46 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN January 2025 POLICY NC Policy Preview MATTHEW MELCHOR | NC DIRECTOR OF STATE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS During Nebraska Cattlemen’s (NC) Annual Convention, members decided on policy stances and objectives for the upcoming legislative year. There are four main issues NC is focused on for the upcoming legislative session: reducing the property tax burden, legislation impacting “fake meat,” county zoning regulations and the requirement of a vehicle title for the sale of feed trucks. Of the 25 seats up for election this past November, there are only eight returning incumbents. However, not all faces are new. Dan Quick ousted incumbent Ray Aguilar in Grand Island, taking back the seat he previously held from 2017 to 2021, before having been beaten by Aguilar. District 1’s Bob Hallstrom (Syracuse) is an attorney and lobbyist familiar with the legislative process and issues facing Nebraskans. Finally, Stan Clouse is the current mayor of Kearney, and he knows the local and county level taxes that can stir up property owners. Other new members to the Legislature are Victor Rountree (Bellevue), Margo Juarez (Omaha), Dunixi Guereca (Omaha), Ashlei Spivey (Omaha), Dave Wordekemper (Fremont), Glen Meyer (Pender), Jared Storm (David City), Jason Prokop (Lincoln), Dan Lonowski (Hastings), Tony Sorrentino (Elkhorn), Dan McKeon (Amherst), Tanya Storer (Whitman), Paul Strommen (Sidney) and Bob Andersen (Omaha). After the special session this past summer, there is a discrepancy about whether there will be a “skip year” for a tax credit Nebraskans previously had to apply for. LB 34 was passed to end the session, enacting the School District Property Tax Relief Credit permanently to property owners on their tax statements. The created fund transferred $750 million from General Funds to the new credit in 2024-2025, $780 million in 2025-2026, $800 million in 2026-2027, $838 million in 2027-2028, $870 million in 2028-2029 and $902 million in 2029-2030. There is ongoing debate about whether the timing of the bill will eliminate the ability to apply for this tax credit for property owners while also not automatically applying the credit to their statements. We are still awaiting confirmation on this but will address the concern at the beginning of the session in January, if needed. Shortly after the end of the special session, Gov. Jim Pillen hosted a press conference announcing new state regulations against lab-grown meat. The Governor also stated the intent to support legislation prohibiting “fake meat” in the state. Florida and Alabama have passed this law, bringing about lawsuits from the major companies looking to produce cell-cultured protein, like UPSIDE Foods. While this bill would affect cell-cultured meat in the state, it is not expected to target plant-based proteins. Nebraska Cattlemen’s policy book does not currently have a stance on this issue. The last two NC priorities this coming session are zoning permits and feedtruck titling. Nebraska Cattlemen, along with other state commodity organizations, are working to create a more timely, expedient and efficient zoning decision process for operators across the state. We have also explored legislative fixes to the need to hold a title for a feed truck to be sold or transferred to another entity, but titles are not required to own a feed truck. ~NC~
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