Latest News from the Governor's Office

CONTACT:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Gov. Pillen Signs Legislation Improving County Zoning Processes for Ag Producers

West Point, NE -- Today, Governor Jim Pillen signed legislation aimed at improving county zoning processes for ag producers. At the Nebraska Dairy Convention and Trade Show in West Point, he put his signature on LB 663, which creates a uniform, transparent and expedited process for the application, review and approval of conditional use and special exemption permit applications.

“This is a huge win for our dairy industry and all livestock development in Nebraska,” said Gov. Pillen. “We are becoming a national leader in dairy growth. If we want to capture more of that economic impact here at home – creating careers, supporting farm families, and strengthening our rural communities -- we must make it easier for producers to expand and invest.”

Gov. Pillen was joined at the signing event by Senator Tanya Storer, Senator Rita Sanders who chairs the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, ag group representatives and others. LB 663, introduced by Sen. Storer last year, creates new requirements for county boards and commissions when considering such permits by:

• Mandating education hours for certain county officials

• Requiring that conditional use permits or special exemptions be considered only on county zoning regulations

• Establishing timelines for county commissions to act on permit applications

“LB 663 is the result of over a year of collaborative work with both NACO and the agriculture industry,” said Sen. Storer. “This legislation aims to improve our zoning laws by preserving the local control counties need to best represent their geographic areas while creating more consistency and transparency for our ag producers seeking to expand and diversify their operations.”

Under the law, counties must determine whether an application is complete within 30 days and notify the applicant within 10 days. Once complete, officials have 90 days to approve or deny the application. If no action is taken within that timeframe, the application is automatically approved.

To address concerns and provide county officials with a way to manage application issues, an amendment was added to the final bill. Should information come to light during the 90-day consideration period, which might materially affect the application, officials can require that a new application be submitted. That restarts the clock on the 90-day window that officials have to approve or deny it.

“Nebraska’s farm and ranch families are committed to this state and to building a strong future for the next generation,” said Mark McHargue, president of the Nebraska Farm Bureau. “LB 663 brings much-needed clarity, consistency, and accountability to a zoning process that directly impacts farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. When producers are making major long-term investments, they need clear expectations and reasonable timelines.”

Speaking on behalf of Nebraska pork producers, President Walt Traudt shared his appreciation for passage of LB 663, also citing the clarity and consistency it provides to livestock operations.

“This legislation creates a more transparent and predictable livestock siting process, including reasonable timelines for permitting decisions. That certainly allows producers to plan for the future, invest with confidence, and continue supporting responsible growth and economic opportunity in rural communities across Nebraska.”

CONTACT:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Gov Pillen, USDOT Sec. Duffy Announce Partnership to Cut Red Tape

Nebraska will be able to deliver vital road and bridge infrastructure projects at the Speed of Trump

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Governor Jim Pillen and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced a new agreement with Nebraska through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to clear the way for big, beautiful infrastructure projects to be built faster and more efficiently. Nebraska will now assume responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which will streamline the environmental review process for the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT). 

“President Trump and Secretary Duffy are making great efforts to empower states by allowing decisions to be made at the local level — cutting through layers of over-the-top, environmental regulation,” said Gov. Pillen. “For decades, bureaucrats have delayed or blocked critical infrastructure projects. But today, the Nebraska Department of Transportation can streamline government, accelerate timelines, and increase affordability as we continue to build our state’s future. This agreement reflects our partnership up and down the Trump Administration as we continue to deliver results for Nebraskans.”

“Nebraska is building again thanks to President Trump,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “Today’s agreement removes unnecessary federal red tape — ensuring more major infrastructure projects are built on time and on budget. I hope to see other states follow Nebraska’s lead so we can get shovels in the ground sooner and continue delivering results for the American people.”

“Burdensome reviews and approvals by Washington have slowed progress on road and highway improvements in Nebraska and across the country,” said FHWA Administrator Sean McMaster. “Now NDOT, the agency that knows Nebraska’s transportation needs best, will be able to take on additional NEPA responsibilities and ensure projects like the Lincoln East Beltway are completed in less time and at less cost to taxpayers.”

“I want to thank Secretary Duffy and Administrator McMaster for their leadership and commitment to empowering states to deliver transportation projects more efficiently,” said NDOT Director Kramer. “Our experience delivering categorical exclusions coupled with a strong partnership with the Federal Highway Administration allowed Nebraska to achieve full Section 327 NEPA Assignment in less than a year. This milestone is a direct reflection of the Trump Administration’s intense focus on streamlining project delivery. I am incredibly proud of the NDOT team and grateful for the support of Governor Pillen and our federal partners as we work to deliver critical infrastructure improvements more effectively for Nebraskans.”

Nebraska is the third state to join USDOT in this new partnership model. Last summer, Secretary Duffy promptly signed a renewed NEPA MOU with the Texas Department of Transportation, and just last month, the FHWA Administrator signed a NEPA Assignment MOU with Maine DOT.

