Nebraska’s special legislative session is high on conflict, low on progress to ease property taxes

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — In the more than three weeks since the Nebraska Legislature kicked off its special session aimed at cutting property taxes, lawmakers have seen long days and plenty of conflict but few results.

The special session has featured several filibusters and days that have stretched more than 12 hours. Democratic Sen. Justine Wayne at one point called the Speaker of the Legislature a dictator. Republican Sen. Steve Erdman declared during an attempt to steamroll legislative rules that lawmakers “can do whatever we want with 25 votes.”

“This entire process has been like a firestorm,” said Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha, a Democrat in the officially nonpartisan Legislature.

Republican Gov. Jim Pillen called the special session last month after the Legislature failed to pass his proposed plan to cut property taxes by an average of 40% during the regular session. The move came as soaring home and land prices in the state have led to ballooning property tax bills for homeowners and farmers alike.

Pillen’s proposals included mid-year budget cuts to state agencies, tax levying caps on local governments and a shift to expand the sales tax base and create a number of excise taxes, including those on liquor, cigarettes and CBD products. He has promised to keep calling lawmakers back into session “through Christmas” if they fail to pass significant property tax relief.

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