskans. whether low- or high-income, the same amount of tax. Throughout the history of taxation, governments often designed tax systems so that they wouldn't burden one group or another. Debate over the EPIC Option, both in the Legislature and the state overall, is expected to ramp up as the state nears the 2024 general election, where the fate of the proposal will be decided.

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BILL WOULD ARM SCHOOL PERSONNEL, ANOTHER WOULD BLOCK DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION TRAINING

LINCOLN- Under a new proposal introduced on Wednesday in the Nebraska Legislature, local school districts could choose to allow security personnel or other designated employees to carry firearms to enhance security. "I don't want children to die," said Sen. Tom Brewer, who introduced LB1339 alongside 28 cosignees.

Brewer said he believes this measure will provide local control to schools, and his proposal requires school districts to adopt a written policy on arming school personnel. However, any training requirements would be left to the school to decide. Among other measures introduced on Wednesday was Sen. Dave Murman's LB1330, which would ban state colleges and universities from requiring diversity, equity, and inclusion training for employees.

Another bill, LB1321 introduced by Speaker of the Legislature John Arch, would restore the powers of the legislatively created Inspectors General Office to probe cases of abuse and deaths within state prisons and the child welfare system. Under LB1321, the Legislature's Health and Human Services, Judiciary, and Executive Committees would also be granted subpoena power to gather any information that was denied to the Inspectors General.

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ELECTION BOXES INSTALLED AT 4 LINCOLN LIBRARIES; EARLY BALLOTS CAN BE REQUESTED

LINCOLN- On the first day voters could apply for an early vote ballot for May’s primary election, the Lancaster County election commissioner reminded voters Monday there are drop boxes at four Lincoln city libraries. The permanent drop boxes are at libraries in four quadrants of the city: Gere (southeast); Eisely (northwest); Walt (southwest); and Anderson (northeast).

In last year’s city elections, he said, nearly 18,000 early voters used the drop box at the election commissioner’s office and it created traffic and safety problems. Monday was also the first day for voters to request early vote ballots and it will be the first time voters have to comply with a new voter ID law approved by voters in 2022.

When a voter fills out their early voting application, they will need to do one of the following: Write their driver’s license or state ID number on the application or attach a photocopy of their acceptable form of ID to the application. Once the early voter returns their application with their ID information, the voter ID requirement is fulfilled. Nebraskans can get a free state ID for voting purposes from the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles.

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NEBRASKA'S PRISON SYSTEM SEEKING INTERNAL INSPECTOR AMID OVERSIGHT LOCKOUT

LINCOLN- Nebraska’s prison system is looking to hire an internal inspector who would carry out at least some of the same duties handled by an independent inspector employed by the state’s Legislature. The Department of Correctional Services is seeking a licensed attorney to become the prison system’s chief inspector to, “serve as a resource for constituents and direct internal investigations,” a department spokeswoman said.

The inspector would be responsible for physically inspecting prison facilities, developing and implementing policies for inmate grievance and disciplinary processes, responding to inmate grievances and disciplinary appeals and “overseeing coordination of general operations,” according to an online job posting that lists the starting salary at $36.22 per hour.

The department’s search for an inspector — noted in the news release in which prison officials also announced a reshuffling of wardens overseeing state prisons — comes months after the department largely shut out the Legislature’s watchdog meant to identify and examine systemic issues within the prison system. The announcement drew immediate criticism from lawmakers who disagreed with the oversight process.

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'STAND YOUR GROUND' BILL WOULD ALLOW NEBRASKANS TO USE DEADLY FORCE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES IN PUBLIC

LINCOLN- Nebraskans could use deadly force to defend themselves, whether they are at home, at work, in their vehicle or out in public under a bill introduced in the Nebraska Legislature. Sen. Hardin, who introduced LB1269, said it would add Nebraska to the list of states that allow people to defend themselves or others in all four locations. The bill also would protect anyone who used lethal force under the law from being charged with a crime or sued in civil court.

