Latest News from the Governor's Office

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

CONTACT:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Gov. Pillen Supports Union Pacific Transcontinental Railroad Merger

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen released the following statement signaling the state of Nebraska’s support for Union Pacific’s merger with Norfolk Southern. The statement followed an announcement from Union Pacific that the two companies filed an application with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) for approval. According to Union Pacific’s submission to the federal government, it expects over 500 new managerial employees at their Omaha headquarters. 

“With continued investment in its Omaha-based headquarters and the people of this great state, we are proud to support Union Pacific’s efforts to create the nation’s first transcontinental railroad. A Nebraska-born and grown business, UP helps our farming and ranching families feed the world and transports the materials that are building the future of our country. Nebraska — a friend to business and perfectly located to serve as a nationwide transportation hub — is proud to be home of UP’s past and future successes.”

In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln created Union Pacific after signing the Pacific Railway Act. Union Pacific laid its first track in Omaha three years later in 1865. Since that time, Union Pacific has called Nebraska home. 

Once approved, our country’s first transcontinental railroad will transform “10,000 existing lanes from interline service into faster, more efficient single-line service – eliminating time-consuming handoffs between railroads.”

CONTACT:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Gov. Pillen Appoints Ashley Newmyer as Director of Public Health

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen is announcing his appointment of Ashley Newmyer as director of the Division of Public Health for the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). She has been serving as interim director since May of this year.

Newmyer has had multiple roles with DHHS since 2010, most notably around data collection, analytics and reporting. She was the deputy director for health data within the Division of Public Health in 2019, before becoming the agency data operator. Newmyer also served as an epidemiology surveillance coordinator for six years where she launched and secured grants for a variety of surveillance and monitoring programs including those related to injuries and prescription drugs.

Newmyer has a degree in psychology from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and she earned a Master of Public Health in Biostatistics degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Newmyer most recently completed a chief data and analytics officer program through George Mason University.

Newmyer’s permanent appointment is effective Dec. 22 at an annual salary of $170,000.

Contact:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Gov. Pillen Provides Progress Update on Tyson Support Services, Announces New Hotline and Additional Assistance Dates

LINCOLN, NE -- Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced further progress in assisting workers impacted by the upcoming Tyson meat processing plant closure in Lexington. Altogether, over 1,600 individuals attended Rapid Response layoff services events and job fairs at the Dawson County Fairgrounds and Lexington Middle School over the last two weeks. These efforts were designed to provide timely information, connect displaced workers with employment opportunities, and ensure access to workforce and supportive services.  Nearly 600 individuals have registered in the Department of Labor’s employment website, NEworks.nebraska.gov.

“Lexington has been and will continue to be an all-American community. We want to make sure of that. The state is engaging to the greatest extent possible to help people meet immediate needs and identify employment opportunities,” said Gov. Pillen.

Commissioner of Labor Katie Thurber has personally attended several of the scheduled Rapid Response and job fairs hosted by the department. She said the participation by Tyson’s workforce has been encouraging.

“They are demonstrating Nebraska’s strong work ethic and are taking the steps necessary to transfer their skills within our state,” said Commissioner Thurber. “This response has demonstrated the value of aligning Rapid Response layoff services, job fairs, and registration support into a coordinated, sustained effort that will hopefully prove beneficial to the workers and their families.”

State agencies are collaborating with local partners, employers, community organizations, and volunteers. Participants in recent events received information on:

Workforce programs and job search services

Unemployment Insurance

Training and retraining opportunities

Community and human services including SNAP, SNAP E&T, Medicaid, Employment First and other programs

Erick Carrillo, the Department of Labor’s director of reemployment services, said it has been heartening to see various agencies and individuals provide a path forward to workers and their families.  “What stands out to me is that the state agencies are giving people options,” Carrillo said.  “We are helping people identify ways that they can make the most of this situation and we are partnering with them through the entire process, which looks different for each affected worker.”

Over 150 employers have taken part in the response efforts through participation in job fairs and other outreach efforts to the Tyson workforce.  Employers are encouraged to post their jobs at NEworks.nebraska.gov.

Participating employers and a summary of job openings are listed on the Department of Economic Development’s Lexington resources web page, opportunity.nebraska.gov/Lexington. The page also includes information about employment and community resources for individuals and families impacted by the plant closure.

A hotline is now also available for Lexington workers needing assistance with programs and services available through Health and Human Services or the Department of Labor.   Language assistance is available.

“My team is working to eliminate barriers to accessing important resources,” added Gov. Pillen. “The hotline aims to streamline access for individuals with questions regarding programs that may benefit them most during this time.”

The phone number for assistance is 308-407-1517. 

Listed below are upcoming dates and events that Tyson employees can participate in, arranged through the Department of Labor. All will be held at the Dawson County Fairgrounds. The NEworks sessions are designed to provide assistance with registering in NEworks.nebraska.gov, where workers can find employment and file for unemployment benefits when their job ends.

Dec. 29

            10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.        NEworks Session

Jan. 8

            10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.        NEworks Session

            1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.          Job Fair

Jan. 9

            10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.        NEworks Session

            1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.          Job Fair

Jan. 15

            10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.        NEworks Session

            1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.          Job Fair

Jan. 16

            10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.        NEworks Session

            1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.          Job Fair