This afternoon concluded the third week of the legislative session, and while it may feel like the session just began, we’re already 20% through the 60 day session. At this point in the calendar, the legislature is spending its mornings on floor debate, and afternoons on hearings.
With the session now fully underway, we’re resuming our In the Legislative Loopseries of zoom briefings. This will give you the chance to sign on to a members-only biweekly Zoom call for a 30-minute update on the latest news from the State Capitol. Our first In the Legislative Loop Zoom call will be on Monday, February 9 at 11:30 AM. We’ll review ‘behind the scenes’ items from the session, as well as letting you know what to expect coming up at the Legislature over the next few weeks. You can sign up for our bi-weekly legislative opportunity here.
Among the bills that we’re closing watching this upcoming week include LB864(from Senator Prokop of Lincoln) a bill that would move the administration of the InterNE internship grant program from the Department of Economic Development to the Department of Labor. The underlying program structure remains largely the same: businesses offering paid internships (minimum wage or higher) completed in Nebraska can apply for grants reimbursing wages (for employers under 150 FTEs) and certain other costs like housing, transportation, tuition reimbursement, and recruitment/admin expenses, up to $7,500 per internship.
Developing Nebraska’s workforce has been a long-term critical priority of the Greater Omaha Chamber, and part of the Brain Gain competent of our A Greater Omaha growth strategy. InterNE plays a key role in the solution to Nebraska’s workforce shortage. By linking college students with Nebraska employers that offer quality internships, we can create opportunities in state for our students to build a career here. Moving InterNE and its funding to the Department of Labor better aligns with Nebraska’s existing workforce development efforts, and will strengthen the program. The hearing for LB864 will be Monday, January 26 at 1:30pm, in the Business and Labor Committee.
Another area we’re closely tracking this session is the Business Innovation Act(BIA), which plays a central role in supporting entrepreneurship, research commercialization, and high-growth startups across Nebraska. The BIA has been pivotal to Nebraska’s growth in recent years; a 2025 analysis by the Univesrsity of Nebraska Bureau of Business Research showed that BIA funds have generated $11.52 of private capital investment for every $1 awarded, making it one of the state’s most effective programs by return on investment.
Two bills introduced this session, LB1044 (from Senator Prokop) and LB1015(from Senator Ibach of Sumner), would make positive changes to how BIA programs are structured, funded, and evaluated.
LB1044 updates and reinforces several core components of the Business Innovation Act, including the state’s prototype and commercialization assistance programs. These programs help early-stage companies move ideas from research and development into market-ready products by providing financial assistance for prototyping, feasibility studies, business planning, and access to capital and mentorship. The bill also updates the required qualified action plan that guides how BIA funds are awarded and includes legislative intent language signaling continued, long-term state investment in innovation-driven economic development. Together, these changes strengthen Nebraska’s startup pipeline and support companies as they scale and create high-quality jobs.
LB1015 takes a broader approach, tying Business Innovation Act funding more directly to Nebraska’s workforce and unemployment insurance systems. The bill would create a new Business Innovation Cash Fund, partially supported by state unemployment insurance tax revenue, and requires closer coordination between the Department of Labor and the Department of Economic Development. It also adds new quarterly wage reporting requirements for businesses receiving BIA assistance, improving the state’s ability to measure job creation and wage outcomes tied to innovation investments. By providing more stable funding, while enhancing the state’s ability to measure outcomes, LB1015 will enhance one of our state’s most effective programs.
Innovation, entrepreneurship, and workforce development are deeply interconnected, and these bills reflect an ongoing effort to better align Nebraska’s economic development tools with talent attraction, job creation, and long-term competitiveness. We’ll continue to monitor both bills closely as they move through the legislative process and share updates on how they may affect Nebraska’s innovation ecosystem and business community.
To watch the hearings for the bills we’ve discussed, or for any legislation, you can do so at Nebraska Public Media’s live streaming page.
While your Greater Omaha Chamber Public Policy team is hard at work right now at the State Capitol working to strengthen our business climate and advocating for our bold Omaha COMPETES agenda, never hesitate to share your insights with us on your state legislative priorities at advocacy@omahachamber.org.