NEBRASKA AG ANNOUNCES INVESTIGATION INTO ‘SEVERAL THOUSAND SIGNATURES’ ON 2024 PETITIONS

LINCOLN - Hours before the deadline to finalize the November ballot, Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers said his office is continuing to investigate “several thousand signatures” on ballot initiative petitions. Hilgers has said that his office has investigated several irregularities in the signature collection process.

A signature collector has been arrested in Hall County after an investigation found he had collected over 200 fraudulent signatures. However, Hall County Election Commissioner Tracy Overstreet confirmed that those signatures were not included in the final numbers submitted to the Secretary of State. Crista Eggers, campaign manager for Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, thanked Hilgers for his work on the matter, calling for accountability on signature collectors who violate the standards they are held to.

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GENERAL FUND RECEIPTS — AUGUST 2024

LINCOLN - Tax Commissioner James R. Kamm reports that gross General Fund receipts for August were $686 million, which is 7.1% below the forecast of $738 million. Tax Commissioner Kamm reported the following breakdown:

• Gross Sales and Use: 5.8% below forecast

• Gross Individual Income: 13.2% below forecast

• Gross Corporate Income: 111.9% above forecast

• Gross Miscellaneous: 30.3% above forecast

It was also reported that the Net General Fund receipts for fiscal year 2024-25 were $833 million, which is 4.0% below the forecast of $868 million.

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MEDICAL MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION AND REGULATION ARE CERTIFIED FOR NEBRASKA’S NOVEMBER BALLOT

LINCOLN - On the final day to certify the November 5th general election ballot, Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen certified ballot initiatives to legalize and regulate medical marijuana in Nebraska. The campaign from Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana officially garnered nearly 90,000 valid signatures as of Friday.

The two campaigns are seeking to legalize possessing, manufacturing, distributing, delivering, and dispensing cannabis for medical purposes. The other petition, the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Patient Protection Act, would set an allowable amount of medical cannabis at five ounces.

The certification by Evnen happened the same day that Attorney General Hillgers announced an arrest of a signature collector for having over 200 invalid signatures. Additionally, a lawsuit filed by former State Senator John Kuehn of Heartwell seeks to either prevent Nebraskans from voting on the measures or prevent Evnen and other constitutional officers from certifying the results of those measures.

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DUELING ABORTION MEASURES MAKE BALLOT, NEBRASKA SUPREME COURT DECIDES

LINCOLN - In a unanimous 7-0 ruling, the Nebraska Supreme Court decided that both abortion-related ballot initiatives will remain on the ballot in November. The single subject test came into play for both amendments, one seeking to protect access to abortion and the other seeking to place a constitutional cap at 12 weeks, with lawyers representing both issues saying their amendment fits the single subject requirements.

The ruling was seen by many as the “last hurdle” for the measures to successfully be placed on the ballot as today is the last day for the ballot to be finalized by Secretary of State Bob Evnen. Since the Dobbs ruling, every state has voted in favor of ballot initiatives that provided constitutional protection for abortions.

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NEBRASKA SUPREME COURT LETS VOTERS DECIDE FATE OF SCHOOL CHOICE LAW

LINCOLN - In another unanimous 7-0 ruling, the Nebraska Supreme Court allowed the ballot measure seeking to repeal LB 1402, a voucher program to help families offset the costs of private K-12 education, to remain on the November ballot. The Court found that LB 1402 was not an appropriation.

Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen previously pledged to file an additional lawsuit if he thought the Court’s ruling sidestepped the critical legal questions. However, Chief Justice Mike Haavican argued that “the Secretary cannot change his mind and rescind his legal sufficiency determination and not place the referendum on the ballot.”

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NE AUDITOR WARNS OF FAST STATEWIDE GROWTH OF TIF USE, SAYING THAT POSES RISK TO PROPERTY TAX BURDEN

OMAHA- More than a half-billion dollars in property tax collections were directed during the past five years to fund urban redevelopment across Nebraska, marking a “remarkable increase” in tax-increment financing use that has sparked a warning from State Auditor Mike Foley.

In a 26-page advisory letter to Nebraska lawmakers, Foley said that the growing use of the economic development incentive called TIF risks further upward pressure on “skyrocketing” local property taxes. Foley offered examples of how sometimes “loose and inconsistent” interpretations of governing statutes allowed cities “not only to accumulate significant amounts of unwarranted TIF proceeds," but also to engage in activities that pose legal concerns.

While debate over TIF has been long-running, Foley told lawmakers that the statewide review of related spending and statutes was spurred by “several concerns” that had been relayed to his office.

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STUDY RANKS NEBRASKA NO. 1 IN FINANCIAL LITERACY

LINCOLN - A new study by Credit Secrets ranks Nebraska as the most financially literate state in the country. The study used data from institutions, including the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Richard Baier, president and CEO of the Nebraska Bankers Association, said he was not shocked when the results were released. He attributed the high score to the legislature's work in the past five years.

