Nebraska State Patrol

Today, members of the Nebraska Legislature voted to confirm the appointment of Colonel Bryan D. Waugh as Superintendent of Law Enforcement and Public Safety for the state of Nebraska.

Colonel Waugh was appointed by Governor Jim Pillen to serve as the 19^th Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. He will begin his service with NSP on June 2, 2025.

“I’d like thank the members of the Nebraska Legislature for their confirmation vote today,” said Colonel Waugh. “I believe that the future is bright for the Nebraska State Patrol and I’m eager to join this talented team of men and women serving our state. Together, we will serve with integrity, dedication, and a shared mission to keep Nebraska safe.”

Colonel Waugh has most recently served as Chief of the Kearney Police Department. He has 32 years of experience in law enforcement, including service within Kearney PD, La Vista PD, and the United States Air Force.

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – A mix-up in the Nebraska governor’s office has likely cost Gov. Jim Pillen his veto power for the state’s biennium budget.

Gov. Pillen signed LB 261 and LB 264 with line-item vetoes on Wednesday. They made it to his desk on May 15. He made multiple modifications to the 2025-2027 biennial budget, which included:

• Reducing the Supreme Court’s budget increase to mirror the rate of increase provided to the University of Nebraska
• Using existing agency funds to cover Fire Marshal salary and health insurance premium increases
• Reducing the additional appropriation provided to public health departments, thereby, bringing funding back to a pre-pandemic level
• Cutting an $18 million cash fund reappropriation for recreational upgrades at Lake McConaughy

Gov. Pillen’s office was supposed to deliver the line item vetoes to the Clerk of the Legislature by midnight Thursday. However, 10/11 learned that the vetoes got there after 9 a.m. this morning.

Per State Statute lV-15, the Governor has five days – excluding Sundays – to get his vetoes to the Clerk’s office after a bill is passed, or it becomes law.

Communications Director for Gov. Pillen’s office, Laura Strimple, said the bills were properly signed into law and given to the Secretary of State on May 21.

“As has been past practice, copies of the actions and the bill were made and delivered and received by the Clerk’s Office on the evening of the 21st,” Strimple said. “The timely transmittal of line-item veto items to the Legislature and the Secretary of State’s office yesterday was not only consistent with past procedural practice for such actions, but also with the express and specific logistical requests of those offices.”

She said that through the process, Gov. Pillen “took the legally required steps to exercise his veto authority by surrendering physical possession and the power to approve or reject the bills.”

The governor’s office will consult with the Attorney General’s Office and other council on next steps.

It’s unclear where the Nebraska Legislature goes from here, but per state constitution, LB 261 and LB 264 without the vetoes are now law.

Read the budget veto letter below.

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LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) – A day after Nebraska lawmakers rejected a bill to regulate medical marijuana, many are wondering what happens next.

It was State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, a Republican, who sponsored the regulation bill, LB677, which his colleagues rejected on Tuesday.

The fate of medical marijuana is in question, especially since Governor Jim Pillen appointed two people to a commission to regulate it who have repeatedly shared their opposition to even the idea of the drug.

Lorelle Mueting and Monica Oldenburg are Pillen’s appointees. This year, Mueting testified in opposition to Hansen’s regulation bill, saying his bill was not restrictive enough.

Two years ago, she testified in front of senators saying in part: “I’m here on behalf of myself today. And I just want to offer you a perspective from a Nebraska citizen who is not in favor of medical marijuana.”

In 2021, Pillen’s second appointee, Monica Oldenberg, testified before senators about medical marijuana.

“The cost to society is tremendous,” said Oldenberg. “Are we willing to sacrifice our teens? Will we put profits over people? I hope Nebraska can resist this detrimental influence and continue to be the good- sober-life.”

Given these stances, Hansen worries access to medical marijuana for those who need it is in jeopardy.

“My biggest concern is restricting it too much,” said Hansen.

He believes the people may rise up again and vote for something else if the cannabis commission takes restrictions too far.

“If you leave them no choice, I can only assume that they’re going to run a recreational cannabis petition and possibly be successful,” said Hansen.

Opponents yesterday said they believe Hansen’s regulation bill would lead to recreational marijuana.

“If we’re about honoring the people as passed in the ballot box, we should be focused only on completing the task they gave us, confirming the appointees to the medical cannabis commission,” said State Sen. Jared Storm of David City.

Hansen said the commission cannot impose taxes like the legislature can.

“I’m assuming the people of Nebraska are not going to be happy we cannot tax this anymore like we did in my bill,” said Hansen. “That money would’ve gone towards the property tax credit relief fund,” said Hansen.

Hansen’s bill outlined 15 medical conditions along with the legal forms to take the drug. Now, those are the finer points the commission will need to create and do so by early July.

“In my opinion is if the medical cannabis commission restricts this too much, I would not be surprised to see my bill prioritized and up early in January for debate again,” said Hansen.

The hearings for the two appointees are set for Thursday at 2 p.m.

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