Budget & Taxes

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 170: Eliminate the sales tax exemptions for candy and soft drinks

This bill would eliminate Nebraska's sales tax exemption for candy and soft drinks, requiring these items to be taxed starting October 1, 2025. Currently, candy (defined as sugar-based products without flour or refrigeration needs) and soft drinks (nonalcoholic sweetened beverages excluding milk-based or juice-heavy drinks) are exempt under state tax law, but this bill would remove them from the list of exempt items. The change would directly affect consumers purchasing these products and retailers selling them, as they would now pay the standard sales tax. This policy shift aligns with efforts to broaden the tax base for non-essential items.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRemoves tax exemptions for candy/soft drinks, generating revenue by closing a tax loophole, aligning with fiscal responsibility and increased budget revenue.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 677: Change provisions of the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Regulation Act and provide for regulation of medical cannabis

Nebraska LB 677 updates the state's medical cannabis framework by clarifying key definitions (like "cannabis products" and "caregivers"), establishing new licensing rules for cultivators and dispensaries, and imposing a special sales tax on medical cannabis sales. It prohibits open cannabis containers in vehicles, removes medical cannabis from existing marijuana tax categories, and directs tax revenue to specific state funds. The bill directly affects qualified patients, registered caregivers, cannabis businesses, and the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission, which now oversees regulation. It also repeals outdated provisions and harmonizes existing laws, though it remains pending in committee as of March 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes special sales tax on medical cannabis and directs revenue to state funds, generating new tax revenue for fiscal management.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRegulates medical cannabis access, enabling patient treatment under healthcare framework per bill's focus on medical use and patient access provisions90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Jan 13, 2026

LB 766: Change and eliminate provisions relating to licensed racetrack enclosures, licenses and wagering on horseracing, assistance to problem gamblers, the Nebraska Commission on Problem Gambling, the Charitable Gaming Division of the Department of Revenue, keno at licensed racetrack enclosures, and the Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund

Nebraska's LB 766 updates regulations for racetracks and horseracing wagering. It sets new annual requirements: racetracks operating before April 2022 must host at least 5 live racing days and 50 races yearly through 2030 (increasing to 15 days and 120 races annually after 2030), while newer tracks have phased-in minimums. The bill eliminates the Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund, moves the Nebraska Commission on Problem Gambling under the State Racing and Gaming Commission, and allows keno players as young as 18 at racetracks (previously 21). It also revises how wagering revenue is distributed and repeals outdated sections of gaming law. The bill directly affects racetrack licensees, problem gamblers seeking services, and state gaming regulatory bodies.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesEliminates Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund, directly defunding a specific program related to problem gambling support.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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signed · Nebraska · Legislature Jun 6, 2025

LB 261: Appropriate funds for the expenses of Nebraska State Government for the biennium ending June 30, 2027, and appropriate Federal Funds allocated to the State of Nebraska pursuant to the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

LB 261 is Nebraska's state budget bill for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27, allocating funds for government operations, education, capital projects, and federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. It reappropriates unspent balances from previous years and specifies how federal recovery funds must be used, including restrictions on salary spending. The bill requires agencies to submit detailed budget reports and limits total salary/wage expenditures unless federal funds cover the excess. This directly affects all state agencies, universities, and programs receiving state or federal funds during the 2025-2027 budget period.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state/federal funds for government operations, education, and capital projects while enforcing fiscal responsibility through salary spending limits.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates state and federal funds for education, including American Rescue Plan Act recovery funds. Restrictions on salary spending apply only to federal funds, but overall funding for education is explicitly provided.90% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly limits total salary/wage expenditures unless federal funds cover excess, restricting state funding for wages and workplace compensation.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · Nebraska · Legislature Jun 6, 2025

LB 275A: Appropriation Bill

LB 275A appropriates $329,347 for Program 33 and $629,165 for Program 354 within Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services for the 2026-27 fiscal year, with the latter amount designated as state aid to support Legislative Bill 275. It provides no funding for these programs during the 2025-26 fiscal year. The bill sets a $95,442 cap on salary spending for Program 33 in 2026-27 while prohibiting all salary expenses for Program 354. This funding directly affects how the Department of Health and Human Services allocates resources for these specific programs.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesProhibits all salary expenses for Program 354 and caps Program 33 spending, effectively defunding key program elements within health services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · Nebraska · Legislature Jun 2, 2025

LB 346: Provide for termination of boards, commissions, committees, councils, funds, groups, panels, and task forces and change and eliminate funds and powers and duties of departments and agencies

This bill eliminates numerous state advisory groups, boards, and commissions - including the Climate Assessment Response Committee, Women's Health Initiative Advisory Council, and Palliative Care Act - and removes their funding. It also modifies department responsibilities, such as adjusting the Board of Mental Health Practice and the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill specifically terminates the Whiteclay Public Health Emergency Task Force and streamlines overlapping government structures by repealing obsolete provisions. These changes aim to simplify state agency operations by removing redundant entities and consolidating functions.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesDefunds multiple state advisory groups and eliminates their funding, directly reducing government spending per bill's summary.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentTerminates Climate Assessment Response Committee and removes its funding, directly weakening climate oversight and environmental protections85% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareTerminates Women's Health Initiative Advisory Council and Palliative Care Act funding, defunding healthcare-specific advisory bodies per bill summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · Nebraska · Legislature Mar 12, 2025

LB 296A: Appropriation Bill

LB 296A is a funding bill that allocates $0 from the State Department of Education Improvement Grant Fund for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to support Legislative Bill 296. It specifies that total expenditures for salaries and per diems from these funds cannot exceed $160,197 for 2025-26 or $165,403 for 2026-27. The bill directly affects the State Department of Education by providing a procedural funding mechanism for another legislative act. This is a technical appropriations measure with no actual monetary allocation, solely establishing budgetary parameters for a related bill.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesAllocates $0 from education fund, defunding support for Bill 296, directly restricting program funding per appropriation language.90% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill allocates $0 from education funds for two fiscal years, directly defunding the State Department of Education Improvement Grant Fund as specified in Legislative Bill 296.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

died · Nebraska · Legislature Feb 13, 2025

LR 11CA: Constitutional amendment to prohibit governmental entities from imposing any taxes other than retail consumption taxes and excise taxes

This bill (LR 11CA) proposed a constitutional amendment to ban all taxes in Nebraska except retail sales taxes and excise taxes, effective January 1, 2028. It would have prohibited state and local governments from imposing income taxes, property taxes, or other tax types. The amendment required voter approval in the November 2026 election and included specific ballot language. However, the bill was withdrawn on February 13, 2025, and is no longer active.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBans income/property taxes, restricting government fiscal options beyond retail/excise taxes per proposed constitutional amendment.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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