Agriculture plays a huge role in Nebraska s economy, and it is the topic of a bill in Congress getting rare bipartisan support. The Community College Agriculture Advancement Act would create grant funding for college programs providing the training and research needed for a highly-skilled agriculture workforce. As with other industries, ag has become more reliant on technology, which often requires specialized training. .
A new Gallup poll found Americans confidence in higher education has fallen to 36%. It added to the headwinds facing colleges and universities, but some campuses, including in North Dakota, remain undeterred in attracting students. The latest poll results are a sharp decline from 2015, when nearly 60% of respondents looked favorably on higher education. .
Offering tax credits for scholarships to private schools has been a controversial issue in Nebraska. After tax-credit bills failed to pass in 2020 and 2021, this year the Opportunity Scholarships Act was signed into law. Legislative Bill 753 provides donors to scholarship-granting organizations a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for up to 50% of their income tax liability. .