Latest News from the Governor's Office
- Gov. Pillen Announces Appointments to Newly Created School Financing Review Commission July 10, 2025 jim Thu, 07/10/2025 - 13:40
CONTACT:
Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495
Gov. Pillen Announces Appointments to Newly Created School Financing Review Commission
LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced appointments to the School Financing Review Commission, as created through the passage of LB303. The bill, which received bipartisan support from the Legislature on a vote of 48-0, was introduced on the Governor’s behalf by Senator Jana Hughes. When passed, LB303 included an emergency clause, making it effective when Gov. Pillen signed it on June 4.
The commission, consisting of 18 members, is tasked with reviewing the state’s school funding formula – the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act (TEEOSA) – and providing the Legislature with annual recommendations about adjustments to ensure stable state aid to schools, while also reducing property taxes.
“I believe the state needs to fulfill its constitutional obligation to fund public K-12 education. Not run those schools but fund them. Creation of this commission is a first, but critically important step in fixing the 35-year problem that has resulted from TEEOSA,” said Gov. Pillen. “If we are to get a grip on the state’s property tax crisis, we must be willing to address the ever-growing burden that falls on property tax as a result of footing the bill for our schools.”
Commissioner of Education Brian Maher will serve as the commission’s chairperson and the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) will provide assistance to the group. The remaining 17 positions, and the Governor’s appointees, are listed below.
Property Tax Administrator (or designee):
Sarah Scott, Property Tax Administrator
Governor’s Representative:
Grant Latimer, Policy Advisor to Governor Pillen
Representatives Appointed by the Legislature (three, nonvoting):
Senator Dave Murman, Chairman, Education Committee
Senator Eliot Bostar, Appointed by the Revenue Committee
Senator Jana Hughes, Appointed by the Executive Board
Postsecondary Education Representative with Expertise in School Finance:
Paul Turman, Chancellor, State College System
Superintendents or School Board Members from Class I, II, III Districts (four):
Class I: Ann Foster, Superintendent, Brady Public Schools
Class II: Jason Dolliver, Superintendent, Pender Public Schools
Class III: Aaron Plas, Superintendent, Bennington Public Schools
Additional: Keith Runge, President, Columbus Lakeview School Board
Class IV District Member (one) and Class V District Member (one):
Class IV: Liz Standish, Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs, Lincoln Public
Class V: Shavonna Holman, School Board Member, Omaha Public
At-Large Members (five):
Former Senator Lou Ann Linehan
State Treasurer Tom Briese
Certified Public School Teacher: (This position has not yet been appointed)
Former Senator Fred Meyer
John Schwartz, Superintendent, Millard Public Schools
“I appreciate the commitment of these dedicated public servants who, like me, want to ensure the quality of our state’s education, but recognize the need to balance that investment with smart tax policy, making us more competitive with our neighboring states so we can grow Nebraska,” said Gov Pillen. “We are fortunate to have leadership on this commission ready to begin this important initiative.”
- Governor Pillen Praises State Patrol’s Involvement In MS-13 Arrests July 10, 2025 jim Thu, 07/10/2025 - 13:01
CONTACT:
Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495
Governor Pillen Praises State Patrol’s Involvement In MS-13 Arrests
LINCOLN, NE — Governor Jim Pillen released the following statement praising the Nebraska State Patrol’s leading role in the investigation that led to yesterday’s arrests of two violent, illegal alien MS-13 gang members in Omaha.
“We are now able to confirm publicly that yesterday’s MS-13 arrests are the direct result of incredible work by our team at the Nebraska State Patrol. This is a great example of a strong state-federal partnership — and how valuable that communication and coordination is to keeping Nebraskans safe. I’m very proud of this work, and I’ve asked that the State Patrol continue its work to get these illegal, violent criminals off our streets and deported out of our county.”
According to public statements, the Nebraska State Patrol’s Nebraska Information Analysis Center (NIAC Fusion Center) developed intelligence on the MS-13 gang member’s presence in Omaha and shared that information with federal partners at the Department of Homeland Security, leading to the arrests.
The NIAC Fusion Center is a collaborative effort of federal, state, and local agencies working in partnership to detect, prevent, apprehend, and respond to criminal and/or terrorist activity.
Yesterday, Gov. Pillen also thanked ICE officials for their bravery in carrying out the arrests and President Trump for his Administration's emphasis on deporting criminal illegal aliens and securing our borders.
- Breakout Sessions, Speakers Finalized for 2025 Governor’s Summit in Kearney July 9, 2025 jim Wed, 07/09/2025 - 20:54
CONTACT:
Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495
Breakout Sessions, Speakers Finalized for 2025 Governor’s Summit in Kearney
LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen invites Nebraskans to register for the 2025 Governor’s Summit: Growing Nebraska, held August 13-14 in Kearney. Breakout session topics and speakers are now finalized for Thursday, Aug. 14 — the main day of the event. Breakout session information is listed on the Governor’s Summit agenda at govsummit.nebraska.gov/agenda.
This year, the Governor’s Summit will feature three breakout tracks: (1) Workforce, (2) Manufacturing, and (3) the Bioeconomy. Gov. Pillen will host a roundtable for manufacturers during the 9:00 a.m. breakout session. The Governor will also lead a panel of state leaders over the lunch hour. The panel will highlight process improvements in state government that are translating into savings for Nebraskans.
