‘No more horsing around’: Gov. Pillen details 2025 goals during State of the State address

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Gov. Jim Pillen listed a series of goals and priorities for Nebraska during his State of the State address on Wednesday.

The speech started with Pillen thanking Nebraskans for their support after he fell from his horse last month and suffered serious injuries.

“Okay, no more horsing around,” Pillen said.

Pillen then started detailing legislative priorities for the 2025 session, which included fixing the tax system, supporting schools and protecting the state’s natural resources.

“Simply put, the work of making Nebraska a low-tax state is far from over,” he said.

The governor called the state’s tax system “out of whack” and that the burden is upon lawmakers to “correct it now.”

He also touted success within the state: low unemployment rate, growing population, productive government and bountiful natural resources.

This year’s legislative session began last week, and Pillen has already voiced his support for several introduced bills.

State Sen. Loren Lippincott of Central City introduced a bill to move Nebraska to a winner-take-all system in the Electoral College.

During the State of the State address, Pillen declared it was “vital” for Nebraska to speak with a unified voice during elections.

“For three decades, under our current allocation of electoral college votes by congressional district, we have divided our voice and diminished our impact in presidential elections,” he said.

On Friday, State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha introduced a bill that would ban transgender people from certain bathrooms and locker rooms.

Pillen, alongside Husker athletes Rebekah Allick and Jordy Bahl, voiced their support for the Stand With Women Act at a press conference.

Earlier this week, lawmakers introduced three bills intended to protect children from the dangers of unchecked digital technology.