Latest News from the Governor's Office

CONTACT:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Gov. Pillen Requests USDA Disaster Designation to Help Producers Affected by Wildfires

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen has requested a disaster designation from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to support areas impacted by wildfires in March and April. The designation, if approved, would open options to directly assist producers in affected counties.

“Agriculture is the backbone of our state, and we must continue fighting for our neighbors in need by securing every resource available,” said Gov. Jim Pillen. “I deeply appreciate Secretary Rollins for visiting Nebraska during these devastating wildfires. Her partnership and commitment to our rural communities have been tremendous.”

The request for a Secretarial Disaster Designation is the most recent action taken by Gov. Pillen to assist in recovery from the Morrill, Cottonwood, Ashby and Minor fires. Collectively, more than 850,000 acres were destroyed, a large portion of that land used for cow-calf operations and yearling cattle grazing. Due to the destruction of stored hay supplies, ranchers in western Nebraska have been forced to graze their cattle on low-nutrient winter pastures, creating a severe feed shortage that threatens the health and survival of their herds.

The disaster request covers Garden, Grant, Lincoln and Morrill counties. Garden County, which has an estimated grassland loss of 63.64 percent, well exceeds the threshold for a disaster designation. The other counties did not meet the 30 percent threshold, but if granted, a designation would make producers in those counties eligible for FSA emergency loans.

Last month, Gov. Pillen asked President Trump for a disaster declaration to help cover the cost of damage to public infrastructure in Arthur, Garden, Grant, Lincoln and Morrill counties. If approved, it will assist with funding repairs to roads, bridges and power infrastructure.

Additionally, Gov. Pillen was in Oshkosh today to hear from invited county leaders about their experiences during and after the wildfires. He was joined at the event by Department of Agriculture Director Sherry Vinton, Major General Craig Strong, adjutant general for the Nebraska National Guard, Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Assistant Director Erv Portis and Senator Paul Strommen.

“There is much work still to be done, but I’m extraordinarily grateful for all the support that we have received and to see Nebraska coming together,” said Gov. Pillen. “We truly live in the greatest state, with the greatest people, never afraid to lend a hand and help a neighbor. We will continue our recovery together.”

CONTACT:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Gov. Pillen, Farmers, Ranchers and Ag Industry Supporters Celebrate Passage of LB 525

GOTHENBURG, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen, Senator Mike Jacobson, and Sherry Vinton, director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, joined members of Nebraska’s agricultural industry at the Machine Shed near Gothenburg to celebrate passage of a first of its kind bill for protecting agricultural data. LB 525 was introduced initially in the 2025 legislative session by Sen. Jacobson on behalf of Gov. Pillen and was passed this year. It establishes clear rules for the collection, processing and use of agricultural data in a way that best protects the privacy of farmers and ranchers who own the data.  

“Nebraska has always been a leader when it comes to agricultural innovation. LB 525 represents critical, forward-thinking policy when it comes to preserving the future of our family farms,” said Gov. Pillen. “Who better to lead the country in this space than us? Again, Nebraska is setting the standard – one that will add value and protect our state’s key economic engine -- agriculture.”

Over the past 30 years, agricultural production has been significantly transformed through advances in technology, just like many other industries. Farmers rely on GPS-guided steering in tractors, sprayers and combines, computerized seeding rate systems, variable-rate chemigation and irrigation technology, and real-time yield data captured during harvest. Every season, an incredible amount of information is collected that farmers and producers can capitalize on if properly it’s protected.  

“Agriculture is Nebraska's largest industry, and modern operations generate significant amounts of proprietary digital data that our producers rely on. I was proud to partner with Governor Pillen to pass LB 525 to establish clear legal protections for this valuable operational data, explicitly prohibiting its unauthorized sale and requiring reasonable security standards,” said Sen. Jacobsen. “As the first state in the nation to enact these specific digital privacy safeguards, Nebraska is not waiting for federal regulations to address this issue. Instead, we have enacted a practical, state-level framework that protects the private business records of our farmers and ranchers while ensuring technology providers respect the privacy rights of our producers.”

LB 525 addresses this digital evolution by clearly defining ‘agricultural data’ – a definition that previously did not exist in state statue. The legislation ensures that the unique expertise and production practices farmers develop through years of decision-making are legally protected under clear data ownership laws.

“This legislation brings important clarity for Nebraska farmers and ensures they maintain control of their data as agriculture continues to evolve,” said Michael Dibbern, president of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association. “It is an important step in supporting producers as they adopt new technology and make decisions for their operations.”

The heart of the legislation explicitly states that ag producers own the data originating from their farms and ranches. This puts them in the driver’s seat, permitting them to decide how to use their data, whom to share it with, and how to derive further value from it. Additionally, the law mandates clear, conspicuous disclosure, requiring written consent from the producer before a third party can sell the data.  

Under LB 525, all contracts and agreements involving agricultural data must be updated by January 1, 2027, to reflect these new statutory changes.

“Nebraska feeds the world and saves the planet,” added Gov. Pillen. “It’s a privilege to join the farmers and ranchers who do this work every day. By securing these data rights, we are securing the future of Nebraska agriculture.”

