Regulatory Reform Archives - Platte Institute

Reducing Red Tape: Advancing Economic Liberty and Accountability In Nebraska

The growing volume and complexity of government regulation at the state and local levels threaten economic freedom, entrepreneurial innovation, and democratic accountability. State regulations, often issued by unelected officials in executive agencies, accumulate over time, creating significant “hidden taxes” on small businesses and families within the state. This policy brief outlines a set of proven,...

By Laura Ebke

Research Note: Updates in Regulatory Restraint

In recent years, states across the country have taken renewed interest in reviewing longstanding and often outdated regulatory frameworks. Many legislatures are reassessing rules that may constrain economic growth, aiming to reduce regulatory accumulation and increase legislative oversight of unelected agencies. Although each state varies in its approach, a common goal has emerged: limiting high-cost...

By Jakob Myers

Research Note: How Changes in AI Regulation Could Affect Nebraska

A couple of weeks before Christmas, following the President’s recent executive order on artificial intelligence (AI), the Nebraska Examiner published an article examining the potential implications for Nebraska. While the precise impact of the order remains uncertain, the state’s recent legislative activity related to AI suggests the possibility of conflict between state and federal approaches....

By Jakob Myers

Nebraska Zoning Permitting Process: Recommended Adjustments in Nebraska

Nebraska’s zoning and permitting process for livestock operations is inconsistent, unpredictable, and varies widely from county to county. This report examines how Nebraska’s Conditional Use Permit (CUP) system works, the origins and goals of the Livestock Siting Assessment Matrix created under LB106, and why the Matrix remains underused nearly a decade later. Drawing on survey...

By Jakob Myers

Decoding bureaucracy: how AI could aid regulatory reform

For decades, the image of government regulation has been synonymous with dusty, overflowing binders and legal jargon. State regulatory codes tend to accumulate year after year, sometimes contradicting themselves and complicating life for those navigating the process. This accumulation of “red tape” creates significant burdens for small business owners trying to remain compliant, citizens trying...

By Laura Ebke

Job Licensing Reviews: Judiciary, Natural Resources and Urban Affairs Committees

The Occupational Board Reform Act (OBRA) was passed in 2018 and became effective in 2019. It requires legislative committees of jurisdiction to review all occupational licenses in the state, roughly 20% per year, on a five-year rotation. These reviews examine whether the licensing requirements are adequate or excessive by current standards. The committees then submit...

By Laura Ebke

The Gold Standard

A recent post on substack authored by Dr. Ed Timmons caught our eye. This particular post highlighted rankings of universal recognition laws for occupational licenses around the country, and Nebraska met the “Gold Standard” as can be seen from the image below. This image is just one of many to be found in the most...

By Laura Ebke

Job Licensing Reviews: Health and Human Services Committee

The Occupational Board Reform Act (OBRA) was passed in 2018 and became effective in 2019. It requires legislative committees of jurisdiction to review all occupational licenses in the state, roughly 20% per year, on a five-year rotation. These reviews examine whether the licensing requirements are adequate or excessive by current standards. The committees then submit...

By Laura Ebke

Job Licensing Reviews: Education Committee

The Occupational Board Reform Act (OBRA) was passed in 2018 and became effective in 2019. It requires legislative committees of jurisdiction to review all occupational licenses in the state, roughly 20% per year, on a five-year rotation. These reviews examine whether the licensing requirements are adequate or excessive by current standards. The committees then submit...

By Laura Ebke

Job Licensing Reviews: Business and Labor Committee and General Affairs Committee

[Note: This is the second in a group of articles reviewing occupational licensing reviews for the first five-plus years of the Occupational Board Reform Act. For more context, see this post.] The Business and Labor Committee has reviewed a number of licenses from 2019 to 2024. Their areas of review included: Boiler Safety/Pressure Vessel Inspectors...

By Laura Ebke

Licensing Reviews: Agriculture and Banking Committees

The Occupational Board Reform Act (OBRA) was passed in 2018 and became effective in 2019. It requires legislative committees of jurisdiction to review all occupational licenses in the state, roughly 20% per year, on a five-year rotation. These reviews examine whether the licensing requirements are adequate or excessive by current standards. The committees then submit...

By Laura Ebke

Occupational board reform act: review of reviews

Beginning in the summer of 2019, committees of the Nebraska Legislature have been reviewing, on a rotating basis, all of the occupational licenses issued by the state under their subject matter jurisdiction. We provided a report outlining the general state of occupational licensing regulations in Nebraska at the end of 2024. As we head into...

By Laura Ebke

Nebraska Must Prepare for Federal Medicaid Reform

President Trump is working with Congressional leaders to produce one “big beautiful bill” that will set the tax and spending baselines for a decade. The bill would be enacted through the Senate’s budget reconciliation process, likely along slim partisan lines. Such a federal package would likely contain a complement of policies, from tax changes to...

Nebraska Technology & Freedom Policy Primer

The “Nebraska Technology & Freedom Policy Primer” is a document designed to analyze and enhance the technology policy landscape in Nebraska. This AI-driven primer comprehensively examines the technological ecosystem, identifying challenges and proposing solutions. Its goal is to foster innovation, economic growth, and the development of a talented workforce. As the first of its kind...