Nebraska Voters’ Outlook (NVO) series, a statewide public opinion research initiative measuring Nebraskans’ insights into policy impacting children and families. Nebraska Voters’ Outlook is commissioned by and conducted in partnership with OpenSky Policy Institute and Patinkin Research Strategies, LLC, from March 4 -8, 2026, among approximately 500 registered voters across the state. Total results are available here. View the press release here.
Public Opinion Polling indicate that the State has been consistently on the “wrong track,” with the highest level recorded since 2020
Nebraskans overwhelmingly believe the state is on the “wrong track” (66%), outpacing opinions that things are headed in the “right direction” by a nearly 2:1 margin (34%), as noted in Figure 1 below.
Another large majority of Nebraskans said they are worried about being able to afford health care (66%), groceries and household goods (60%), utilities (56%), gas or other transportation costs (52%), and housing (51%), as noted in Figure 2.
Nebraskans prefer balancing the State budget by closing tax loopholes as opposed to cutting programs, ultimately hurting children and families.
When asked about the state budget, a supermajority of Nebraskans (79%) wants decisions about state’s income tax policy to be made by the state legislature in Lincoln, not by members of Congress from across the country in Washington, DC.
Additionally, Nebraskans said they would prefer the Legislature balance the budget by closing tax loopholes (81%), rather than cutting programs in health care, education, and workforce development (19%). All three partisan subgroups subscribe to this view with Democrats (99%), Independents (89%), and Republicans (69%) roundly in favor of closing tax loopholes to balance the budget, as noted in Figure 3.
Perceptions on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
The federal landscape is also a concern among voters, with the One Big Beautiful Act (OBBBA) receiving unfavorable opinions. The intensity of feeling leans quite negative, with very unfavorable opinions (48%) outnumbering very favorable opinions by a nearly 2:1 margin.
A majority believe OBBBA will worsen food security (52%) and health care (58%). Pluralities believe that housing and home ownership (47%) and agriculture (42%) will get worse, not better, as a result of the OBBBA.
While Nebraskans tend to believe that the OBBBA will help large corporations and wealthy Nebraskans, they are significantly less likely to believe that it will benefit either them or their families (16% not too helpful and 39% not helpful at all), as noted in Figure 4 and 5.
“These overwhelming majorities offer a crystal clear view of Nebraskans’ concerns and serious dissatisfaction with the state, while they are also in massive agreement the state should close tax loopholes instead of cutting services, as they are deeply worried about being unable to afford or access healthcare, food and other critical services and goods. These huge majorities represent Nebraska voices, which should not be ignored by their elected representatives as the current state budget debate continues and decisions are being made.”
“The public opinion poll expresses clearly that Nebraskans call for common sense approaches to taxation, strongly preferring their locally elected legislators to make decisions rather than inheriting them from Washington D.C. We share the concern so many Nebraskans expressed about the affordability of the things they need most. We encourage lawmakers to exercise their authority to make budget and tax policy decisions that are forward-thinking and sustainable, rather than reactionary. OpenSky Policy Institute and Holland Children’s Institute both know that you cannot cut your way to prosperity, and it’s imperative that we make strategic investments that allow Nebraskans to continue to access the Good Life.”
ABOUT
Holland Children’s Institute is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization serving as the trusted destination for research and analysis related to income disparities and equitable access to opportunities essential to prosperity for Nebraska children and families. For nearly a decade, the organization has released the Nebraska Voters’ Outlook (NVO) series, a statewide public opinion research initiative measuring Nebraskans’ insights into policy impacting children and families.
OpenSky Policy Institute is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to using research, strategic communications and coalition-building to advance evidence-based policies that improve economic opportunity for all Nebraskans. For 15 years, the organization has focused on empowering policymakers to make wise fiscal policy decisions, with expertise in taxation, budgeting, educational funding and social safety net policies.