Latest News from the Governor's Office

CONTACT:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Gov. Pillen Hosts USDA Secretary Rollins for Nebraska Cattle Industry Roundtable

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen hosted U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins Monday evening for a roundtable discussion with Nebraska cattle producers to address key economic and environmental challenges facing the cattle industry. The event followed a visit by the USDA Secretary to the Nebraska State Fair where she announced a platform of initiatives aimed at addressing beef prices for consumers, expanding the nation’s cattle herd, as well as processing capacity.

During the one-hour meeting hosted in the Governor’s Hearing Room at the State Capitol, Gov. Pillen and Sec. Rollins heard from nearly 15 invited ranchers from across the state who offered their perspectives, as well as suggestions for supporting their industry.

“We want to ensure that Sec. Rollins hears directly from Nebraska cattlemen. Agriculture is the lifeblood of our state, and when our cattle industry thrives, all of Nebraska thrives,” said Gov. Pillen. “Agriculture is the top of the spear of our economy and if our producers are doing well, everybody is doing well.”

During the meeting and speaking later to invited media, Sec. Rollins outlined the USDA’s Ranchers First Initiative, a federal effort aimed at rebuilding the nation’s cattle herd, which now sits at a 75-year low.

“We hear this over and over, that if we lose more ranches, if this trend continues, then we will lose freedom in this country. Where there is beef, there is freedom. If we’re not able to feed and fuel ourselves, we will no longer know the American dream,” Rollins said.

The USDA’s actions build on the department’s October 2025 Plan to Fortify the American Beef Industry and are designed to provide ranchers with additional risk management tools while addressing processing capacity and market concerns. The five-point plan includes expanding support and resources for new ranchers, including veterans; expediting recovery from natural disasters; a heifer retention program for boosting breeding herds; prioritizing the availability of American beef in schools, hospitals, prisons and other institutions; and strengthening small and regional processing facilities.

“I’m grateful to Sec. Rollins for being here to listen directly to our ranchers. I know how hard she is fighting for America’s producers and in particular, Nebraska’s,” said Gov Pillen. “I am proud to partner with her as we plow ahead together to strengthen our ag economy.”

Gov. Pillen and Sec. Rollins Discuss with Ranchers at a Roundtable

Sec. Rollins speaks with reporters alongside local ranchers following a roundtable discussion

Gov. Pillen highlights the importance of backing Nebraska ranchers and thanks Sec. Rollins for her support 

CONTACT:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Gov. Pillen Announces Appointments to Boards & Commissions

LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced appointments made to boards and commissions from May 1, 2026 through July 31, 2026.

A list of current board and commission openings can be found on the Governor’s website (Current Openings for Boards and Commissions), along with instructions on completing an application.