Current state law requires people to retreat, if they can do so safely, when facing a violent confrontation in their vehicle or in public. The law does not require people to retreat if they are in their home or workplace. Hardin believes people should have a right to use lethal force against an aggressor while out in public or in their vehicle.

"People everywhere have a legal right to stand their ground, in a nutshell," he said, while adding that the bill "certainly doesn't give somebody a license to kill." Some 25 states have passed some form of such laws since 2025, including most of Nebraska's neighbors. The law is commonly referred to as a "shoot first" law and is very controversial.

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NEBRAKA 911 OUTAGES SPARK BILLS AIMED AT SHORING THINGS UP

LINCOLN- Multiple outages of 911 systems in Nebraska from cut lines and power failures prompt new legislation demanding faster deployment of next-generation upgrades and clearer accountability when service providers fall short. Legislative Bills 1255 and 1256, offered by State Sens. John Fredrickson and Wendy DeBoer, both of Omaha, would accomplish both of those tasks.

LB1255 would accelerate the years-long transitioning of Nebraska to next-generation 911. LB1256 would require 911 outages to be reported to the Nebraska Public Service Commission and require a public hearing after major outages that explores the reasons behind troubles with a backbone of the state’s emergency response systems.

Fredrickson’s bill would clarify that the PSC has regulatory authority over 911, new and old. It would set a six-month goal and a one-year deadline to finish the transition to data-rich 911, requiring companies to notify the state of any delays. DeBoer’s bill would define a 911 outage as a “significant degradation in the ability of an end user to establish and maintain a channel of communications services as a result of failure or degradation in the performance” of a service network.

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PETE RICKETTS MAKES IT OFFICIAL, FILES FOR U.S. SENATE BID

OMAHA- Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts made it official Tuesday. He filed to run for the office Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen appointed him to last January. “With Nebraskans’ help, I will carry on the fight for our shared values and continue to be a voice in Washington for the common sense, conservative policies that have worked here in Nebraska,” Ricketts said Tuesday in a statement.

Political observers consider Ricketts a heavy favorite to win the GOP nomination and the general election. But he enters a different political environment in 2024 than in his past races. Many Nebraska Republicans, like some of their peers in other states, have swung toward the more populist brand of conservatism espoused by former President Donald Trump. Ricketts would be considered a fiscal conservative.

Ricketts faces criticism from some in his own party for being noncommittal about which GOP presidential candidate he supports in the 2024 primary. The party’s base backs Trump. This spring, Ricketts faces at least one Republican competitor, John Glen Weaver, who lost a primary run in 2022 to U.S. Rep. Mike Flood in the 1st District.

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NEBRASKA GOVERNOR GRATEFUL FOR SOUTH DAKOTA'S AID AFTER SEVERE WINTER STORM

LINCOLN- Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen expressed gratitude on Saturday for the collaborative efforts undertaken with South Dakota in response to the winter storm that swept through the state. According to the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, Nebraska received two truck-mounted blowers and two loader blowers along with a support crew from South Dakota.

"The partnership with South Dakota through the EMAC will allow us to attack those sections of highway that remain closed at this time," said Pillen, "We appreciate the assistance from South Dakota as well as the coordinated efforts of our state and local agencies. They have been working around the clock to ensure public safety, while mitigating the impact to our farmers, ranchers, and businesses, as much as possible."

Over the weekend, and according to Nebraska Department of Transportation Director Vicki Kramer, snow removal shifts extended to 16 hours or more. "NDOT has been all hands on deck 24/7 for a week now, bringing in equipment and people from other areas of the state," said Kramer. U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer expressed readiness to support federal assistance requests from Nebraska, emphasizing the importance of ensuring safety during the ongoing dangerous conditions.

