At OpenSky, we prioritize data and evidence to ensure our work is a credible, unbiased and reliable resource for policymakers, media and all Nebraskans.
Our primers aim to provide an overview of the issues important to creating fair and just outcomes for everyone.
“A Healthy Nebraska,” updated in 2023, provides an overview of Medicaid and CHIP funding in Nebraska.
“Taking Ownership,” released in 2023, explores the history of property taxes in Nebraska with information on the valuation process, how revenues are distributed and efforts the state has made to lower property taxes.
“Investing In Our Future,” updated in 2025, explores how Nebraska has paid for K-12 education in the past, how it does so now and discusses the perceived inequities of our current system.
“Sustaining the Good Life,” updated in 2025, examines the use and funding of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in our state.
Keep tabs on policy changes under consideration as the Nebraska Legislature meets each year.
Using census data, OpenSky produced fact sheets showing the diversity among Nebraska’s 49 legislative districts.
OpenSky compiled profiles of Nebraska’s public school districts to help taxpayers to better understand education funding.
Learn about proposal to replace most state and local taxes with a single tax on consumption.
Learn about proposals for taxpayer-funded scholarship programs that threaten funding for public schools.
27% KFF, the health policy think tank, indicates that 27% of agricultural sector employees buy health care plans on state marketplaces established by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), compared with just 6% of the adult population with non-group coverage. As a result, agricultural workers are among the highest users of state marketplaces for health insurance. […]
$8 million The newly-combined Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment (NDWEE) has requested an $8 million transfer from the Nebraska Environmental Trust in their mid-budget requests, which will be evaluated as the Legislature crafts an amendment package to the biennial budget. Of the total sum, $6 million would be used for soil and water […]
Watching our Pennies The Legislature will be navigating a $472 million budget shortfall that will eventually need to be closed in order to meet Constitutional obligations. While one more update of the forecast will occur in February, lawmakers can’t wait that long to begin examining options to balance the budget. OpenSky anticipates a revival of […]
30,000 Governor Jim Pillen announced this week that Nebraska will opt to become the first state to conform to new federal regulations around work requirements for Medicaid recipients. The Governor noted during a press conference that he anticipates 30,000 adults will lose health care coverage as Nebraska voluntarily rolls out new requirements created by H.R. […]
OpenSky Policy Institute, a nonpartisan policy research think tank headquartered in Lincoln has welcomed four new members to its Board of Directors. Terms for John Levy of Omaha, Stephen Postier of York, Robin Stevens of Gothenberg and John Stinner of Gering began December 12. “We are honored to have such an outstanding group of leaders […]
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Resources At OpenSky, we prioritize data and evidence to ensure our work is a credible, unbiased and reliable resource for policymakers, media and all Nebraskans. Primers Our primers aim to provide an overview of the issues important to creating fair and just outcomes for everyone. Medicaid “A Healthy Nebraska,” updated
