AGP Executive Report

Nebraska Politics & Ballot Access: Independent gubernatorial candidate Brett Lindstrom said he’s stepping back after more than a third of his ~5,700 petition signatures were flagged as fraudulent, leaving him short of the 4,000-valid-signature threshold; he didn’t rule out a write-in run and said arrests tied to petition fraud are ongoing. Legislative Watch (Workforce & Business): The Unicameral advanced LB921, adopting Nebraska’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act and adding rules for advance notice of layoffs and business closings, plus health care staffing agency registration. Legislative Watch (Family Policy): Lawmakers passed LB878 to require paid parental leave for Nebraska state employees. Legislative Watch (Local Finance & Elections): LB852 would let counties recapture certain Convention Center Support Fund money if recipients move operations out of high-poverty areas within three years; LB1075 makes broad changes to election law and village governance, including a county/municipal financial database. State Government & Housing: Treasurer Joey Spellerberg continued his community tour in Broken Bow, highlighting unclaimed property, college savings, and a new first-home savings program. Economy & Markets: Berkshire Hathaway boosted its Alphabet stake and homebuilder holdings while trimming financial-company positions, according to its latest portfolio update. Public Safety: Omaha police are investigating an early Sunday shooting in the Old Market that left one person critically injured.

Election Integrity: Nebraska gubernatorial nonpartisan candidate Brett Lindstrom says more than a third of his 5,764 petition signatures were fraudulent, and he blames signature collectors tied to On the Ballot LLC; he’s now stepping back but says he could still pursue a write-in run. Agribusiness & Supply Chain: Tyson Foods is shutting down or selling multiple beef facilities as a domestic cattle shortage squeezes margins, adding pressure to cattle markets and beef supply. Federal Policy Impact on Nebraska: The U.S. DOJ sued New York, Connecticut and Vermont over laws granting illegal immigrants in-state tuition, arguing federal law bars such benefits—continuing a broader push that already hit similar policies in Nebraska and other states. State Government & Taxes: Nebraska collected $65.9 million in public utilities sales taxes in 2024, according to Census data. Local Fraud Watch: Palmyra was among 41 Nebraska cities tied for 14th in July scam reports, with one reported online purchase loss of $3,949. Legislative Watch: Lawmakers advanced major bills including LB921 (worker layoff notice and staffing agency rules), LB1048 (streamlining agency reporting), and LB1165 (expanded employer incentive and grant programs).

Nebraska Legislature: Lawmakers advanced a major government-finance overhaul, LB1072, moving it forward despite sizable opposition (35-12-2). Child Care Funding: Sen. Victor Rountree backed LB304 to remove the sunset on federal Child Care Subsidy funding, keeping Nebraska’s expanded eligibility in place (43-6-0). Agriculture & Data: Sen. Tom Brandt voted yes on LB525, creating an Agricultural Data Privacy Act and Conversational AI Safety Act (49-0-0). Foreign Influence Rules: Sen. Glen Meyer voted no on LB1029, which tightens how colleges report foreign adversarial funding. Energy & Property Rights: Sen. Stan Clouse approved LB1261, limiting when consumer-owned utilities can use eminent domain against certain private electric generation facilities (33-16-0). Workforce & Business: LB921 passed with worker layoff notice and staffing agency registration rules (37-12-0). Health Policy Watch: Nebraska’s Medicaid work requirements are set to begin, with national insurers and other states watching outcomes closely. Economy: Nebraska’s July tax receipts came in just 0.1% below forecast, while refunds ran 7.3% above expectations.