State Senators McKinney and Slama helped pass a bill in 2021 that created a half-credit requirement for financial literacy in order to graduate high school.  Additionally, the bill required the incorporation of financial literacy into each public school district's K-8 curriculum. 

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‘A MISSING YEAR’: NO INCOME TAX CREDITS FOR NEBRASKANS TO OFFSET SCHOOL PROPERTY TAXES PAID IN 2024

LINCOLN - Senator Steve Erdman raised concerns about LB 34, the property tax relief bill he opposed during the special session, due to the timeline in which the tax credit will appear.  LB 34 passed on a 40-3 vote during the special session, changing the property tax credit system implemented in 2020 through LB 1107. Senator Erdman’s concern is the tax credits for 2024 will not be applied until 2025.

The Chair and Vice Chair of the Revenue Committee, Senators Linehan and von Gillern, defended LB34’s structure. They said the state does not have the money to front-load the tax credit. There have been calls to change the credit structure, to which Senator von Gillern told other senators to bring the bill when they can find the funding.

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NEBRASKA EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AWARDED $55 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT TO IMPROVE STUDENT LITERACY

LINCOLN - The Nebraska Department of Education has been awarded a $55 million federal grant over the next five years to help improve literacy throughout the state. The announcement came at the State Board of Education meeting from State Education Commissioner Brian Maher.  Commissioner Maher emphasized the responsibility of spending the money to benefit student outcomes best.

The grant will support existing state initiatives from LB 1284, which appropriated $6 million over three years to be used for reading improvement mentorship programs, and the Nebraska Literacy Project. The Nebraska State Board of Education is seeking to improve third-grade proficiency in English language arts test scores from 62% on 2023 state assessments to 75% by 2030.

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NEBRASKA SUPREME COURT HEARS ARGUMENTS TO BLOCK ABORTION MEASURES

LINCOLN- Supporters of two competing abortion-related ballot initiatives spent Monday at the Nebraska Supreme Court seeking rulings by Friday’s deadline to finalize the ballot. Justices heard oral arguments in three lawsuits: two seeking to block an abortion-rights amendment from the fall ballot and one arguing that the competing measures should appear on the ballot otherwise neither should appear.

The lawsuits have drawn national attention because Nebraska could be the first state since Roe v. Wade was overturned to weigh competing abortion measures on the same ballot. One initiative favors abortion rights and the other favors abortion restrictions. Thus far, every state that has voted on abortion changes since Roe has sided with abortion rights.

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NEBRASKA SUPREME COURT PROBES WHETHER SCHOOL CHOICE LAW IS SUBJECT TO REPEAL BY BALLOT MEASURE

LINCOLN- The Nebraska Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a lawsuit seeking to protect a new school voucher program for private K-12 education from repeal by ballot measure. The question is whether the provision of the Nebraska Constitution that prohibits referendums from repealing “appropriations for the expense of the state government” or an existing state institution applies to possibly repealing the latest version of the state’s school choice law.

Several justices questioned whether LB 1402, which created the voucher program, counts as an appropriation without its related-but-separate appropriations bill, LB 1402A. Chief Justice Mike Heavican and Justice Jonathan Papik pressed the attorneys seeking to toss the measure on whether the appropriations bill would lack purpose without LB 1402.

Attorney Tom Venzor argued that because LB 1402 changed the funding for the scholarship program from a tax credit to a direct state appropriation, it can’t be repealed by ballot measure.

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OUTSIDE GROUP BUYING STATEWIDE AD TO BOOST PRESTON LOVE JR.

LINCOLN- Nebraska’s unexpected U.S. Senate race is getting a small jolt of outside spending from a progressive SuperPAC tied to former Omaha-area U.S. House candidate Kara Eastman. Eastman helps run the PAC with news commentator Cenk Uygur, who is known for co-hosting the online show “The Young Turks.”

The group has spent $35,000 on an ad for Democrat Preston Love Jr. to run on cable and streaming services during the Saturday football game between the Huskers and Northern Iowa on the Big Ten Network. The ad supports Love’s candidacy against Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, who was appointed to the seat by Gov. Jim Pillen after former Sen. Ben Sasse resigned to lead the University of Florida.

Love had raised $164,000 as of the end of June and listed $6,500 in campaign cash on hand. Ricketts had raised $4.3 million and listed $1.7 million in cash on hand.

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FIVE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ANNOUNCED FOR NEBRASKA'S GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT

LINCOLN- Five candidates will be vying for Nebraskans’ votes in the race for the 47th President of the United States this November. Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen released the list of candidates, along with their respective vice-presidential candidates, that have either been nominated by their respective parties or have completed statewide petitions to appear on the ballot.

As expected, former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator JD Vance will represent the Republican Party, while Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz will be the Democratic Party’s nominees. Three other third-party candidates will appear on the ballot, including candidates from the Libertarian and Legal Marijuana NOW Parties.