The 2025 Governor’s Summit kicks off on Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 13 with an update on the 6 Regions, One Nebraska initiative. The Governor’s Office, Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, and Nebraska Department of Economic Development co-launched the initiative in 2024 to encourage cooperation, rather than competition, among neighboring communities. Over the past 12+ months, each region has undertaken initial projects, supported by state funding, to tackle issues like housing, workforce, and childcare shortages.
On Wednesday evening, the Nebraska Diplomats will host their annual awards banquet at the Governor’s Summit. Gov. Pillen will provide remarks and present awards to individuals, businesses, and communities who have made significant contributions to the state’s growth.
Husker football coach Matt Rhule will headline Thursday morning’s plenary session of the Governor’s Summit. Participants will then attend breakout sessions, both before and after lunch, on various topics related to workforce development, manufacturing, and the bioeconomy.
This year’s Governor’s Summit will coincide with the first-ever Youth Summit for high school students and recent graduates. The Youth Summit is designed to connect students with rewarding career opportunities in Nebraska. Attendees will meet one-on-one with colleges and employers, gaining privileged access to internships, scholarships, and jobs available within the state.
For the Governor’s Summit agenda and registration information, go to govsummit.nebraska.gov.
More information about the Youth Summit is available at govsummit.nebraska.gov/youth.
- Gov. Pillen Appoints Kortnei N. Smith as County Court Judge for 11th Judicial District July 8, 2025 jim Tue, 07/08/2025 - 15:15
CONTACT:
Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495
Gov. Pillen Appoints Kortnei N. Smith as County Court Judge
for 11th Judicial District
LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced his appointment of Kortnei N. Smith of North Platte as county court judge in the 11th Judicial District. That district includes Arthur, Chase, Dawson, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Gosper, Hayes, Hitchcock, Hooker, Keith, Lincoln, Logan, McPherson, Perkins, Red Willow, and Thomas counties.
Since 2016, Smith has been a deputy county attorney in the Lincoln County Attorney’s office where she has handled both felony and misdemeanor criminal cases, juvenile cases and mental health board hearings. Before that, she was an associate attorney in the firm of Waite, McWha and Heng in North Platte.
Smith fills the vacancy resulting from the retirement of Judge Edward D. Steenburg.
- Gov. Pillen Speaks at National Rollout of USDA Farm Security Action Plan July 8, 2025 jim Tue, 07/08/2025 - 15:09
CONTACT:
Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495
Gov. Pillen Speaks at National Rollout of USDA Farm Security Action Plan
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Governor Jim Pillen joined national and state leaders in Washington, D.C. for the national rollout of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Security Action Plan – a new initiative focused on protecting America’s rural farms, food suppliers and ag interests.
Addressing the crowd outside the USDA Whitten Building, Gov. Pillen highlighted his unique perspective as the first governor from Nebraska in 100 years to make his living from agriculture. Since entering office, Gov. Pillen has issued two executive orders and introduced several bills aimed at protecting the state’s property, infrastructure and other assets from the threat of foreign adversaries. He signed LB644 into law just last month – a comprehensive piece of legislation that among other things, bars companies associated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from receiving Nebraska tax credits.
At today’s event, speakers touched on the variety of emerging threats from China and other nations including land ownership near military installations, intellectual property theft, and bioterrorism. The seven-point plan unveiled today by the USDA was developed in response to the purchase of significant amounts of American farmland by people and companies connected to the CCP.
“Farm security equals food security, which equals national security,” said Gov. Pillen. “Thanks to these actions taken by President Trump and his team, we can further protect the backbone of Nebraska’s economy from foreign adversaries like China.”
Additional speakers at today’s event, hosted by USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, included Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Attorney General Pam Bondi, White House Counselor Peter Navarro, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama), U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (Kansas) and House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson.
Gov. Pillen joined governors Lee, Huckabee Sanders and other speakers in complimenting the collective and coordinated effort by those in President Trump’s cabinet to provide solutions for better protecting rural farms – now and for future generations.
“It’s important that we continue to have the courage and the wisdom to never back down and to stand up and protect our land and protect our families. In agriculture, we risk everything we have every single day to put food on grocery store shelves,” said Gov. Pillen.
The multi-agency plan contains seven action items, some of which are touched on in a letter to Sec. Rollins, signed by Gov. Pillen and other members of the America First Governors’ Council. In it, the group affirms its support of the Farm Security Action Plan saying:
“Across the country, Chinese investors now control hundreds of thousands of acres of U.S. agricultural land, posing risks not just to local economies but to our food supply, water access, and national security. This is a coordinated, strategic effort by the CCP to weaken America from within and use our land as a Trojan horse. Washington’s past failures allowed this threat to metastasize. The previous administration was too compromised and entangled with CCP interests to act decisively. As a result, the American people paid the price. That era is over.”
Signatories on the letter, in addition to Gov. Pillen, include Gov. Mike Braun, Indiana; Gov. Bill Lee, Tennessee; Gov. Brad Little, Idaho; Gov. Kim Reynolds, Iowa; Gov. Larry Rhoden, South Dakota; Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Arkansas; Gov. Kevin Stitt, Oklahoma; and former governors Phil Bryant, Mississippi; Bobby Jindal, Louisiana; and Rick Perry, Texas.
A copy of the letter is included below.