36 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN April/May 2026 POLICY Nebraska Cattlemen Policy Update MATTHEW MELCHOR | NC DIRECTOR OF STATE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS Nebraska Cattlemen (NC) legislative staff and members have been hard at work conveying NC’s stances on bills through written and verbal testimony. They’ve also met with senators to discuss paths forward for bills favorable to the beef cattle industry, potential amendments to improve legislation and the real-world impacts certain bills may have on Nebraska producers. Priority Bills The NC Board of Directors selected six bills to designate as priorities this session. The first, LB761, increases the cost of livestock programs through the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment from 20 percent to 40 percent. This would come in the form of increased CAFO permitting fees – from 5 cents per head to 10 cents per head on permitted capacity. The NC Natural Resources and Environment Committee Chair Sam Drinnin testified neutral on LB761, stating that while NC recognizes current inflationary pressures, a doubling of fees was too much. NC negotiated a more reasonable increase from 20 percent to 30 percent, meaning CAFO permitting fees will increase from 5 cents to 7.5 cents per head on permitted capacity. This bill also includes a registration fee increase for well water registrations from $40 to $200. LB761 was amended into LB759 and passed on General File 26-5-16 and then later passed on Select File by a voice vote. LB814 was one of two tax bills NC prioritized. This bill seeks to reduce taxable valuations of agricultural and horticultural land from 75 percent to 50 percent, a meaningful step toward easing the tax burden Nebraska’s farm and ranch families face. NC signed on to testimony with the Ag Leaders Working Group in support of this bill. The second tax bill is LB1038, introduced by Sen. Jana Hughes, Seward. LB1038 would reduce the statewide property tax levy cap from $1.05 to $.50 by sweeping the Property Tax Credit Act and the School District Property Tax Relief Credit Fund, commonly known as Tier I and Tier II funds. Being that these funds represent the primary form of property tax relief agricultural producers have seen since their enactment, NC testified in a neutral capacity alongside other agricultural organizations. While reducing the levy cap on K-12 education funding is a preferred long-term goal, doing so at the direct expense of eliminating the property tax credits that producers currently depend on was not a position NC could support. LB977 is the only bill NC requested to be brought this session. Introduced by Sen. Tanya Storer, Whitman, this bill would add those herding or driving livestock on state roads and highways to the list of “vulnerable road users,” treating cattle drives with the same legal protections afforded to road construction workers and bicyclists. NC Brand and Property Rights Committee Vice Chair Rob Star provided testimony in the Transportation and Telecommunications (T&T) Committee in support of the bill. LB977 passed out of the T&T Committee 8-0 and was requested to receive a Speaker priority. While the bill did not receive that designation, Sen. Storer and NC continue working to find a path forward for this commonsense safety measure. The final two bills on NC’s priority list – LB1187 and LB1258 – relate to the Nebraska Livestock Brand Act. LB1187, introduced by Agriculture Committee Chairman Sen. Barry DeKay, Niobrara, increases statutory fee caps for the per-head brand inspection fee to $1.50 and implements up to a $30 surcharge per inspection in place of mileage. NC President Craig Uden testified in support. LB1258, introduced by Sen. Ben Hansen, Blair, would create a statewide voluntary brand inspection system and move the Nebraska Brand Committee under the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. NC Past President George Cooksley and NC Brand and Property Rights Committee Chair Matt Blackford testified in opposition, arguing that weakening the current mandatory system would undermine brand inspection integrity. Among the other bills NC is actively tracking are LB1231 and LB1232 – both introduced by Sen. Paul Strommen, Sidney. They stand out as critically important for cattle producers in Nebraska’s panhandle region. These bills directly address livestock depredation, giving producers stronger tools to protect their herds from predator losses that can devastate individual operations. NC has testified in support of both bills. In total, NC is tracking more than 70 bills and constitutional amendments with potential direct or indirect impacts on Nebraska’s cattle industry. NC legislative staff continue engaging daily with senators and Capitol staff to monitor emerging issues and ensure Nebraska’s cattle producers remain front and center throughout the session. ~NC~
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