Latest News from the Governor's Office

CONTACT:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Gov. Pillen Reappoints Zingula to Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen has announced his reappointment of Doug Zingula of Crawford, to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Zingula represents District 7 (Panhandle).

Zingula was first appointed in 2017. This will be his third, four-year term on the commission. He has served as both vice chairman (2023) and chairman (2024).

Zingula is retired, having previously worked for many years at Cabela’s, including as vice president of corporate merchandising from 2006 to 2013. He is a board member for Safari Club International – Platte River Chapter.  Zingula is also a member of the Nebraska Big Game Society and the Wild Sheep Foundation.

All nine members of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Legislature. Eight represent districts across the state. The ninth member serves at large.

Contact:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Gov. Pillen’s Historic Income Tax Cuts Effective in January

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen, a champion for lower taxes, is highlighting the historic income tax cuts set to take effect in January as part of his Administration’s ongoing commitment to reform Nebraska’s tax system. The 2026 income tax rate will fall from 5.2% to 4.55%, with the final stage of the income tax reduction taking effect in 2027, when the rate drops again to 3.99%.

“As part of the largest tax cut package in state history, my Administration is making sure Nebraskans keep more of what they earn,” said Gov. Pillen. “Our mission is simple: drive down the size and cost of government, while improving the services that taxpayers depend on. We’re making Nebraska great for families – and keeping the ‘Good Life’ open for business.” 

Gov. Pillen signed LB754 into law in 2023, leading to these reductions, and has consistently opposed efforts to slow or pause this phased reduction in income tax cuts. 

As a result of these tax cuts, for the third consecutive year under the Pillen Administration, Nebraska families will keep more of their hard-earned money. 

“We’ve made historic progress, but I continue to believe that our tax system needs generational reform. There’s more work to do to keep Nebraska the best place to live, build a business, and raise a family.”

Contact:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Gov. Pillen Touts Huge Rural Health Transformation Program Award

 LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen released the following statement after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced its awards for the Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion initiative established under President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts legislation to strengthen and modernize health care in rural communities across the country.

“The partnerships we have built throughout President Trump’s team paid off for Nebraska today in a BIG way,” said Governor Pillen. “Per the announcement from Secretary Kennedy and Administrator Oz, the application I directed our team to submit for Rural Health Transformation funds was awarded over $218 million for rural healthcare, the 8th highest award in the country.”

Through the initiative, the state of Nebraska will receive $218,529,075 for the first year of the five-year grant from the federal government, a once-in-a-generation opportunity to Make Rural Nebraska Healthy Again.

“President Trump’s commitment to rural economic revitalization is real, and today’s announcement is proof,” Gov. Pillen continued. “On behalf of all Nebraskans, I am grateful for this partnership and support.”

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will build a prevention first, tech-enabled sustainable rural health care system. The project will prevent chronic disease, regionalize care, and advance Make America Healthy Again priorities. To achieve this vision, DHHS will implement seven integrated initiatives to strengthen the State’s rural health infrastructure, address workforce gaps, and ensure access to care through consumer-facing technology.

“DHHS is committed to begin work immediately in partnership with our rural providers to build a strong, comprehensive health care infrastructure for rural communities, one that will stand as a national model,” said DHHS CEO Steve Corsi. “We are grateful to Governor Pillen for his leadership and persistent collaboration with federal partners in bringing this historic rural investment to fruition.”

“More than 60 million Americans living in rural areas have the right to equal access to quality care,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “This historic investment puts local hospitals, clinics, and health workers in control of their communities’ healthcare. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, rural Americans will now have affordable healthcare close to home, free from bureaucratic obstacles.” 

“Today marks an extraordinary milestone for rural health in America,” said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. “Thanks to Congress establishing this investment and President Trump for his leadership, states are stepping forward with bold, creative plans to expand rural access, strengthen their workforces, modernize care, and support the communities that keep our nation running. CMS is proud to partner with every state to turn their ideas into lasting improvements for rural families.”

Contact:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Gov. Pillen Temporarily Waives Regulations for Truckers Hauling Heating Fuels Used for Residential Heat

Lincoln, NE – Due to increased demand for heating products across the Midwest and resulting challenges in timely access to heating fuel, Governor Jim Pillen has issued an executive order to provide emergency relief.  

The executive order temporarily waives federal hours-of-service requirements for commercial motor vehicle drivers hauling residential heating fuels, heating oils, or fuel used to generate power for residential heat into or within the State of Nebraska. The waiver applies only to vehicles transporting these essential heating fuels.

Drivers operating under this order should keep a copy with them. The Governor’s order (25-17) is effective immediately and will remain so through January 3, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

A copy of the order is attached to this email.

Fuel Waver Executive Order - PDF

Contact:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Gov. Pillen Announces Funding Boost, New Direction for Business Innovation Act

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen is announcing a boost in funding, and a new direction for an initiative that has provided funding to Nebraska businesses since it was enacted in 2011. Programs under the Business Innovation Act (BIA) were placed on a brief pause during the last quarter of 2025, so that it could undergo a thorough performance review by the Department of Economic Development (DED). Today, Gov. Pillen issued a memo directing that all funding and operations be restored and strengthened.

“The BIA is an important source of funding for startups and business innovation in Nebraska,” said Gov. Pillen. “But to run government like a business, it’s important to continually assess the performance of any government program to ensure it is making good use of taxpayer dollars. We did so, and the result is that we are going to significantly enhance and strengthen this program.”

With that review completed, Gov. Pillen has directed that the requested appropriation to the Legislature for BIA programs in 2025-2027 increase from approximately $12 million to $15 million beginning in FY 2026-2027, and that future funding for the program be less reliant on general funds. Additionally, Gov. Pillen has directed that DED strengthen its public-private partnerships with organizations like Invest Nebraska, which has proven its capacity to efficiently and cost-effectively deploy BIA capital to promising Nebraska businesses.   

“We are grateful to Governor Pillen for his decision to significantly increase funding for the Business Innovation Act and to strengthen its alignment with Invest Nebraska,” said Heath Mello, president & CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber. “The BIA has long been one of Nebraska’s most effective tools for driving innovation, entrepreneurship, and high-wage job creation. The Chamber has been proud advocates of this program since the beginning, and we have appreciated the Governor’s willingness to collaborate on this issue.”

Mello also commended Gov. Pillen’s decision to boost funding for the BIA. Based on a 2020 report authored and issued by the UNL Bureau of Business Research:

• Each $1 of BIA Funding has resulted in $5.75 in private investment
• 1,108 direct jobs have been created
• The average wage of these direct jobs is $67,064
• Each $1 of BIA funding has resulted in $9.77 in revenue
• The annual economic impact of the BIA has surpassed $517 million 

“Nebraska has seen an incredible ROI with this program and this expanded commitment will only accelerate that impact,” added Mello. “This is a smart, forward-looking decision that reinforces Nebraska’s competitiveness and sends a strong signal that our state is serious about growing the next generation of innovative companies.”

The memorandum from Gov. Pillen is attached to this email. 

Business Innovation Act Memo