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OWNER OF PRAIRIE SEED FARM AND A STATE SENATOR SAY REGULATIONS NEEDED FOR CO2 PIPELINES

LINCOLN- Praire seed farm owner Kay Kottas got a shock when a land agent called seeking permission to survey her farm for a planned carbon-dioxide pipeline by another kind of tallgrass, Houston-based Tallgrass Energy. She got a further shock when she discovered there were no state regulations or local ordinances governing such a pipeline. This is different from neighboring states Iowa and South Dakota.

In Nebraska, Kottas said, “they could probably build it under my driveway if they wanted” because of the lack of regulations. In the Nebraska Legislature last week, State Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard introduced a bill to ban carbon-dioxide pipelines and sequestration of carbon in the state. Counties can make ordinances, but there is currently nothing stopping these pipelines on the state level.

The Nebraska Public Service Commission, which dealt with the controversial route of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, has no similar power over pipelines that carry CO2. And a state legislative proposal in 2022 to govern reclamation of carbon pipelines, once they are shut down, went nowhere. “It’s time to have a discussion (here),” Erdman said.

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MEETINGS SET TO GATHER PUBLIC INPUT ON NEBRASKA'S GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION PLAN

LINCOLN- A series of meetings have been scheduled to gather public input and provide a progress report on the state's plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Last year, Nebraska was awarded a $3 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the Inflation Reduction Act to develop and implement a "priority climate action plan" as well as a "comprehensive climate action plan" to reduce emissions.

At the public meetings, a short presentation about the newly-created program will be presented to the public, as well as emission reduction measures brought up in stakeholder sessions held late last year. The public can weigh in on these proposed measures, ask questions, and provide comments on the proposed priority rankings of the measures created by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy.

The sessions are scheduled as follows:

• Alliance: Knight Museum, 908 Yellowstone Ave., Jan. 30, from 5:30-7 p.m.

• North Platte: Mid-Plains Community College, North Campus, Rooms 105 and 107, 1101 Halligan Drive, Jan. 31, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

• Norfolk: Northeast Community College, Lifelong Learning Center, Rooms E and H, 801 E. Benjamin Ave., Feb. 6, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

• Lincoln: Location to be announced on NDEE’s website, Feb 8, from 6 to 8 p.m.

• Grand Island: Public Library, Meeting Room B, 1124 W. Second St., Feb. 12, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

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FATE OF BIG LAKE PROPOSAL IN GRETNA/ASHLAND AREA TO BE KNOWN BY SUMMER, OFFICIALS SAY

LINCOLN- A panel of state lawmakers heard from Tom Riley, director of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, about the fate of a proposed $1 billion, 4,000-acre recreation lake between Omaha and Lincoln. According to Riley, the state will know by the summer whether or not the project is feasible.

That's when two studies concerning the lake should be completed. Riley spoke to members of the Legislature's special Statewide Tourism and Recreational Water Access and Resource Sustainability Committee on January 9th, focusing specifically on the progress of LB1023, which authorized $200 million worth of projects to enhance recreation, economic development, and flood control along the lower Platte River.

One report, according to Riley, will determine whether there's even enough fiscal interest in the lake from the state's philanthropic community, with proposals for the lake aiming to be 90% funded by this source. Riley told lawmakers that the project would likely be dropped if another study shows that it would harm or hinder drinking water supplies as well.

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OPS MAKES PAY CHANGES FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION, PARAPROFESSIONAL STAFF

OMAHA- The Omaha Public Schools district is making several policy changes in an effort to increase staff during a critical workforce shortage. The first change is an extra bump in pay for special education teachers because of the required work outside a standard school day. The second is a new agreement that allows paraprofessionals to step in as a substitute teacher if one isn’t available, in exchange for an hourly pay raise.

Special education teachers will get a 10% pay boost to help compensate them for paperwork and meetings outside the school day. That is an increase from the current 7% boost. Kathy Poehling, president of the Omaha Education Association, said the district brought the proposal to the union and it was agreed that special education teachers would receive back pay for the extra 3% raise, going back to Aug. 1, 2023.

