Removing Barriers for Nebraskans

Ensuring Property Tax Relief: Strengthening Nebraska’s School Funding and Tax Caps

Last week Governor Pillen provided state senators with the newly published 2024 School Property Tax Collection Report and asked them to consider legislation to address inconsistencies in state aid to schools. We applaud the Governor’s ongoing efforts to improve the competitiveness of the state’s education systems and believe addressing the perceived disparities in the state...

By Michael Lucci

Nebraska Advances to #24 on State Tax Competitiveness Index

Nebraska’s 2023 income tax reforms are beginning to bear fruit in the form of enhanced state tax competitiveness. So says the findings of Tax Foundation’s 2025 State Tax Competitiveness Index, a tool that assesses the competitiveness of each state’s tax code. Nebraska moved up from #30 in the 2024 edition to #24 in the 2025...

By Michael Lucci

Nebraska Tax Sources: The complete tax picture over 24 years

Over the last 24 years, Nebraska’s major revenue sources have grown at roughly 2.5-3 times the rate of inflation, with property tax collections outpacing sales and income tax collections at a slightly faster clip. This overall high rate of revenue and spending growth is what drives Nebraska’s high tax burden. Nebraska’s property tax remains the...

By Michael Lucci

In The News

Norfolk Daily News: Appreciating licensing reforms passed in 2024 Nebraska Examiner: Platte and Other Advocates Celebrate Licensing Reform SPN Blog: Nebraska Passes Universal Recognition Goldwater Institute: Workers Welcome Unicameral Update: Occupational Licensure Bill Approved Omaha World Herald: LB 16 Workforce Bill Passes Unicameral Update: Another Effort to End Inheritance Taxes Unicameral Update: LB43 Becomes Regulatory Omnibus Bill American Legislative Exchange Council: Nebraska Looks to Become Next Universal Recognition State Nebraska TV: Efforts to eliminate inheritance tax expected during 2023 Nebraska legislative session

Annual Report: Cost of Nebraska’s Medicaid Expansion

This is the first edition of our Annual Cost of Medicaid Expansion report, marking a critical step in providing Nebraskans with transparent, detailed data on the financial impacts of Medicaid expansion. As Medicaid costs have grown rapidly in recent years, this annual report will now offer a consistent and independent source of information, allowing Nebraska...

By Michael Lucci

Tax-happy Aurora Officials Buckle Against Truth in Taxation

Aurora officials have had their hearts set on a major tax hike in 2024, causing Aurora residents to scramble to defend their wallets. Luckily, Aurora’s most recent tax grab fell under the scrutiny of Nebraska’s Truth-in-Taxation law, which allowed taxpayers to push back against a massive tax hike. The Truth-in-Taxation neon postcards sent to Aurora...

By Michael Lucci

LR2CA Emerges as partial solution to property tax problem

LR2CA, a constitutional amendment proposed by Senator Tom Brandt, emerged as an interesting option with significant support during Friday’s special session. While this proposal would not immediately change property taxes, it would open a constitutional door for legislators to tax different property types differently. Article VIII of the Nebraska Constitution defines the types of taxes...

By Laura Ebke

Research note: the PSC’s role in ratemaking

Ratemaking is one of the oldest and most important responsibilities of many Public Service Commissions (PSCs) around the US. While the issue isn’t as important as other regulatory tools for the Nebraska Public Service Commission (NePSC) due to the state’s size and the commission’s limited jurisdiction, this research note will provide an overview of ratemaking...

Nebraska’s regulatory environment has room to improve

Last week, the Mercatus Center of George Mason University released its 2024 edition of “Snapshots of State Regulations.” As with most rating systems, this allows states to compare themselves to other states and examine particular strengths and weaknesses in their systems. These strengths and weaknesses explain good and bad rankings and provide focus areas for...

By Laura Ebke

Research Note: who are the commissioners and how are they chosen?

While there are many aspects of institutional design to consider with Public Service Commissions (PSCs), like jurisdiction, responsibilities, and agency structure, the commissioner selection process is the most important because it affects who leads the agencies. Should decision-makers be representatives of the people’s will, political appointees who understand the broader system, or knowledgeable technocrats? State...

Jim Vokal’s Weekly Email: I’m Frustrated Again…

I’m frustrated – again. It’s the time of year when we are all braving the heat and the release of countless budgets across the state. And the majority of the elected officials crafting and approving budgets are making the case not only for a Special Legislative Session to reduce property taxes, but reinforcing my number...

By Jim Vokal

Research Note: the PSC’s History and Jurisdiction

The Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC) traces its roots to the Nebraska Board of Railroad Commissioners (which two years later became the Board of Transportation), an agency created by the legislature in 1885 to investigate claims of unfair practices by railroads in the state. The Nebraska State Railway Commission was established by constitutional amendment in...

Research Note: Public service commission touches on all our lives

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of research notes compiled by Platte’s second summer intern this year, Alexander Endorf, exploring the history and jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission in Nebraska. What are Public Service Commissions? Public service commissions, also called public utilities commissions or corporation commissions, are quasi-judicial agencies that regulate...

Chevron deference overturned: a victory for separation of powers

The last couple of weeks of June is often a time of great interest for those who watch the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) because they mark the release of the final decisions for cases that were heard during the court term. The Court begins hearing cases for the term in October, and...

By Laura Ebke