Nebraska Update

State auditor Mike Foley says Nebraska is spending too much on leasing commercial office space. In a letter he sent to the Legislature’s Performance Audit Committee Monday, Foley highlighted the 37% increase in the amount the state paid for commercially leased space over the last five years. He said the state should consider buying or building new properties to save money long term, since the cost per square foot is significantly cheaper at state-owned buildings.

Law professors at the University of Nebraska sent a letter to Nebraska’s congressional delegation this week, citing concerns over what they say is the Trump administration’s lack of respect for the rule of law. The letter reads in part, “We are concerned that the rule of law is in peril, and we urge you to be vigilant in its defense.” The letter cites the administration’s revocation of student visas, the lack of due process for immigrants prior to deportation and the failure to comply with federal court rulings as evidence of its disregard for judicial authority.

Five of the six candidates for Lincoln City Council are people of color, one is an immigrant, and two identify as LGTBQ. Incumbent Sandra Washington says she can't remember a time the candidate pool was this diverse.

The Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol, Col. John Bolduc retires May 4 after leading the patrol for eight years, ending a 38-year career in law enforcement. Nebraska Public Media's Dale Johnson sat down with Bolduc to first find out what led him into law enforcement.

The Nebraska Legislature's Appropriations Committee swept more cash from agencies and approved using more of the state's cash reserve to balance the budget.

In November, Nebraska voters approved initiatives legalizing possession of up to 5 ounces of medical marijuana. Thursday afternoon, a bill to regulate it advanced from the Legislature’s General Affairs Committee.

Kearney Police Chief Bryan Waugh will be the next Nebraska State Patrol superintendent. Current superintendent Colonel John Bolduc retires at the end of this week.

In February, a U.S. Department of Agriculture report projected a $49 billion-dollar agricultural trade deficit for fiscal year 2025. That represents an all-time high. Trump announced a 90-day pause on most tariffs after a market decline in early April, but Chinese imports are subject to a 145% tariff, while other countries still have a 10% tariff. Fischer said she met with the Jamieson Greer, the U.S. Trade Representative, earlier this week and learned that trade negotiations are taking place with a number of countries.

Voters heading to the polls Tuesday in Lincoln will vote on a ballot initiative that affects landlords and tenants alike. The initiative would, if passed, bar landlords from denying tenants based solely on their source of income. These include Section 8 vouchers, disability payments, pension disbursements, annuities, alimony, child support and foster care subsidies.

LB649, known as the Defense Efforts Workforce Act, would offer a 5% wage credit to defense contractors capped at $4 million dollars each year across all employers. To qualify for the credit, companies must have at least 10 full-time employees dedicated to the mission of Offutt Air Force Base. That would include employees working on intercontinental ballistic missile projects in the Nebraska panhandle and other businesses that report to the United States Strategic Command.