Pioneer Brief: Nebraska tax receipts hold near forecast

September tax receipts came in close to forecast two weeks before Nebraska's economic forecasters reset revenue projections, while Gov. Pillen launched a review of rural emergency communications and medical cannabis advocates pushed back on proposed rules.

Nebraska tax receipts land 0.2% above forecast ahead of key forecasting meeting

Sales tax ran ahead of projections while individual income tax fell short

The Department of Revenue reported September tax receipts 0.2% above the Economic Forecasting Advisory Board's late-February projections, with sales and use taxes 13.8% above forecast at $293.5 million and individual income taxes 6.3% below. The board meets Oct. 30 to set new projections against a projected $1.6 billion deficit through June 2027 and a $764 million gap in the next biennium.

Why it matters: The Oct. 30 forecast will set the size of the budget gap lawmakers must close in January, framing the agency cut proposals released this week.

Read the full story: Nebraska Examiner

Pillen orders 60-day review of emergency communications gaps

A new task force will examine radio dead zones and equipment problems exposed by storms and wildfires

Gov. Jim Pillen signed an executive order Thursday in North Platte creating a Public Safety Communications Task Force led by the Nebraska Military Department, with members from NEMA, the State Patrol, NDOT, public power, the League of Municipalities, county officials and rural volunteer fire leaders. The group must deliver findings and recommendations within 60 days, including funding options for long-term sustainability.

Why it matters: Recommendations due by mid-December, including funding options, could inform how the state addresses rural first-responder radio gaps heading into a tight budget session.

Read the full story: North Platte Bulletin

Medical cannabis advocates criticize proposed commission rules at public hearing

The proposed updates would set new application fees for growers, manufacturers and dispensaries

At a Thursday hearing on the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission's proposed regulatory updates, Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana Executive Director Crista Eggers said the new and existing rules are too strict and undermine what voters approved in 2024. Commissioners will review comments and consider the updates at a future meeting, after which approved rules would go to the attorney general and governor.

Why it matters: Speakers said patients still have no medicine nearly two years after voters approved medical cannabis, and the rules must clear the commission, attorney general and governor.

Read the full story: Nebraska Public Media

Around Nebraska

• The Nebraska Secretary of State's Office received an envelope containing a suspicious substance, isolated it unopened and turned it over to the FBI, as election offices nationwide received similar mail.
• Energy Secretary Chris Wright joined a Nebraska Farm Bureau roundtable in Louisville to promote red-dyed diesel use and a new emissions-value process for the 45Z clean fuel production credit.
• Supporters and opponents of Initiative 442, which would bar transgender women from female school and college athletic teams, testified at the first statewide ballot measure hearing in Lincoln.

Watch Next

• Oct. 16, 1 p.m.: The Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee holds an interim hearing on LR 310 in North Platte on whether to recombine the Tourism Commission with the Department of Economic Development.
• Oct. 22: Public hearings on the sports betting initiatives (2–5 p.m.) and Initiative 442 (6–9 p.m.) will be held at the Buffalo County Extension Building in Kearney.
• Oct. 24: Omaha's Millard Branch Library hosts public hearings on Initiative 442 (10 a.m.–1 p.m.) and the sports betting initiatives (1:30–4:30 p.m.).
• Oct. 30: The Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board meets to set new revenue projections that will determine the size of the budget gap lawmakers face in January.

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