Nebraska Budget Watch: Nebraska’s July tax receipts came within 0.1% of the state’s forecast, but higher-than-expected refunds still left revenue about $402,000 short and added to a projected $208 million deficit. Beef Industry Shakeup: Tyson Foods is scaling back beef operations amid a historic cattle shortage—closing Illinois and Utah facilities and pursuing a sale of its Pasco, Washington plant, while concentrating capacity at Dakota City, Nebraska, plus Kansas and Texas. Food Safety & Health: U.S. and CDC officials began onsite inspection and sampling at Taylor Farms’ Mexico plant as the cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to recalled shredded iceberg lettuce expanded to more states, including Nebraska. Public Safety Tech: Flock Safety says it’s tightening privacy controls for its license plate reader network, including shorter data retention and limits on data sharing as more communities push back. Medicaid Leadership: Nebraska’s Medicaid and long-term health director resigned, with an interim replacement named as work requirements and eligibility checks begin affecting coverage. Local Economy/Community: A major blood drive is set for Aug. 19 in Omaha, as the Red Cross warns of a national blood supply crisis.

Nebraska Economic Development: Sen. Dan Quick’s LB1165 clears final passage with an emergency clause, expanding employer tax credits and creating new grants aimed at retaining or attracting workers and helping cities hit by major private closures or downsizing. Infrastructure & Transportation Finance: Sen. Eliot Bostar and others backed LB1126, which creates an Infrastructure Development Investment Program Act to fund public and public-private transportation projects through a revolving infrastructure fund and revenue bonds. Workforce Rules: Sen. Teresa Ibach’s LB921 establishes 60-day layoff notice requirements for employers with 25+ workers, with limited exceptions and civil penalties. Campaign Finance: Sen. Tanya Storer’s LB986 allows campaign funds to pay for candidate security services and systems. Education & Licensing: Sen. Bob Andersen’s LB1022 removes human relations training for Nebraska substitute teacher certification. Legal Notices: Sen. Victor Rountree’s LB596 updates how legal notices can be published, including on qualifying digital platforms when no print edition exists. Agribusiness & Markets: Grain prices firmed overnight, and soybean growers are urged to scout for red crown rot as it moves closer to Nebraska. Food Safety: The cyclospora outbreak tied to iceberg lettuce now involves 17 states, including Nebraska. Beef Industry Restructuring: Tyson Foods plans to close two beef facilities (Illinois and Utah) and consolidate production around Dakota City, Nebraska, as the cattle shortage reshapes processing capacity. Local Business Spotlight: Bennington Pines has reopened as Bennington Farms, a new mercantile and farmers market built from local owners’ home-improvement and real estate experience.

University Budget Pressure: Nebraska’s NU Board of Regents voted to cut programs and ask for a 4.25% annual increase in state appropriations for the 2027-29 budget, following Gov. Pillen’s push for agencies to cut spending by 5% monthly. Higher-Ed Transparency: LB1029 cleared final passage, tightening how colleges and universities define and publicly report “foreign adversarial” funding. Health Policy: LB929 would let Medicaid managed care organizations pay certain cost-sharing charges on behalf of enrollees, while LB958 updates Medicaid waiver rules and adds limits tied to crisis assistance and doula reimbursement. Workforce & Economic Incentives: LB1165 expands employer tax credits and creates new grants aimed at retaining or attracting workers, including support for cities hit by major closures or downsizing. Meat Industry Shock: Tyson Foods plans to close or sell three beef sites, shifting capacity toward Dakota City, Nebraska, as a historic cattle shortage squeezes the sector. Local Governance & Trust: Lincoln City Council chair Brodey Weber demanded answers in an alleged ballot petition signature fraud case as a group restarts its ballot push. Energy & Housing Rules: LB888 revises enforcement for modular and manufactured housing violations, and LB1057 updates the legal definition of adult day service. Everyday Costs: GasBuddy reports the lowest Adams County diesel price at $4.59/gal for the week ending Aug. 8.