Board of Educational Lands and Funds

Jeffrey White – Norfolk

Board of Engineers & Architects

Trenton Reed – Lincoln

Board of Emergency Medical Services

Joel Cerny – Schuyler

Robin Darnall – Harrisburg

Dale Dibbs – Kearney

Todd Hovey – McCook

Carolyn Moore – Valentine

Dion Neumiller – Broken Bow

Deborah Wiens - Omaha

Board of Public Roads Classifications & Standards

Chris Jacobsen – Broken Bow

James McDonald – David City

Barbara Keegan – Hemingford

Kent Andersen - Lemoyne

Bruce Filipi - Milligan

Nathan Sorben - Waverly

Conveyance Advisory Committee

Josh Josoff – Omaha

Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education

Beth Forney - Alliance        

Corn Development, Utilization & Marketing Board

Michael Bergen – Aurora

Matt Sullivan - Superior

County Attorney Standards Advisory Council

Michael Adamowicz – Lincoln

Patrick Condon – Lincoln

Michael Friend – Bennington

Shawn Hagerty - Omaha

Donald Kleine – Omaha

Crime Victim’s Reparations Committee

Weysan Dun – Omaha

Mike Jones – Papillion

Developmental Disabilities Advisory Committee

Paula A Dodds – Omaha

Shane Hunter - Omaha

Matthew Kasik – Lincoln

Kristene Larsen - Lincoln

Mark Shriver - Omaha

Alexis Schweitzer – Lincoln

Joseph Valenti - Omaha

Tiffany Wilson - Lincoln

Dry Pea and Lentil Commission

Logan Govier – Broken Bow

Tyler Hughes – Imperial

Economic Forecasting Advisory Board

Matthew Miltenberger – Omaha

Grape & Winery Board

Michael (Mick) McDowell – St Paul

Jennifer Reeder – Lincoln

Health Information Technology Board

Ronald Klein – Norfolk

Stephen Salzbrenner – Omaha

Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision

Bob Denton – Lincoln

Susan Penner – Lincoln

Interstate Compact for Juveniles

Abbie Christian – Lincoln

Jail Standards Board

Brad Alexander – Plattsmouth

Jacci Brown – Champion

Vonnie Cotant – Gering

Keith Harvat – Omaha

Jesse Jensen – Madison

Marc A Leonardo - Omaha

Nebraska Board of Geologists

Nancy Mann – Lincoln

Nebraska Children’s Commission

Clarice Jackson – Omaha

Nancy Lyon – Kearney

Nebraska Commission on Problem Gambling

Jonathan Gayer – Lincoln

Kelly Lambert – Trumbull

Claudia Moore – Omaha

Nebraska Craft Brewery Board

Nathan Hoeft – Hastings

Nikolai Knezovich – Lincoln

Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Commission

Nicholas Baxter – Omaha

Daniel O’Neill – North Platte

Aly Williams - Fremont

Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission

Arla Meyer - Lincoln

Nebraska Hall of Fame Commission

Sara B Crook – Peru

Johnny Rodgers - Omaha

Lisa Roskens - Omaha

Nebraska Information Technology Commission

Paul Biodrowski – Papillion

James Ediger – Aurora

Richard Haugerud – Lincoln

Nebraska-Ireland Commission

Rodney Kempkes – Omaha

Dr Eric J Neuman – Omaha

Nebraska Natural Resources Commission

Donald Batie – Lexington

Devin Brundage – Gothenburg

Brad Dunbar – Omaha

Larry Mohrman – Columbus

Walter Strauch - Mitchell

Rich Walters - Kearney

Nebraska Real Estate Commission

Michael George – Plattsmouth

Nebraska State Colleges Board of Trustees

Angela Stenger - Norfolk

Reentry Continuity Advisory Board

Diane Good – Omaha

State Board of Health

Dr Micah Kohles – Louisville

State Records Board

Sean Blocher – Elkhorn

Beau Reid – Waterloo

Workforce Development Board

Jordan Diedrich – Gering

Gregory Hamm – Fort Calhoun

Brandon Kelliher – North Platte

Heath Mello – Omaha

Eric J Stueckrath – Omaha

Wyuka Cemetery Board of Trustees

Brad Brodersen - Lincoln

CONTACT:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Senator Ben Sasse to Keynote Governor’s Summit in September

Register for the 2026 Governor’s Summit at govsummit.nebraska.gov.

LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced that Ben Sasse, who served Nebraska as a U.S. senator from 2015-2023, will headline the 2026 Governor’s Summit on September 29, 2026 in Kearney.

“Ben Sasse is a model of courage in the face of adversity,” said Gov. Pillen. "He has served our state admirably, and he has inspired millions of people through his faith and grit. I’m incredibly grateful for his willingness to keynote this year’s Summit.”

“I love Nebraska—this incredible state and these big-hearted neighbors mean the world to me and my family,” said Ben Sasse. “I’m grateful for Governor Pillen’s invitation and eager to spend some time with the next generation of Nebraska leaders.”

A Nebraska native, Senator Sasse is a nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where his work focuses on higher education, innovation, technology, American history and culture, and national security. Before joining AEI, he was the president of the University of Florida, a U.S. senator, the president of Midland University, an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin, and an assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He also spent more than a decade advising corporate leadership teams on strategic issues.

Sen. Sasse is the author of national bestselling books Them: Why We Hate Each Other—and How to Heal (2018) and The Vanishing American Adult: Our Coming-of-Age Crisis—and How to Rebuild a Culture of Self-Reliance (2017). He holds a PhD and two master’s degrees from Yale University; a master’s degree from St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland; and a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University.

The 2026 Governor’s Summit officially kicks off on Monday afternoon, Sept. 28, with a statewide 6 Regions, One Nebraska update. On Monday evening, the Nebraska Diplomats will host a reception and awards banquet.

Tuesday, Sept. 29, is the primary day of the Governor’s Summit. It features remarks from Gov. Pillen, a morning keynote from Ben Sasse, a full slate of breakout sessions, and the second annual Governor’s Youth Summit.

