Every year, the “National Movers Study” from United Van Lines and the “U-Haul Growth Index” provide a real-time heat map of the American economy. The 2025 results are in, and they deliver a clear message: while the mass exodus from high-tax coastal states continues, the “quiet competition” for the middle of the country is heating...
Policy takeaway: Nebraska’s newly passed LB718 modernizes CPA licensure by expanding pathways into the profession while preserving rigorous education, examination, and experience standards. The law strengthens Nebraska’s accounting workforce pipeline and aligns the state with updated national mobility rules that allow CPAs to serve clients across state lines. Nebraska has taken an important step to...
Tune in to the latest episode of Nebraskanomics as we welcome President and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, Heath Mello. During the episode Heath and Platte CEO Jim Vokal discuss how Nebraska can change course on migration trends, and how things like workforce, housing, and childcare will make a difference in growing...
On February 25, 2026, Governor Jim Pillen signed Legislative Bill 663 into law while at the Nebraska Dairy Convention and Trade Show in West Point, Nebraska. Introduced by Senator Tanya Storer, and championed by The Platte Institute, LB 663 improves county zoning processes for agricultural producers by establishing a more uniform, transparent, and timely system...
*On March 4th, LB 1124, the bill to advance the tobacco tax increase failed on a bipartisan procedural vote with the following senators blocking the advancement: Sen. Andersen, Sen. Ballard, Sen. John Cavanaugh, Sen. Conrad, Sen. Guereca, Sen. Juarez, Sen. McKinney, Sen. Rountree, Sen. Storm, and Sen. Strommen. The Platte Institute is sympathetic in the...
In today’s economy, the high cost and low availability of childcare are major barriers for working families. While policymakers often look toward taxpayer-funded subsidies to solve the problem, recent research suggests a different culprit: state-level overregulation. Nebraska stands at a critical juncture in this national conversation. According to the 2024 State Childcare Regulations Index from...
For years, Nebraska’s major infrastructure projects—such as the long-awaited Lincoln East Beltway—have been held back by a slow-moving hitch: Washington, D.C. Federal red tape and the bureaucratic maze of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) have historically added years of delays and millions of dollars to local projects. That changed this week. Governor Jim Pillen...
On the latest episode of Nebraskanomics we welcome Platte Institute’s Senior Tax Policy Advisor Jared Walczak. During the episode Jared and Platte CEO Jim Vokal discuss a new report from the Platte Institute on tax principles and how Nebraska can pursue tax reform this session. Listen now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
On this episode of Nebraskanomics we welcome Senator John Arch, Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature. During the episode Speaker Arch and Platte CEO Jim Vokal discuss what’s expected this session, how property tax reform can happen in a tight budget year, and lessons from his time as speaker. Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
The growing volume and complexity of government regulation at the state and local levels threaten economic freedom, entrepreneurial innovation, and democratic accountability. State regulations, often issued by unelected officials in executive agencies, accumulate over time, creating significant “hidden taxes” on small businesses and families within the state. This policy brief outlines a set of proven,...
In recent years, states across the country have taken renewed interest in reviewing longstanding and often outdated regulatory frameworks. Many legislatures are reassessing rules that may constrain economic growth, aiming to reduce regulatory accumulation and increase legislative oversight of unelected agencies. Although each state varies in its approach, a common goal has emerged: limiting high-cost...
Under LB 1025, Nebraska would implement a first-in-the-nation tax on social media accounts, at rates of up to $6 per account per year. Other states have considered similar taxes, but no state has adopted a social media tax to date, and with good reason. The proposed tax could deprive Nebraskans of free access to online...
Policy Pathway for Principled Tax Reform outlines a framework for evaluating tax policy through the lens of sound tax principles including transparency, simplicity, stability, neutrality, and economic efficiency. The report examines Nebraska’s major tax types including property, income, and sales and offers practical, principle-based recommendations to improve affordability, competitiveness, and long-term fiscal sustainability. While designed...