Food Safety & Supply Chain: Taylor Farms recalls jalapeño products tied to a multi-state salmonella outbreak, with Whole Foods also issuing a jalapeño-linked recall after earlier cyclospora concerns tied to Mexico-sourced produce. Public Health & Medicaid Work Rules: Reporting highlights how Medicaid’s income and work requirements can force people with disabilities to choose between coverage and employment, including Nebraska-linked cases. Nebraska Legislature—Business & Data: Senators advanced major bills including LB525 (ag data privacy and conversational AI safety), LB1048 (streamlining and eliminating some agency reporting), and LB1165 (employer tax credits plus city grants). Energy & Property Rights: Sen. Victor Rountree voted no on LB1261, which would limit when consumer-owned utilities can use eminent domain for certain private electric generation. Local Governance & Growth: Fluvanna supervisors faced renewed questions over Tenaska’s Expedition Generation plant design changes and a county debate over data centers. Workforce & Corporate Welfare: A GAO report says Walmart and Amazon employ large numbers of workers relying on SNAP and Medicaid across multiple states, including Nebraska. Tech & Privacy: A new tool maps how ad auctions can funnel device and location data to federal surveillance without warrants. Business Updates: Mount Logan’s Ability Insurance launches multi-year guaranteed annuity products; Tristate Collaborative adds Rippleshot to help credit unions detect fraud earlier.

Nebraska Legislature Watch: Lawmakers advanced a wide set of bills with major business and workforce implications, including paid parental leave for state employees (LB878), a new Nebraska-Ireland Commission (LB1087), worker layoff notice and staffing rules (LB921), and campaign finance changes allowing security spending (LB986). Health & Education Policy: The Unicameral also approved community college gap aid eligibility updates (LB1086), licensure pathways for internationally trained physicians (LB1212), and Medicaid waiver and benefit changes (LB958), while child care subsidy funding was made permanent (LB304). Data, Security & Compliance: Nebraska moved to protect agricultural data and set conversational AI safety rules (LB525) and tightened biosecurity/foreign control restrictions for critical infrastructure (LB1096). Local Business Spotlight: Orchard’s new Area Legacy Fund aims to build long-term community investment, and Hammer Hands Plumbing is expanding rural service coverage from Orchard. Courts & Public Safety: A Hall County case involving Angel Vega heads toward a Sept. 10 preliminary hearing after defense arguments differed from police statements.

Nebraska Lawmaking: The Unicameral advanced a major package of election and village governance changes in LB1075, including a new database for county/municipal financial info and updates to election deadlines, filings, ballot notices and early voting record handling. Behavioral Health & Child Care: Lawmakers also moved LB722 to expand the Behavioral Health Services Fund for people with substance use disorder, and LB304 to remove the sunset on federal child care subsidies, keeping Nebraska’s expanded eligibility in place. Public Safety & Housing: LB1096 cleared to tighten Nebraska biosecurity and limit foreign involvement in critical infrastructure, while LB888 updated enforcement and penalty structures for modular and manufactured housing standards. Food Access & Local Incentives: LB966 adopted the Hunger-Free Schools Act for free breakfast and lunch reimbursement, and LB852 lets counties recapture certain Convention Center Support Fund money if recipients leave high-poverty areas. Business & Finance: Ability Insurance Company launched its first multi-year guaranteed annuity lineup, and Farm Athletes announced a Sept. 11 golf classic in Hastings to fund scholarships for college athletes from farm and ranch backgrounds. Community Watch: Papillion tied for 4th in Nebraska scam reports in July, with online purchase scams driving the biggest losses.

State Capitol Watch: Nebraska lawmakers advanced a major package of business and workforce measures, including LB1165 (Grow the Good Life Act) to expand employer retention tax credits and create new grant programs, plus LB455 to tighten workers’ compensation injury-reporting rules and confidentiality. Housing & Local Policy: LB839 updates how cities report affordable housing progress, while LB888 raises and restructures enforcement penalties for modular and manufactured housing violations. Tax & Homeownership: LB826 changes when homeowners can file late homestead exemption applications, including added pathways tied to VA certification. Public Safety & Health: LB962 creates a Youth Reentry and Transitional Support Act for justice-involved youth, and LB912 sets up community health worker training endorsements and interstate compacts. International & Economic Development: LB1087 creates a Nebraska-Ireland Commission aimed at boosting trade, investment, and business exchanges. Local Business Climate: Broken Bow’s council held a first look at comprehensive data center and digital asset mining regulations, with additional readings required for more public input. Consumer/Community Alerts: Taylor Farms recalled jalapeño products in Nebraska due to possible salmonella contamination. Everyday Life: AAA warned that back-to-school traffic brings new risks, especially from e-bikes and e-scooters in school zones.

