State desk
Ranks 35th of 50 on the Liberty Index.
Where Nebraska stands on 12 policies, sourced from our 50-state trackers, with the latest headlines from 8 Nebraska outlets.
12 policies · each strip is all 50 states, grouped by rule · Nebraska in red. Free to cite with attribution.
No permit required to carry a concealed handgun since 2023; optional permits remain available for reciprocity.
Nebraska is 1 of 29 states with this rule
15 · Shall-Issue Permit6 · Restrictive: Permit Required
Nebraska taxes individual income at graduated rates rising to 4.55 percent across 3 brackets, ranking 26 of 41 among the states that tax income.
Nebraska is 1 of 26 states with this rule
8 · No Income Tax1 · Capital Gains Only15 · Single Flat Rate
Nebraska charges 32.70 cents per gallon in state tax, ranking 21 of 50, which is near the middle nationally. With the federal 18.40 cents added, a driver pays 51.10 cents per gallon in tax. Diesel is taxed at 32.10 cents.
Nebraska is 1 of 16 states with this rule
17 · Among the Highest17 · Among the Lowest
Retains the death penalty.
Nebraska is 1 of 23 states with this rule
4 · Retains it, executions paused23 · Abolished
Right-to-work protected in the state constitution since 1946.
Nebraska is 1 of 26 states with this rule
24 · No Right-to-Work Law
State minimum wage is $15.00, above the federal $7.25 floor; adjusted annually for inflation.
Nebraska is 1 of 30 states with this rule
12 · Matches the Federal Floor3 · Below Federal, So Federal Applies5 · No State Minimum Wage Law
Voters are asked for photo ID; those without one can still cast a counted ballot via affidavit or verification.
Nebraska is 1 of 14 states with this rule
10 · Strict Photo ID4 · Strict Non-Photo ID8 · ID Requested (No Photo)14 · No Document Required
Voters repealed the state's scholarship program by referendum in November 2024; no active program.
Nebraska is 1 of 17 states with this rule
17 · Universal / Near-Universal16 · Limited Program
NCSL does not list Nebraska among no-duty-to-retreat states, and does not state a rule for it here. Verify with a primary source before relying on it.
Nebraska is 1 of 12 states with this rule
31 · No Duty to Retreat7 · Recognized by Court Decision
Any voter may request a mail ballot without a reason; small counties may opt into all-mail elections.
Nebraska is 1 of 29 states with this rule
8 · All-Mail13 · Excuse Required
Nebraska's unemployment rate was 2.9% in September 2026, seasonally adjusted, unchanged from August. It ranks 6th lowest of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.). A year earlier, in September 2025, it was 2.9%. The U.S. rate was 4.2%.
Data retrieved from the BLS public API on October 30, 2026. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.
Elected statewide to a four-year term.
Nebraska is 1 of 43 states with this rule
5 · Appointed by the governor1 · Chosen by the legislature1 · Appointed by the state supreme court