Paraprofessionals with a local substitute permit will now receive a $9.65 per hour increase when they are asked to substitute for a half or whole day when a substitute isn’t available. Starting paraprofessionals receive from $14.86 to $16.26 per hour, depending on the position. During the 2025-26 school year, the extra pay for substitute work will rise to $10.40 an hour.

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'GO GET STUFF DONE'- INTERIM NU PRESIDENT KEEPING BOLD AGENDA MOVING FORWARD

LINCOLN- Chris Kabourek's time as the top administrator of the University of Nebraska system will be temporary. The David City native and longtime NU employee who was tapped in November to lead the university system with 50,000 students said he doesn't see the job of interim president as simply keeping the seat warm. Kabourek is choosing to set a bold agenda and to get stuff done during his time.

The five-point plan was announced last summer as a way to "go on offense" amid a $58 million budget shortfall, and Kabourek reiterated that it's a way for NU to position itself favorably in a competitive higher education environment. Kabourek said NU has made progress on its plan to raise its stature in order to be invited to rejoin the Association of American Universities, where membership signals a level of prestige and provides additional opportunities for federal research dollars.

The interim president said he also will continue an effort to reexamine which programs and initiatives NU is invested to see if it makes sense to reevaluate where state appropriations and tuition dollars are flowing to better meet the broader goals of the public university system. Kabourek also noted that he will have a strong focus on growth on the athletic side of the university.

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NEW INTERIM DIRECTOR OF NEBRASKA AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMISSION SEES PACE PICKING UP AFTER TURNOVERS

LINCOLN- A state agency charged with advocating for Nebraska’s African Americans has cycled through two executive directors in the three years since it launched. Each stayed less than a year before resigning. A trio of spots on the governing board also are vacant as the Nebraska Commission on African American Affairs continues to find its bearings.

A founding commissioner who is now filling in as interim director expects the commission to step up activity this year and amplify the voice of Nebraska’s roughly 92,000 African Americans in towns small, big, rural and urban. John Carter said he’d like the 14-member commission to go as far as to assume oversight of certain state economic development funds to help ensure that dollars intended for Black populations reach and impact them.

State Sen. Terrell McKinney, one of two African Americans in the Legislature, said the turnover of executive directors at the commission has not been “a good sign.” He said he is hopeful the commission will elevate its profile and connection to his North Omaha district, and believes the commission could become an effective ally.

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NEBRASKA TRADITIONALISTS PRESERVE SECRET BALLOTING FOR LEGISLATIVE LEADERS

LINCOLN- On Thursday, following a contentious debate, a rules proposal aimed at making committee leadership votes public in the Nebraska Legislature failed to secure the thirty votes it needed to be adopted, preserving an institutional mainstay. Five Republicans joined eleven Democrats in denying the change to the rules, many of whom argued that it's important to keep outside influence away from committee leadership votes.

Sen. Jana Hughes, a Republican, took to the microphone during the debate to read a statement from then-Sen. Mike Flood during his own 2021 fight against an identical rules change. Flood, back then, argued that ending secret balloting for the election of committee leadership risked making the Nebraska Legislature more partisan.

Most of the Republicans in the body backed the proposal, which was introduced by Sen. Erdman, including Sen. Lou Ann Linehan. Linehan said during the debate that this change was about enforcing party discipline by Republicans on Republicans, and was not about keeping Democrats out of these influential positions. Others, including Erdman, argued that the change would simply bring more transparency to the Nebraska Legislature.

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QUESTIONS RAISED OVER GUN PURCHASE FOR STATE GAMING COMMISSION, WHETHER RACETRACK STUDY FELL SHORT

LINCOLN- Over the past few weeks, questions have been raised about the recent purchase of semi-automatic rifles by the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission and whether or not a recent 111-page market analysis issued last month sufficiently answered whether the state could handle more racetracks and casinos.

