Regulatory Reform Archives - Page 5 of 40

Piecemeal job licensing changes advance in Nebraska’s 2021 session

The Platte Institute follows the action on most occupational licensing bills moving through the Legislature, as well as legislation introduced in other states. Since we’re just past half-way through the 90-day legislative session, a progress report seems in order. Sen. Rita Sanders’ LB389, introduced at the request of the governor, is moving through the Legislature...

By Laura Ebke

Telehealth measures kept Nebraskans connected to care

Someday, you might have a conversation with a loved one too young to remember 2020. Maybe you’ll recall your online visits with the people you missed. Victoria Kerber just turned five years old recently. For her, getting online during the pandemic meant learning how to one day share her own story. Victoria has a rare...

By Adam Weinberg

Nebraska Legislature to debate expanded telehealth access

A measure expanding access to telehealth services in Nebraska has been advanced from the Health and Human Services Committee and now awaits legislative debate. The Platte Institute was one of twelve organizations providing testimony in support of Sen. John Arch’s LB400. Today, the Sarpy County senator gave the bill his priority designation. Senators are able...

Nebraska licensing law short-circuits Navy veteran’s career plans

Bridgeport native Mike Beyer is someone who makes his community and country proud. From 2010 to 2018, he served as a Construction Electrician in the Navy, including assignments at Camp David and U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command. On his deployments to Iraq, Petty Officer Second Class Beyer supported SEAL Teams 3 and 7 as a...

By Adam Weinberg

City of Lincoln amends ordinance that shut down home bakers

This update on Lincoln’s cottage food ordinance is provided courtesy of the Institute for Justice, which represents Cindy Harper, a cottage food producer who lives in Lincoln. The city of Lincoln has amended the cottage food ordinance that last year prompted a lawsuit by the Institute for Justice (IJ) and home baker Cindy Harper, in...

Frequently asked questions about universal recognition of job licensing

Nebraska state senators in the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee have held their hearing on Sen. Tom Briese’s LB263. The bill provides for universal recognition, a pro-growth policy recognizing out-of-state occupational licenses based on the training or testing requirements a licensed applicant has already completed. It does not delicense any profession; rather, it eliminates...

By Laura Ebke

South Dakota passes universal recognition of job licensing

On Wednesday, Nebraska’s neighbors to the north passed HB1077, a bill to provide universal recognition for occupational licensing. That bill, introduced at the request of Gov. Kristi Noem, is just waiting for her signature. The bill was passed in both houses by near-unanimous votes and will represent the third of Nebraska’s neighbors (Iowa and Missouri...

By Laura Ebke

Eager to welcome workers, legislatures move quickly on universal licensing recognition

The number of states introducing (and advancing) legislation that would grant universal recognition to licensed workers from out of state seems to be growing almost daily. In addition to Nebraska’s LB263, which was heard in the Government Committee almost two weeks ago, there are at least seven states that are moving what I would call...

By Laura Ebke

Arizona lawsuit targets zoning restrictions on mobile homes

Nebraskans with safe and warm homes got a reminder this week of just how fortunate they are, as communities across the state and region experienced near-record low temperatures. A new video by the Institute for Justice tells the stories of Americans who are in danger of becoming homeless, all because the housing they can afford,...

By Adam Weinberg

Nebraska closed 2020 with lowest unemployment rate, but workforce challenges remain

In December, Nebraska’s state unemployment rate remained the country’s lowest at a preliminary rate of 3%, matching neighboring South Dakota for the top spot, according to figures released by the Nebraska Department of Labor and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Non-farm employment increased by 5,394 for the month, which the Labor Department called...

By Adam Weinberg

The Full Platter Podcast: 21 Great Bills for 2021

Senators have introduced hundreds of bills in the new legislative session. We discuss 21 of them that we’re supporting to remove barriers for Nebraskans in 2021. Resources mentioned in this episode: The Platte Institute’s Take Action Page Find Your Senator Wyoming Legislature considers universal recognition of occupational licenses Bills discussed in this episode (listed by...

Wyoming legislature considers universal recognition of occupational licenses

Occupational licensing reform has been one of the hot topics in state legislatures throughout the country for the last five years or so. What started out as an effort to chip away on excessive or no-longer-needed occupational regulation has turned into a state-by-state, nationwide effort to reform the way that we think about licensing jobs....

By Laura Ebke

State of the State emphasizes taxes and licensing reform

In his State of the State Address, Gov. Pete Ricketts outlined his priorities for the next two years during the 107th Nebraska Legislature. He started by proposing only a 1.5% growth rate to the state’s budget while highlighting areas including property tax relief, making Nebraska more welcoming to veterans and the military, job licensing reform, public...

By Sarah Curry, Laura Ebke

Licensing review prompts bill to eliminate locksmith registration

Lincoln-area state Sen. Matt Hansen has introduced a remarkable bill, and it’s only one sentence long (which we don’t see enough). LB169 starts with the words: “The following sections are outright repealed…” The sections of statute that would be repealed refer to the registration, or occupational licensing, of locksmiths. Locksmiths were among the occupations reviewed as...

By Laura Ebke