Nebraska projects that will benefit from this MOU include:

• Lincoln East Beltway – this project includes the final segment of a beltway around the city of Lincoln planned since the 1970s. It will be a four-lane freeway from the eastern end of the South Bypass (NE-2) and connect to Interstate 80 near the city of Waverly.
• US-75 Corridor Study, N-370 to Interstate 80 – this project would improve approximately six miles of US-75 from Interstate 80 in Omaha south to N-370 in Bellevue. Plans include reconstruction of mainline pavement and structures, enhanced traffic operations and safety, and improvements to seven interchanges serving the south Omaha metro area, including Bellevue and Offutt Air Force Base.
• Interstate 480 Corridor Study, Interstate 80 to Harney Street – this project would improve mobility, safety and reduce delays on Interstate 480, where travelers in the central Omaha metro region experience high traffic volumes, collisions and recurring operational problems. Improvements will enhance traffic flow, reduce the frequency and severity of crashes and provide a more dependable corridor for the movement of people and goods.
• The City of Beatrice’s Court Street Access and Safety Transformation Project – this project would reroute US-136 one block south to Market Street from its current location on Court Street. Moving through traffic and trucks south of Market will lead to increased safety in the downtown business area and allow Court Street to be redeveloped into a more pedestrian-focused corridor. The Department executed a $21 million grant agreement for the Beatrice project today as part of its efforts to move cut red tape and projects forward as quickly as possible. 

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen and Deputy Secretary of Transportation Steven G. Bradbury.

FHWA Administrator Sean McMaster, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, Deputy Secretary of Transportation Steven G. Bradbury, and Director of the Nebraska Department of Transportation Vicki Kramer.

Additional Information:

• Nebraska joins Texas and Maine in answering Secretary Duffy’s July 17, 2025 letter to the governors encouraging states “to take advantage of unique statutory authority and assume the federal environmental review process” for projects in compliance with NEPA. The agreement with Nebraska under the NEPA Assignment Program is the third reached under the Trump Administration with state DOTs and builds on actions taken by the Department to give states more decision-making authority over their projects. 

• FHWA also provides technical assistance to states and recently co-hosted a NEPA Assignment Peer Exchange to further promote the benefits of NEPA assignment and encourage more states to participate in the program. With Nebraska’s participation, nine states now have assumed full NEPA responsibility. More have expressed interest in the process.

• In Nebraska, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will give the state more flexibility to better manage their future transportation projects, get shovels in the ground sooner and reduce completion times for projects already underway.

Under the NEPA Assignment Program, states are responsible and liable for making decisions in environmental reviews. Nebraska first obtained a limited NEPA assignment for categorical exclusions in September 2018. Today’s agreement gives Nebraska full programmatic NEPA assignment for environmental assessments and environmental impact statements for future transportation projects in the state. 

CONTACT:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Governor Jim Pillen Appointed to the Council of Governors

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen has been appointed by President Donald Trump to serve on the Council of Governors, a bipartisan group of state leaders focused on strengthening state-federal partnerships in national security, disaster response, and military coordination. A meeting of the group was held Thursday in Washington, D.C.

"It’s an honor to serve on the Council of Governors and I am grateful to be appointed by President Trump,” said Gov. Pillen. “Homeland security, disaster response, and supporting our men and women in uniform are our most important duties as leaders, and the Trump Administration has shown unwavering commitment on all these fronts. I am honored to serve in this role.”

The President appoints 10 governors to the Council for two-year terms - five from each political party - with two governors serving as co-chairs. Federal participants on the Council include the secretaries of defense and homeland security, the President’s homeland security and counterterrorism advisor, commander of the U.S. Northern Command and the chief of the National Guard Bureau, among others.

CONTACT:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Gov. Pillen Delegates Kearney Mayor Authority to Lower Flags in Honor of Mike Yanney

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen is honoring a request from the mayor of Kearney to include city facilities in a flag order honoring Nebraskan Mike Yanney. Under his authority, the Governor has granted Mayor Jonathan Nikkila permission to order flags to half-staff on Saturday, February 21, the day of Yanney’s interment. Yanney was born and raised in Kearney. He died on Feb. 14 at the age of 92.

The submitted request said in part, “Mr. Yanney’s profound, ongoing commitment to the Kearney community will be felt forever by the citizens of Kearney and the thousands of visitors who enjoy Yanney Heritage Park. His extraordinary contribution to Kearney’s quality of life leaves an impact that will be enjoyed for generations to come.”

A separate flag order was issued by the Governor in coordination with Mayor John Ewing of Omaha. It also authorizes the lowering of flags at city facilities to half-staff on Saturday.

CONTACT:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Gov. Pillen Delegates Omaha Mayor Authority to Lower Flags in Honor of Mike Yanney

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen, in coordination with Mayor John Ewing of Omaha, has delegated the mayor the authority to order all U.S. and state flags at City of Omaha facilities to be flown at half-staff on Saturday to honor Mike Yanney. Yanney, who was born and raised in Kearney, died on February 14. He was 92.

Yanney, founder of Burlington Capital, was a noted business and civic leader in Omaha. He and his wife Gail were generous supporters of programs, projects and community initiatives in Omaha and elsewhere in Nebraska.

The flag order will be effective on Feb. 21, the day of Yanney’s interment.