Group prepares 15 Nebraska petitions for 2028 ballot

Plan for 2028

Eric Underwood, a former Nebraska Republican Party chair, is preparing 15 petitions under the name Make Nebraska Even Better. Underwood also leads Advocates for All Nebraskans and describes the package as an audit of state laws.

The measures cover property taxes, education, election administration and state requirements imposed on local governments. Organizers will seek voter support ahead of the 2028 general election, while lawmakers could consider related policies during the 2027 or 2028 legislative sessions.

Taxes and teacher pay

One proposal would suspend Nebraska’s state fuel tax for all drivers from Sept. 1 through Oct. 31 each year and permanently limit the tax to 35 cents per gallon. The state rate is currently 31.8 cents per gallon.

The proposal differs from Gov. Jim Pillen’s Sept. 24, 2026, order allowing agricultural producers to seek refunds on state diesel taxes through Dec. 23 unless extended. President Donald Trump issued a similar federal diesel-tax order during an Oct. 5 visit to Grand Island.

Three returning proposals would limit annual property valuation growth to 3%, reduce taxable property valuations by 50% and set a minimum base salary for public school teachers. The teacher-pay measure would redirect state money already going to K-12 schools.

Election rules and earlier effort

Another petition would restore a statewide winner-take-all method for assigning Nebraska’s Electoral College votes. If voters approve it in 2028, the earliest presidential election it could affect would be 2032 unless lawmakers act sooner.

Underwood’s earlier petition effort included the three tax and teacher-pay proposals, the Electoral College change and a paper-ballot hand-count requirement. Supporters did not submit signatures for those measures. The hand-count proposal is not currently part of the planned 2028 package.