The Commission is scheduled to meet this Friday, where they will discuss the gun purchase and whether or not a new market analysis is necessary. The study issued last month concluded that Nebraska did not need any additional racetracks, a finding that dealt a blow to a handful of communities across the state seeking to apply for a permit to open a so-called "racino."

Two members of the commission, Tony Fulton and Shane Greckel, as well as state Sen. John Lowe, said they believe the report was incomplete. Lowe, who heads the legislative committee that most closely deals with gambling, said the report barely even mentions the impact that the horse racing industry has in the state. "I think the whole study needs to be redone," he said.

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STORER ANNOUNCES BID FOR DISTRICT 43 LEGISLATIVE SEAT

LINCOLN- Republican Tanya Storer announced her candidacy for the Nebraska Legislature's Fourty-Third District seat, which is currently held by State Sen. Tom Brewer. District 43 encompasses Blaine, Boyd, Brown, Cherry, Custer, Dawes, Garfield, Keya Paha, Loup, Rock, and Sheridan Counties.

Storer enters the race with strong support from Nebraska's conservative leaders, including U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts, U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, and State Sen. Mike Jacobson. "I'm running for the Legislature because I believe District 43 needs a principled, conservative voice in Lincoln," said Storer, "I am committed to reducing the tax burden on our farmers, ranchers, businesses, and families and continuing to develop economic opportunities that can bring our kids and our grandkids back to our communities."

In addition to receiving support from some of Nebraska's leading conservative figures, Shorer has also received local support. "I'm excited that Tanya is running, and I know she will be the strong, conservative voice that we need in the Legislature," said Steve Cleveland, former President of First National Bank of Chadron.

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UNL FINALIZES $12M IN BUDGET CUTS, INCLUDING REDUCING FUNDS FOR DIVERSITY PROGRAMS

LINCOLN- On Thursday, UNL Chancellor Rodney Bennett announced that the university had finalized a slew of budget cuts equating to $12 million to help close the $23 million structural deficit created by dwindling enrollment and increased costs. The university had previously enacted nearly $11 million in budget cuts in June. 

The newly-authorized budget cuts trim areas related to instruction and operations, and also reduces the budget of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. "This is an essential step to remain good stewards of the resources entrusted to us by the people of Nebraska," Bennett said in an email to UNL faculty and staff. 

However, the Academic Planning Committee, which reviews budget-related proposals put forward by UNL officials, argued against two of the recommended cuts. Firstly, the APC advised against cutting nearly $800,000 from the university's budget for diversity and inclusion programs, citing comments received from nearly 100 people. The APC also took issue with a proposal that would have cut $2 million from programs relating to instructional efficiency, which help graduate teaching assistants.

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DEBATE OVER LEGISLATIVE RULES MOVES SLOWLY ON MOSTLY NONCONTROVERSIAL CHANGES

LINCOLN- Debate moved slowly on Thursday as state lawmakers opened discussion on a large number of rules changes designed to help the Legislature avoid the vitriol of the 2023 session. Over the course of a six-hour debate that often strayed into the minutiae of the Nebraska Legislature's rule book, two less controversial changes, which many lawmakers argued would help avoid the stifling of meaningful debate, were adopted.

The snail's pace speed of debate worked to the benefit of those who oppose any major rules changes, but Speaker of the Legislature John Arch set a January 19th deadline to complete the deliberations. "We don't have the time," said Arch, noting that dozens of pieces of legislation still need to be considered before the end of the short, 60-day session. Seventeen proposed rules changes were advanced by the Legislature's Rules Committee, but debate on these is not expected to be picked back up until next Tuesday, leaving only four days of debate for the remaining fifteen proposals. 

Some lawmakers argued that the rules debate should be skipped entirely, including Sen. Megan Hunt, who said the body should instead focus on addressing the state's workforce shortage, teacher and housing shortages, and property tax relief--"things people really care about." Despite these concerns, Speaker Arch argued that the rules changes are necessary to preserve the majority while protecting the minority, and to avoid a repeat of the tumultuous 2023 session.

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