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HOW A LONE NEBRASKA DISTRICT COULD DECIDE THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

OMAHA- Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District, which encompasses Omaha and the Council Bluffs metropolitan area, could play an outsized role in determining the next president thanks to Nebraska’s unique way of dividing up its Electoral College votes. Unlike most states that have winner-take-all systems, Nebraska awards one Electoral College vote to the candidate who wins each of its three congressional districts, while the winner of the state overall receives the remaining two votes.

Nebraska has long been forgotten about in presidential politics thanks to its longtime solidly republican disposition, making it a rarely talked about location on a map full of critical swing states. However, that reputation does not always hold in the 2nd Congressional District, which has swung back and forth in recent elections.

The Second Congressional District’s lone vote has never been the deciding factor in an election, but in a year in which the presidential race looks as close as ever, it could end up playing a decisive role.

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FISCHER GETS TRUMP’S ENDORSEMENT IN RACE AGAINST OSBORN

LINCOLN - Nebraska Republican U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer was endorsed by the current Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump.  Trump's endorsement came out on his social media platform, Truth Social, where he said Fischer "is doing a fantastic job" in the Senate. Fischer had previously called on Trump to resign in 2016 after the "Access Hollywood" tape was released, but she has since endorsed him in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 elections.

Senator Fisher's candidate, Dan Osborn, is running on an independent platform. This has caused Fisher's campaign to go after Osborn, calling him a "Democrat in sheep's clothing." As of June, Fisher had raised over $6 million compared to $1.6 million. They will be going head to head in November, with the Nebraska Democratic Party not offering a nominee and supporting Osborn.

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LARGEST CATTLE FEEDLOT IN NEBRASKA TO BEGIN TAKING FEEDERS LATER THIS MONTH

LINCOLN- Construction workers are hurrying to put the final touches on what is planned to be the state’s largest feedlot for feeding cattle. Blackshirt Feeders, led by a trio of Canadian veterinarians who are long-time feedlot consultants, plans to begin shipping in cattle within a month to its sprawling complex of pens north of Haigler, a village in the far southwest corner of Nebraska.

Local residents are divided on the project, with concerns raised about increased traffic and impacts on the locally depleted aquifer. Supporters cite the new, local market for corn, some increase in local housing, and increased business for local merchants. The project could also increase the local population, though most of the new housing being built for workers is in Wray, Colorado, about 20 miles from the feedlot.

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CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY’S REGIONAL BUSINESS SURVEY SHOWS WANING CONFIDENCE IN ECONOMY

OMAHA- Creighton University’s monthly survey of supply managers has found confidence in the economy has slumped. Creighton’s Mid-America Business Conditions Index, intended to be a leading economic indicator, showed a regional confidence score that declined to 26.7 in August from 30.6 the month prior.

The index ranges between 0 and 100, with a 50.0 representing growth neutral. Ernie Gross, the director of the forecasting group, believes that September’s labor market report will be pivotal in determining the economic outlook for next year.

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HIGHER INCOME ELIGIBILITY THRESHOLDS FOR WIC MEAN MORE NEBRASKANS MIGHT QUALIFY

LINCOLN- The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services reminded Nebraska families Tuesday to check their eligibility for the federal WIC program. Income eligibility for families up to 16 increased between 3.3% and 4.5%, meaning more Nebraskans might qualify

for the aid.

Dr. Timothy Tesmer, Nebraska’s chief medical officer, said that about 35,000 eligible Nebraskans are served each month. WIC offers nutritious foods, health education, and breastfeeding support to women who are pregnant or just had a baby, as well as infants and children up to the age of 5.

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'ODYSSEY TO THE EXTRAORDINARY': DR. GOLD CHARTS NEW PATH AS UNIVERSITY NEBRASKA PRESIDENT

LINCOLN- University of Nebraska President Jeffrey Gold outlined his vision Thursday to take NU on an “odyssey to the extraordinary” to its next chapter, under his leadership.

More than a dozen federal, state, and local stakeholders honored and endorsed Dr. Gold as NU’s ninth president in an honorific investiture ceremony. From faculty, staff, students, and alumni to donors, elected officials, and more, each promised to work with Gold and help improve NU.

Gold served with NU for more than 10 years prior to becoming president, in roles including chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center and a brief stint in a dual role as chancellor of the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Gold also served as NU’s executive vice president and provost for the past couple of years, a key role as the chief academic liaison between campuses and the regents.

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AGENCY DIRECTOR OVERSEEING NEBRASKA STATE BUDGET AND STATE EMPLOYEES TO RESIGN SEPT. 27

LINCOLN- Gov. Jim Pillen announced Director Jason Jackson’s resignation Wednesday from the Nebraska Department of Administrative Services. He has served as director of the state’s HR agency since 2018. During his tenure, Director Jackson worked closely with the legislature to change procurement rules in LB 461.

Director Jackson’s departure is one of many vacancies in the Governor’s cabinet. The list includes the Directors of the Nebraska Departments of Natural Resources, Environment and Energy, and the State Historical Society.

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