Nebraska Policy & Health Care: State Sen. Victor Rountree backed LB955, letting pharmacists enter practice agreements with physician assistants—aimed at expanding care coordination. Water & Environment Funding: Sen. Robert Dover filed LB1248 to adjust appropriations for the Department of Water, Energy, and Environment, including lead service line replacement grants and wastewater capacity/compliance aid tied to a calcium caseinate facility. Food Safety & Supply Chains: Taylor Farms expanded a jalapeño-linked Salmonella recall to prepared foods sold across 26 states, including Nebraska, with “Best If Used By” dates through Aug. 16; separately, Sysco paused iceberg lettuce sourcing from Mexico amid cyclosporiasis concerns. Ag Economy: Farmland values hit another record, averaging about $4,500 per acre nationwide, a boost that also raises pressure on tenants and new operators. Local Business & Growth: North Platte unveiled a $30 million airport terminal upgrade, with the first Denver flight arriving Tuesday and new capacity for more passengers and jets. Tech & Privacy at City Level: Broken Bow City Council will consider ordinances tied to data centers and “flock”/automated license plate reader rules. Consumer Watch: Insurify projects full-coverage auto premiums will rise again in 32 states by year-end.

Pharma Accountability: Nebraska Attorney General Aaron Ford joined a 43-state coalition announcing a $400 million settlement in principle with Sandoz over alleged generic-drug price-fixing and competition limits, with about $469 million total expected to flow to state enforcers if approved. Food Safety: Taylor Farms recalled 20 jalapeño-containing products tied to a multistate Salmonella outbreak that has sickened hundreds across 27 states, with major retailers including Walmart, Kroger, Target and Trader Joe’s affected. Statehouse Watch: Nebraska lawmakers approved LB1096, expanding biosecurity and foreign-principal contract restrictions tied to agricultural and critical infrastructure threats, and passed LB1048 to streamline and consolidate government reporting requirements. Workforce Data Policy: Sen. Robert Dover filed LB1247 to require postsecondary institutions to participate in Nebraska’s workforce and education reporting system, tying Career Scholarship Act funding to data-sharing and outcome reporting. Higher Ed vs. Federal Law: The U.S. Justice Department sued New York, Connecticut and Vermont over in-state tuition and aid for undocumented students, arguing it discriminates against U.S. citizens. Business & Tech: UNL and the Nebraska State College System plan a major SAP ERP overhaul as older on-prem software support ends, with a budget request seeking $55 million. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reported Nebraska regular gas averaging about $3.93 per gallon for the week ending Aug. 1, with county-by-county lows ranging into the high $3s.

Food Safety Recalls: Taylor Farms is recalling jalapeño-containing prepared foods and dips sold at major retailers including Kroger, Target, Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and Nebraska stores, after a multistate Salmonella concern tied to jalapeños from Coast Citrus Distributors; the company says it’s not aware of illnesses yet and says it stopped sourcing from a Sinaloa, Mexico farm. Federal Policy & Consumer Impact: The Senate delayed a federal ban on most hemp-derived THC products by about a month under a stopgap spending bill, pushing the effective date to Dec. 11 (pending House action) while state rules still apply. AI Data Center Backlash: A growing wave of local bans on new AI data center developments has topped 500, with residents and politicians citing noise, strain on water and power, and rising utility costs—sparking broader bipartisan pushback. Nebraska Legislature Watch: Lawmakers advanced multiple measures on final reading, including LB525 (ag data privacy and conversational AI safety) and LB815 (diesel fuel tax changes and ethanol fund updates). Workforce & Health: Nebraska’s FFA Foundation is expanding its Blue Jackets, Bright Futures campaign to help more students get the signature jacket, while a separate push in the Legislature targets behavioral health rate studies to address provider cost pressures.

