Economic Opportunity

Nebraska is stronger when policies are designed to level the playing field, ensuring that the economy works for everyone.

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The Latest from OpenSky

OpenSkyLIGHTS: Focus on Nebraska fiscal policy (2/13/26)

$218 million As OpenSky Policy Institute previously reported, Nebraska was awarded $218 million from the federal government in the first year of the Rural Health Transformation Program, established as part of H.R. 1, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Nebraska’s application outlined seven different areas of focus for

OpenSkyLIGHTS: Focus on Nebraska fiscal policy (2/6/26)

650% The Nebraska Legislature’s Appropriations Committee began hearings on the mid-biennial budget adjustments this week. The mainline budget bills, LB 1071 and LB 1072, received significant pushback from Nebraskans. Among them was OpenSky Policy Institute’s Research Director, Craig Beck, who raised concerns about the growth of cash fund sweeps and

OpenSkyLIGHTS: Focus on Nebraska fiscal policy (1/16/26)

27% KFF, the health policy think tank, indicates that 27% of agricultural sector employees buy health care plans on state marketplaces established by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), compared with just 6% of the adult population with non-group coverage. As a result, agricultural workers are among the highest users of

OpenSkyLIGHTS: Focus on Nebraska fiscal policy (1/9/26)

$8 million The newly-combined Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment (NDWEE) has requested an $8 million transfer from the Nebraska Environmental Trust in their mid-budget requests, which will be evaluated as the Legislature crafts an amendment package to the biennial budget. Of the total sum, $6 million would be

3 Things OpenSky Will be Watching in the Upcoming Legislative Session

Watching our Pennies The Legislature will be navigating a $472 million budget shortfall that will eventually need to be closed in order to meet Constitutional obligations. While one more update of the forecast will occur in February, lawmakers can’t wait that long to begin examining options to balance the budget.

OpenSkyLIGHTS: Focus on Nebraska fiscal policy (12/19/25)

30,000 Governor Jim Pillen announced this week that Nebraska will opt to become the first state to conform to new federal regulations around work requirements for Medicaid recipients. The Governor noted during a press conference that he anticipates 30,000 adults will lose health care coverage as Nebraska voluntarily rolls out

OpenSkyLIGHTS: Focus on Nebraska fiscal policy (12/12/25)

$1,079 According to a recent report released by the Education Law Center (ELC), which analyzed the share of federal, state and local contributions to K-12 education funding, Nebraska received $1,079 per pupil from the federal government in 2019. The year was used for analysis to avoid data being skewed by

OpenSkyLIGHTS: Focus on Nebraska fiscal policy (11/21/25)

$310 million The amount of unpaid taxes owed to the state of Nebraska rose 15% in the past year, totaling more than $310 million, according to a press release issued by Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts Mike Foley. The sum includes individual income taxes, sales and use taxes, partnership income

OpenSkyLIGHTS: Focus on Nebraska fiscal policy (11/14/25)

111,000 Congress passed what they considered a compromise designed to reopen the federal government after the longest shutdown in the country’s history. Part of that agreement was a promise of a future vote on the extension of premium tax credits (PTCs), which would save 22 million Americans who purchase insurance

OpenSkyLIGHTS: Focus on Nebraska fiscal policy (10/31/25)

151,000 The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services announced this week that benefits for 151,000 Nebraskans under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would be suspended effective October 29, 2025, in response to the federal government shutdown. Any remaining benefits on SNAP cards can still be used 9 months

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Economic Opportunity

Economic Opportunity Nebraska is stronger when policies are designed to level the playing field, ensuring that the economy works for everyone. Key Resources Medicaid Overview “A Healthy Nebraska,” updated in 2023, provides an overview of Medicaid and CHIP funding in Nebraska. Learn More State Budget Overview “Taking Ownership,” released in