Register for the Diplomats Banquet and Governor’s Summit.  Are you a student? Students sign up for the Youth Summit.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 27, 2026

CONTACT:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Gov. Pillen Announces IRS Tax Relief for Fire and Storm Impacted Residents/Businesses

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen has announced the approved postponement of tax filings and payments for individuals and businesses in parts of Nebraska that were impacted by wildfires and storms beginning on March 12, 2026. The issuance of tax relief by the IRS applies to five separate state disaster declarations. As a result, affected individuals and businesses now have until Feb. 1, 2027, to file returns and pay any taxes that were originally due during that time.

Gov. Pillen requested tax relief from the IRS under newly passed federal legislation that allows the IRS to grant tax relief based on a governor’s declared disaster or state emergency, rather than waiting for a federal disaster declaration, which can take longer for review and approval. Under the legislation, a qualified state-declared disaster is any natural catastrophe, fire, flood, or explosion that causes damage of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant a request to postpone such federal tax deadlines. This is the first time Nebraska has made and received tax relief from the IRS under the new law.

“When a disaster strikes, surviving the immediate aftermath takes priority. Undoubtedly, this year has weighed heavily on those who experienced losses and/or damage resulting from the fires and storms that happened just months ago,” said Gov. Pillen. “This determination from the IRS will hopefully provide a little respite to Nebraskans in those counties who were affected, by allowing them the time to meet their tax obligations without incurring additional penalties.”

The five state-declared disasters and current list of counties include:

March Wildfire Declaration: Morrill, Garden, Arthur, Keith, Grant, Lincoln, Dawson, Frontier, Saunders, Red Willow

Pressey Wildfire: Custer

May Severe Storms: Buffalo, Fillmore, Gage, Howard, Jefferson, Nemaha, Richardson, Thayer, Thurston

May Wildfires: Dawes

June Wildfires: Sioux

Should additional counties be added to the declared disasters above, residents and businesses in those counties will also be eligible to postpone filings and payments until Feb. 1. Additionally, if a resident or business receives a late filing or late payment penalty notice that falls within the defined postponement period, the taxpayer should call the number on the notice to have the IRS abate the penalty.

The IRS has published additional information pertaining to each of the five declared disasters on its website: IRS Newsroom - Nebraska.

CONTACT:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Gov. Pillen Joins Rollins and Kennedy Pledging Healthier Meals for School Kids

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Governor Jim Pillen, a strong advocate of reforming America’s diet and food choices, today pledged his support for providing healthier meal options to Nebraska students. He joined federal and state officials, children and others at the U.S. Department of Agriculture headquarters in Washington D.C. in explaining the goals of the pledge as well as additional objectives included in the USDA’s Harvest to Hallways program.

“This is one thing I know – we all agree -- our kids are our future and we’re never, ever going to give up one kid anywhere, anytime, anyplace,” said Gov. Pillen. “This isn’t just a state problem. This isn’t a federal government problem. It’s all our responsibilities as Americans to look after these young people so they can grow up and be extraordinary leaders in the United States of America.”

As part of the pledge, participating school districts can choose from a range of flexible menu updates, such as replacing breakfast pastries with whole-food options, preparing meat using healthier cooking methods, and offering 100% whole-grain products. Schools can also prioritize whole fruits, elevate the quality of school snacks, and offer whole milk to better support student growth.

States can voluntarily implement these meaningful updates within schools that take part in the National School Lunch Program (NLSP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP). Improvements may be adopted as soon as feasible within existing procurement guidelines and federal meal pattern rules.

Gov. Pillen joined USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., touting the benefits of the pledge program at today’s news conference. Just last week, Gov. Pillen joined HHS Sec. Kennedy in highlighting other aspects of President Trump’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda during a visit to the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). The Harvest to Hallways program represents another phase of that agenda, specifically focused on bringing more American agriculture directly into schools. Efforts include connecting cafeterias with farmers and ranchers in their own communities, making investments in school kitchens and equipment as well as eliminating barriers that have made it difficult to serve healthy food within schools.

By joining the pledge, participating states are helping accelerate federal progress as the USDA updates school meal standards through formal rulemaking. The initiative underscores a shared commitment to serving nourishing, whole foods that foster lifelong healthy eating habits.

“I believe this is one of the most incredible opportunities to make a difference for generations to come,” added Gov. Pillen. “I’m thankful to Sec. Rollins and Sec. Kennedy for leading this movement. Nebraska is eager to step up and set an example for other states that sign the pledge as well.”

For more information about the pledge for healthier school meals, visit USDA School Meals Healthier Pledge. 

Gov. Pillen at USDA headquarters for Harvest to Hallways announcement

Gov. Pillen speaks at press conference following Harvest to Hallways announcement

Gov. Pillen speaks at press conference following Harvest to Hallways announcement