Nebraska Law & Governance: The Legislature approved LB1075, reshaping parts of election law and village governance, plus a new database for county and municipal finances, passing 49-0. It also advanced LB1071, updating the biennial state budget for the period ending June 30, 2027, with a 35-13-1 vote. Property Taxes & Education Finance: Lawmakers passed LB924, clarifying learning community council powers and what learning-levy dollars can be used for, including limits tied to facility leases and early childhood programs. Health & Human Services: LB958 cleared with an emergency clause, tightening Medicaid waiver and reporting rules and changing doula reimbursement and limits on crisis assistance payments. Public Safety: Omaha-area drivers are raising alarms about e-scooters and e-bikes after a string of near-misses and injuries, including a fatal Bennington crash involving an 11-year-old. Business & Markets: Berkshire Hathaway’s new CEO Greg Abel is deploying cash—cutting the cash pile to $365.5B while accelerating buybacks and adding about $10B to Alphabet—after second-quarter profit beat forecasts. Food Safety: Walmart shoppers are urged to check Bettergoods Pistachio Nut Butter jars for a specific lot/expiry date after a Salmonella recall reaching Nebraska. Local Economy & Workforce: North Platte schools are leaning on creative staffing models as the teacher shortage persists. Consumer Cost of Living: A DoorDash “Cheeseburger Index” found Lincoln, Nebraska among the few cities where the combo averages under $15. International Trade: Nebraska lawmakers created a Nebraska-Ireland Commission (LB1087) to promote business, investment, and exchanges.

Berkshire Hathaway: Greg Abel is finally putting Berkshire’s massive cash pile to work, investing about $10B in Alphabet and accelerating buybacks (about $4.5B in Q2, plus more in July) as profit beat expectations and cash fell to $365.5B. Nebraska Policy: The Unicameral is moving bills that touch day-to-day business and services, including LB721 (intergenerational care facility grant eligibility), LB921 (worker notification and staffing agency rules), and LB1172 (dispatchable electricity requirements). Food Safety & Supply Chains: A Cyclospora outbreak tied to iceberg lettuce has expanded to 15 states, with more than 25,000 cases reported, while a separate jalapeño-linked Salmonella outbreak has spread across 27 states—both raising pressure on retailers and distributors. Energy & Costs: Nebraska fuel prices show pockets of relief (E85 and diesel lows reported in multiple counties), but statewide averages remain sensitive to global oil and refinery disruptions. Local Business Impact: Severe storms in Omaha forced cancellations and delays for major events, including an Offutt air show and MAHA Music Festival. Defense Minerals: Lockheed Martin signed a scandium supply MOU with NioCorp tied to Nebraska’s Elk Creek project, as the U.S. pushes a more integrated critical-minerals-to-defense strategy.

Nebraska Policy & Economy: Speaker John Arch’s LB1071 would reshape Nebraska’s biennial budget and appropriations, including changes to K-12 education funding flows and property tax credit mechanics. Energy & Utilities: Sen. Rick Holdcroft’s LB1172 would require electric suppliers to keep 75% of their generation portfolio dispatchable, with annual compliance certification to the Power Review Board. Health & Human Services: LB722 expands how Nebraska’s Behavioral Health Services Fund can be used for people with substance use disorder, including housing-related assistance for very low-income adults. Agriculture: Sen. Pete Ricketts says row-crop producers face pressure from lower prices and high inputs, while cattle remain supported even as the national herd is at a 75-year low; he also highlighted farm bill priorities and export expansion. Business & Markets: Berkshire Hathaway’s Greg Abel spent billions from the company’s cash pile—$10B into Alphabet and $4.5B in share buybacks—after Q2 operating profit beat expectations. Local Business/Cost of Living: GasBuddy reports the lowest E85 in Douglas County hit $1.74/gallon (week ending Aug. 1), while Nebraska’s E85 average fell to $2.76. Weather Disruptions: Severe storms forced cancellations or delays for major Omaha-area events, including the Offutt air show and the MAHA Music Festival.