Removing Barriers for Nebraskans

Nebraska is in a relatively good revenue position compared with other states

Nebraska is in a relatively good revenue position compared with other states

Today is the new tax filing deadline in Nebraska. Today is also when the Department of Revenue released the state’s tax revenue figures for the month of June and for the last fiscal year (FY2019-2020). It is important to note that Nebraska’s phase 3 of directed health measures went into effect on June 22. So,...

By Sarah Curry

62% say voters should decide property tax issue

62% say voters should decide property tax issue

Voters and taxpayers from Western Nebraska shared their perspectives in the Platte Institute’s first Virtual Property Tax Town Hall. Similar programs are scheduled for other regions of the state through July and August. Throughout the town hall, participants were invited to vote in live online polls for five property tax-related questions. Of course, these are...

By Adam Weinberg

In The News

North Platte Telegraph: Public could decide property tax reform Omaha World-Herald: To promote economic recovery, don’t decouple from feds’ tax policy Nebraska News Service: A year later, Nebraska cottage food industry growing despite COVID-19 disruptions Lincoln Journal Star: Pandemic effect on Nebraska economy at $1.5 billion and counting, report shows The Hill: Don’t punish our states for the big spenders Grand Island Independent: Just one more thing to worry about: COVID-19 adding more misery to an already economically-strapped farm, ranch economy

Linehan discusses property tax reform on Platte Institute webinar

Linehan discusses property tax reform on Platte Institute webinar

Nebraska Legislature Revenue Committee Chair Sen. Lou Ann Linehan joined Platte Institute CEO Jim Vokal on unresolved tax policy issues facing the Unicameral in its scheduled return later this month. On a webinar last week, Speaker Jim Scheer emphasized that property tax reform would be a key focus area before the legislative calendar came to an...

By Jaliya Nagahawatte

Nebraska PPP loan data show CARES Act tax policies are essential

Nebraska PPP loan data show CARES Act tax policies are essential

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is one of the largest parts of the federal government’s CARES Act relief legislation. The PPP provides loans intended to help small businesses—those with 500 or fewer employees—maintain their payroll, hire back any employees who were laid off, and cover applicable overhead expenses such as rent and utilities. Detailed data...

By Sarah Curry, Jaliya Nagahawatte

Missouri governor signs “best” universal recognition bill

Missouri governor signs “best” universal recognition bill

On Monday, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson joined the list of governors who have signed major occupational licensing reform in the last year. Missouri’s bill, like Iowa’s bill a few weeks ago, creates substantial universal recognition and opportunities under what has sometimes been termed a “fresh start act”–giving those who have spent time incarcerated the potential...

By Laura Ebke

Nebraska economy shrinks, but spared worst by growth in agriculture

Nebraska economy shrinks, but spared worst by growth in agriculture

New estimates show that growth in the ag sector gave Nebraska the country’s smallest economic contraction in the first quarter of 2020. Nebraska’s economy shrank 1.3% according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. That’s compared to the U.S. average of a 5% contraction. Nebraska’s Plain States region averaged a loss of 3.6%. While the data...

By Adam Weinberg

Emergency grace period on vehicle registration and driver licenses ends August 31

Emergency grace period on vehicle registration and driver licenses ends August 31

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts has rescinded an emergency executive order that effectively allowed some drivers and vehicle owners to continue operating their vehicles with expired licenses or unpaid registrations during the state of emergency declared for the COVID-19 pandemic. Executive Order 20-05 provided a grace period for permits, licenses, and registrations that expired on or...

By Adam Weinberg

Scheer: Legislature hasn’t reached consensus on major tax issues

Scheer: Legislature hasn’t reached consensus on major tax issues

Nebraska Legislature Speaker Jim Scheer and Executive Board Chair Sen. Mike Hilgers were guests on today’s Platte Institute Webinar. The focus of the webinar was the upcoming return of the Legislature on July 20, and what can be expected in the remaining 17 days of the legislative calendar. The Legislature’s session was suspended in March...

By Jaliya Nagahawatte

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