Regulatory Reform
Free Markets, Local Control, and the Impact of Minimum Wage Policy on Rural Nebraska
Nebraska hit a major wage milestone in January 2026 when the state’s minimum wage rose to $15 an hour, the final step in a voter-approved 2022 plan. But the debate did not end there. Soon after, the Legislature passed LB…
What Rural Nebraska Is Losing
NOTE: Before he left, our previous intern provided a blog post based on a paper he’d written for school, discussing the challenges of big cities (especially Omaha) in our state. For his inaugural post, our current intern,…
Assessing the impact of the Jones Act waiver
Vincent Smith and Shantanu Kamat explore the impact of a significant federal regulatory waiver. The Jones Act, which restricts cargo shipments between US ports to US-flagged and owned vessels, has distorted the US…
What Omaha’s “Censored Shop” Tells Us About State Cartels
If you’re in Omaha’s Blackstone District and you’re looking for a good cocktail, you might stumble into a tucked-away speakeasy now called the “Censored Shop.” Until recently, it went by “Barber Shop Blackstone.” According to…
Who Moved in 2025? Nebraska’s Window of Opportunity
Every year, the “National Movers Study” from United Van Lines and the “U-Haul Growth Index” provide a real-time heat map of the American economy. The 2025 results are in, and they deliver a clear message: while the mass…
Nebraska Agricultural Zoning Reform Improves County Permitting Process
On February 25, 2026, Governor Jim Pillen signed Legislative Bill 663 into law while at the Nebraska Dairy Convention and Trade Show in West Point, Nebraska. Introduced by Senator Tanya Storer, and championed by The Platte…
Nebraska Takes the Wheel on Environmental Reviews
For years, Nebraska’s major infrastructure projects—such as the long-awaited Lincoln East Beltway—have been held back by a slow-moving hitch: Washington, D.C. Federal red tape and the bureaucratic maze of the National…
Trump official working to help unleash American building
James Lynch writes for National Review Online about one low-profile Trump administration official who could have a major positive impact. A small, interagency council is at the forefront of the Trump administration’s attempt…
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…
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…
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