LINCOLN- Lawmakers on the Appropriations Committee approved a 1.25% increase to the University of Nebraska's state aid Tuesday but opted not to give an additional boost in the second year of the biennium budget cycle. In approving the increase on a 7-1 vote, the committee reversed a previous decision backed by Gov. Jim Pillen to trim 2% from NU's state appropriations over the next two years.

The decision came after several delays over the past week as lawmakers considered how cuts from the federal government were impacting NU. The increase adds roughly $8.7 million to NU's existing appropriation in both the 2025-26 and 2026-27 budget years, bringing the university system's total funding from the state to $708 million.

Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, who raised concerns about a meeting Tuesday morning among committee members in which registered Democrats were excluded, was the lone no vote against the agreement struck by Pillen and NU administrators. Omaha Sen. Ashlei Spivey did not vote.

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