Improve Laws
Improve Laws
Legislation to Improve Nebraska's Business Climate
Important to knowing how to design and improve a State’s business climate and economic development program is to be involved in actual business development projects.
The McGrath North team has been engaged by the Nebraska business community and by national and local companies to seek and obtain changes to Nebraska’s statutes and regulations when needed to improve Nebraska’s business climate overall and for specific projects.
State Tax, Incentive and Development Legislation
McGrath North has designed and drafted much of Nebraska’s tax and tax incentive legislation. Nick Niemann was the principal designer and drafter of the following Nebraska tax, tax incentive and site development programs:
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LB 312 - Nebraska Advantage Act (2005)
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LB 775 - Employment and Investment Growth Act (1987)
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LB 829 - Quality Jobs Act (1995)
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LB 775 - Nebraska Employee Capital Gain Exclusion (1987)
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LB 830 - Nebraska Redevelopment Act (1995)
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LB 620 - Invest Nebraska Act (2001)
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LB 312 - Nebraska Manufacturing Sales Tax Exemption (2005)
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LB 772 - Single Factor Sales Corporate Income Tax Formula (1987)
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LB 427 - Nebraska Job Training Fund (2005)
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LB 559 - Corporate Income Tax Throwback Repeal (1995)
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LB 1063 - Accelerated Depreciation Equipment Property Tax (1992)
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LR 219 CA—Constitutional Amendment to fix the property tax equalization and exemption provisions (1992)
Some of these were developed in response to specific needs. LB 775 and LB 772 were in response to the 1987 ConAgra challenge to Nebraska to become competitive throughout the country’s job producing business sectors. LB 829 and LB 830 were to attract higher paying jobs and to redevelop certain areas, such as the Aksarben area. LB 620 was to land large projects, such as the U.P. headquarters. LB 312 and LB 427 were to update and upgrade Nebraska’s overall competitiveness. LB 1063 and LR 219 CA were to fix the threat to Nebraska’s property tax system due to certain Federal court discrimination rulings.
Nick was also a co-designer and co-drafter of various other tax legislation, such as LB 895 (2008) which added Tier 6 to the Nebraska Advantage Act, LB 872 (2012) which adopted the market state apportionment rule for business services income, LB 343 (2007) which extended the capital gain exclusion to extraordinary dividends and LB 161 (2017) which extended the tax incentive benefit carry forward period for Tier 6 projects. Nick has also worked with Nebraska’s business community and lobbyists to defend legislative attempts to repeal or reduce these programs.
The above incentive programs have created over 100,000 new jobs and $30 billion of capital investment in over 850 business expansions throughout Nebraska.
Economic Development Policy
Nebraska’s Governors and State Directors of Economic Development have consulted with Nick Niemann on economic development policy for over 30 years. He has also authored a number of studies for the business community outlining strategies to defend and improve Nebraska’s business climate.