CONTACT:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Gov. Pillen Applauds Court Order Ending Tuition Benefits for Illegal Aliens in Nebraska 

LINCOLN, NE - Today, Governor Jim Pillen applauded an order of Nebraska’s federal district court which will end the practice established through a 2006 state law of allowing some illegal aliens living in Nebraska to have the benefit of resident tuition while denying the same benefit to Americans from other states.

"This is a thorough and well-reasoned opinion that finally brings Nebraska law into alignment with important federal requirements that forbid giving unfair benefits to illegal aliens.

This decision affirms that illegal aliens should not be receiving benefits that are then denied to other Americans. As Judge Buescher noted in his opinion, this practice is a blatant violation of federal law. I am grateful to President Trump’s DOJ and the team in the Nebraska AG’s office for their efforts on this important case."

CONTACT:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Gov. Pillen, Senators, Public Power Representatives Celebrate New Energy Opportunities Through LB 1261

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen ceremoniously signed legislation today that will help preserve current energy production in the state, establish requirements for facilities wishing to generate their own power and ensure that customers are not left to foot the bill for the additional usage. Surrounded by state senators and representatives from public power entities, the Governor signed LB1261, which was introduced on his behalf during the last legislative session by Senator Barry DeKay.

“Our state is once again taking a bold and strategic step – one that will create an environment that attracts business and multibillion dollar investment, while legally preserving Nebraska’s unique and consumer-friendly public power model,” said Gov. Pillen.

“LB1261 incentivizes private industries, bringing 1000+ MW hyperscale electric loads, to pay the full cost of building and maintaining their energy infrastructure,” added Sen. DeKay. “If these new hyperscale loads do materialize, this legislation protects public power by placing the cost burden on the private industry instead of the public -- the owners and ratepayers of public power.”  

LB 1261 alters the existing authority given to public power utility districts to exercise eminent domain over privately developed electricity generation facilities. To ensure quality for this exemption, a facility must strictly meet a multi-part statutory test. The privately funded generation facility must serve a single-user entity with a new electric load exceeding 1,000 megawatts at a single site, and it must be physically located on, or adjacent to, that large industrial customer. Furthermore, the project requires formal approval from the Nebraska Power Review Board. Parties must execute a long-term contract with the local public power district, and the facility can only be used to serve that specific industrial partner.

Crucially, the law shifts 100% of the financial burden for constructing new energy generation to the large corporation. The industrial customer must pay for all costs, grid upgrade fees, and congestion charges resulting from their project. This ensures that everyday residential and small-business ratepayers are not subsidizing massive grid upgrades needed for hyperscale facilities.

By balancing innovation with strict regulatory safeguards, this behind-the-meter legislation ensures Nebraska remains highly competitive for future development while safely anchoring the state’s existing infrastructure and protecting consumers for generations to come.

Today’s speakers highlighted the collaborative effort among private industry, public power and state senators to ensure the new law met the expectations of all involved.

“If the market should shift or if the purpose they’re trying to serve with these mega loads change, we don’t want public power taking that hit,” stressed Sen. Moser. “This bill allows public power to negotiate with these big power users to protect the ratepayers. The public power companies are required to serve people who want to use electricity. If we didn’t have this bill, they could be involved in building some really big behind-the-meter project, and then, should something go wrong, ratepayers would have to bail it out and that wouldn't be fair.”

“The public power industry appreciates the collaboration on LB 1261 with Governor Pillen, senators DeKay and Moser and numerous others to protect Nebraska electric consumers while promoting unique economic development opportunities,” added John McClure, the Nebraska Public Power District’s general counsel.

Speaking on behalf of Tenaska, Delette Marengo said LB 1261 represented the right approach for securing new energy resources and growing economic opportunities. Based in Nebraska, Tenaska is one of the largest privately held energy companies in the United States.

“LB 1261 also sends an important message beyond our borders: Nebraska understands the energy demands of the modern economy and is prepared to meet them in a way that protects consumers and respects our public power tradition. That matters when companies are deciding where to invest and where to build.”

"As I love to say, we’re incredibly open for business,” said Gov. Pillen. “When we look at the future, I think behind-the-meter is really transformative legislation. It’s a piece that we will look back on in years to come that had a gigantic impact on the state of Nebraska."

CONTACT:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Gov. Pillen Issues Statement Upon Departure of Hantavirus-Exposed Guests from UNMC

LINCOLN, NE -- Governor Jim Pillen issued the statement below following the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s (UNMC) announcement that, in coordination with the CDC and home state governments, some of the hantavirus-exposed guests who have been quarantined at the National Quarantine Unit (NQU) in Omaha will return home:

“This is a positive development and the product of the ongoing partnership between the state of Nebraska, UNMC, and our federal health partners. While it is encouraging that many of our guests are remaining at the NQU for the last few weeks of their hantavirus quarantine, those who have elected to go home are doing so with a lower risk profile and in close coordination with health authorities in their destination states.

As I have made clear from the beginning of this event, no guest who poses a public health risk will leave the NQU onto the streets of Omaha in an unsecured way or at an inappropriate time. These thoughtful and well-coordinated departures meet that standard.

I’m grateful to our counterparts in other state governments, our federal health partners in the Trump Administration, and the world-class professionals at UNMC for all their hard work.”