LINCOLN, NE - On June 2, 2025, Governor Jim Pillen shared with members of the 109th Nebraska Legislature the headline he felt best summarized this session: Positive, lasting impact serves Nebraskans well. During his sine die, or end-of-session address, the Governor hit on multiple areas of achievement, including passage of the overwhelming majority of his own priority bills. 

On two occasions during his speech, Gov. Pillen gave recognition to special guests in attendance. Members of the Nebraska State Patrol, friends of Trooper Kyle McAcy, were applauded for their service to the state. They were on scene the day Trooper McAcy died while assisting motorists in a snowstorm. 

The second recognition was of WWII veteran Wayne Davy of Columbus. The former Marine was there to represent the many veterans who have been honored with special medallions as part of a program involving the Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs (NDVA). Gov. Pillen has worked with the agency to present the medals to veterans, signifying the 80th anniversary since the end of the war. 

Below are some of the legislative highlights from the 2025 session including those that align with his four priority areas - kids, taxes, agriculture and values: 

Passage of one of the most historically conservative and fiscally responsible state budgets, accomplished by cutting wasteful spending and putting idle pillowcase money to work while also maintaining investments in education, property tax relief, and the safety of the state. 

Gov. Pillen signed the following bills into law that protect our kids from online distractions and harm and to give parents more control over kids’ use of social media.

• LB140 - Requires public school boards to adopt policies for restricting cell phone use bell to bell
• LB383 - Creates the Parental Rights in Social Media Act, requiring parental consent for creation of social media accounts for minors and establishes criminal penalties for AI-generated child pornography
• LB504 - As part of the Age-Appropriate Online Design Code Act, online services are required to protect user data, implement design features that reduce harm resulting from compulsive use and it gives parents access to their child’s privacy and account settings 

Gov. Pillen signed the following bill into law to review and recommend changes to Nebraska’s TEEOSA school funding formula to help keep property taxes under control.

• LB303 - Creates the 18-member School Finance Review Commission, which will evaluate the current TEEOSA formula governing Nebraska school funding
• LB261 - Increases property tax relief by $105 million in 2026 and $170 million in 2027

 Gov. Pillen signed the following bills into law designed to grow agriculture and the economy.

• LB246 - Bans lab-grown meat from being manufactured, distributed, or sold in Nebraska
• LB317 - Merges the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources with the Nebraska Department of Environment & Energy to create the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment
• LB650 - Eliminates or adjusts sales tax exemptions and provides and changes sunset dates for a variety of tax incentives
• LB526 - Preserves needed electrical service to homes, businesses and other Nebraska customers by establishing requirements for cryptocurrency mining operations 

Gov. Pillen signed the following bills into law that defend conservative Nebraska values.

• LB89 - The Stand With Women Act protects girls and women by prohibiting biological males from joining female sports teams
• LB645 - Puts an additional $1,000 in teachers’ pockets annually, stabilizes contribution rates to the School Employees Retirement System and increases survivor benefits through the Nebraska State Patrol Retirement System
• LB346 - “Cleans out the closets” by ending or reassigning the duties of over 40 different boards, commission, committees or councils
• LB 644 - Creates the Foreign Adversary & Terrorist Agent Registration Act and the Crush Transnational Repression in Nebraska Act to establish registration and reporting requirements for certain foreign entities 

In addition to the legislative achievements outlined above, Gov. Pillen made several new appointments to key state agencies including Department of Labor Commissioner Katie Thurber, Nebraska State Patrol Superintendent Bryan Waugh, and Department of Water, Energy and Environment Director Jesse Bradley.