Governor Jim Pillen has delivered a letter to Speaker of the Legislature John Arch, detailing a long-anticipated special legislative session to address property tax reform in Nebraska.
“I intend to call the Legislature back into session beginning July 25, 2024, and intend for it to remain in session until it finishes its unfinished business,” Pillen said in the letter, bolded, adding that a formal proclamation would be issued prior to this date, pursuant to Article IV, Section 8 of the Nebraska Constitution.
Pillen begins the letter with an illustration of the accelerating nature of Nebraska’s property tax collection.
“It took the first 118 years of statehood for Nebraska to reach the first $l billion in total local property taxes collected, the next 18 years to reach the $2 billion mark, 8 years to reach $3 billion, 6 years to reach $4 billion, and the next 5 years to hit the $5 billion threshold,” Pillen said, proceeding the graph below.
“In my sine die address in April, I stated that I would call a special session this summer to facilitate another opportunity for us to meet Nebraskans’ demand that their elected leaders fix this crisis now. I have traveled extensively across the state since the Legislature adjourned and have heard from a wide range of people. Their message is clear: stop this massive overall tax increase by fixing property taxes.”
This comes after Pillen proposed on this month statewide call-in show Monday — hosted on 1400 & 99.3 KLIN — that the state may completely take on funding for K-12 public schools in order to deliver tax relief to Nebraska property owners.
The Governor also indicated that he is still waiting for a signal of support from lawmakers to change Nebraska’s electoral-vote allocation to winner-take-all. Lawmakers rejected the attachment of winner-take-all legislation (LB 764) to another bill during 2024’s 60-day session, on a 9-36 vote.
“I am grateful for the partnership with you and so many others in the Legislature committed to doing the work of the people of Nebraska. Thank you for your leadership. Together, we can,” Pillen concluded his letter to Arch.