OpenSkyLIGHTS: Focus on Nebraska fiscal policy (4/26/24)
33% In a world without racial inequality, 20% of each race or ethnicity would be represented in each quintile of income earners. But 33% of Black households fall in the bottom 20% [...]
Another legislative session is in the books
The Legislature wrapped up its 60-day session last week, but Senators are likely to be back in Lincoln for a special session later this year focused on property taxes paid to fund [...]
Work requirements subject of anti-hunger committee hearing
Ensuring food security for Nebraskans continues to be a subject of policy debate this legislative session. A bill (LB 1381) that would impose work requirements as a condition for receiving benefits through [...]
Critical support for children facing food insecurity
Nebraska intends to participate in a new federal Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) program, ensuring that the families of 150,000 low-income children will have better access to nutritious food when school is [...]
OpenSkyLIGHTS: Focus on Nebraska fiscal policy (2/9/24)
$146,200 When talking about taxes, we often divide Nebraskans into five groups based on income distribution. Statistically, the starting point for the 20% of top earners is about $146,000 in 2024 dollars, [...]
Hearings to focus on summer meals for kids, sales tax changes; tax legislation movement in Washington
LB 952, a bill that would compel Nebraska to participate in a new federal Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) program, will be discussed in today’s Health and Human Services Committee hearing. So [...]
OpenSkyLIGHTS: Focus on Nebraska fiscal policy (1/26/24)
1 in 5 Today is National EITC Awareness Day, a chance to remind eligible workers of the Earned Income Tax Credit. The IRS has found that 1 in 5 eligible people do [...]
Webinar to review how states used pandemic aid
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) passed by Congress in 2021 provided Nebraska and other states with a historic influx of federal funding to help in the response to economic and public [...]
Check out ‘A Healthy Nebraska,’ Opensky’s updated Medicaid Primer
Access to quality health care is a key element of “The Good Life” we live in Nebraska, as it keeps our state’s residents working and thriving. And for many Nebraskans, Medicaid and [...]
OpenSkyLIGHTS: Focus on Nebraska fiscal policy (12/29/23)
91,000 Thanks to a successful ballot initiative, the Economic Policy Institute estimates that 91,000 workers – 9.5% of Nebraska’s workforce – will see a wage increase when the state’s minimum wage [...]