OMAHA, NE — The Platte Institute is celebrating a meaningful step forward for good governance and economic opportunity in Nebraska with Wednesday’s 49-0 passage of LB 660 from final reading in the Nebraska Legislature.
LB 660, a package bill advanced by the Government, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee, contains multiple reforms championed by the Platte Institute and developed through a bipartisan partnership aimed at modernizing Nebraska’s regulatory environment. The bill now heads to Gov. Jim Pillen’s desk for signature.
“The passage of LB 660 is a significant victory for Nebraskans who want a more transparent, efficient, and accountable state government,” said Jim Vokal, Chief Executive Officer of the Platte Institute. “From improving public access to regulatory processes to ensuring the legislature is regularly reviewing the rules state agencies enforce, these reforms help reduce red tape and empower Nebraskans in every corner of the state.”
The bill includes three Platte-championed provisions:
- LB29 codifies a 2017 executive order requiring state agencies to regularly review their regulations, ensuring outdated or unnecessary rules are removed from the books.
- LB662 mandates the state maintain an updated inventory of federal funds it relies on, along with contingency planning in the event of unexpected reductions in federal support.
- LB664 increases accessibility and fairness in the regulatory process by allowing Nebraskans to submit public comments on proposed rules via email, and by permitting legal challenges to agency rules in a person’s local district court rather than only in Lancaster County.
“These common-sense reforms will make it easier for Nebraskans to start businesses, interact with their government, and build a better future,” Vokal said. “This is the kind of meaningful, practical policy change that improves everyday lives and strengthens our state’s economy.”
The Platte Institute advances policies that remove barriers to growth and opportunity in Nebraska. For more insights, visit PlatteInstitute.org.
