June/July 2026 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN 25 grounding lot into a registered feedlot without inspection if ownership is not changed and exempts qualified dairies from physical brand inspection. Perhaps equally significant is what didn’t pass. LB1258, a sweeping and controversial bill that would have abolished the Nebraska Brand Committee entirely, shifted brand oversight to a Department of Agriculture division and converted the state to a voluntary inspection system. Strong opposition killed the bill. Property tax relief remained one of the most talked-about issues heading into the session. LB814, which proposed reducing the taxable valuation of agricultural and horticultural land from 75 percent to 50 percent of actual value starting Jan. 1, 2027, failed to advance despite receiving broad support from the agricultural community, including Nebraska Cattlemen. LB1038, a broader school funding and property tax reform package that would have lowered school district property tax levy limits and eliminated key property tax credit funds, failed after having not received a priority listing. Agricultural stakeholders worried the loss of dedicated property tax credits would increase financial pressure on farm and ranch landowners. Several bills that flew a bit below the radar this session could have meaningful practical impact for cattle operations across Nebraska. LB525, the Agricultural Data Privacy Act from Sen. Mike Jacobson, prohibits the sale of proprietary farm data without express written consent from the producer. It also amends Nebraska’s public records statutes to exclude agricultural data from disclosure requirements. In an era when precision agriculture has grown in its adoption, generates enormous volumes of sensitive operational data and when that data is increasingly valuable to third parties, this law gives producers an important layer of legal protection. LB977, introduced by Sen. Tanya Storer (Whitman) at the request of Nebraska Cattlemen, updates Nebraska’s Rules of the Road to improve safety for those leading, herding or driving livestock on highways. The bill expands the definition of “vulnerable road user” to include livestock handlers, requires motorists to yield and use caution around livestock on roads, and mandates that drivers stop promptly when signaled by herders. For producers who regularly move cattle along rural roadways, especially in western Nebraska, this law codifies protections that have long been needed. A carryover bill from the previous legislative session, LB663 reforms county zoning and planning procedures, with key implications for livestock operations and rural landowners. The bill mandates two hours of education per term for county attorneys, planning commission members and county boards on land-use roles. It streamlines the conditional-use permit process for agricultural projects, and improves procedural transparency and legal protections for livestock expansions, ensuring zoning decisions are based solely on county regulations and setting standards for appeals and findings. The passage of LB759 brings cost increases that producers should factor into their planning. This bill raises annual per-head fees for livestock waste management programs, covering beef cattle, dairy cows, swine, sheep and poultry, so that fees now support 30 percent of livestock waste program costs, up from 20 percent. Water well registration fees also rise sharply, from $40 to $200. The original bill, LB761, was introduced with a cost-share of 40 percent rather than 30 percent. Nebraska Cattlemen was able to negotiate a reduction in this increase. LB823 from Sen. Dave Wordekemper (Fremont) tweaks current burn permit applications, adding a section that will have applicants select whether they are intending to have a “prescribed” or “controlled” burn based on new statutory definitions. There is no penalty or monetary fine for having a different type of burn from what was marked on your application. This bill is derived largely from University of Nebraska researchers who want more separation and classification of burn intention for research purposes. LB1231 terminates the Panhandle Improvement Project Cash Fund on Jan. 1, 2027, directing any remaining unobligated funds to the Animal Damage Control Cash Fund after July 31, 2026. The transfer is intended to strengthen response efforts and financial allocation from the state for livestock producers facing losses from predator damage, particularly in the northwestern portion of the state. LB1232, which was amended into LB979, creates a pathway for qualifying Nebraska resident landowners within designated mountain lion management zones to apply for limited hunting permits. Landowners must own at least 320 acres or lease at least 640 combined acres to be eligible. LB 1244 and LB1257, two bills aiming to eliminate numerous sales tax exemptions, including those on agricultural machinery and equipment; baling wire, netwrap and twine; and shifting the state’s school funding from property taxes to broader sales and service taxation, failed to become law. The bill faced strong opposition from agricultural groups like Nebraska Cattlemen concerned about increased operational costs. The 109th session closed with the budget stabilized and several meaningful new protections for the state’s cattle producers on the books. But the unfinished business is substantial; property tax relief remains vital. Nebraska Cattlemen will continue to monitor interim study activity in the coming months and engage early in the 2027 session to advance priorities that keep Nebraska’s cattle industry strong and competitive. ~NC~ NC Brand and Property Rights Vice Chair Rob Star testifies in favor of LB977.
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