The Manufacturing Modernization and Workforce Development Pilot Investment Act aims to enhance productivity in Nebraska's manufacturing sector by providing one-time grants for capital investments that incorporate smart technologies. Eligible manufacturing operations can apply for grants up to $50,000, contingent upon securing private matching financial support. The Department of Labor will oversee the grant program, which will accept applications from October 1, 2025, to November 1, 2026. The bill also amends several sections of the Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, including the state unemployment insurance tax rate and the Workforce Development Program Cash Fund, while eliminating the Nebraska Worker Training Board and certain fund transfers.

Additionally, the bill introduces new definitions and clarifications regarding wages, particularly in agricultural and domestic services, and establishes the Workforce Development Program Cash Fund as the primary fund for unemployment insurance tax collections. It mandates that combined taxes owed by employers be directed to this new fund instead of the previously existing State Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. The act also outlines the creation of a special fund that will terminate on July 1, 2025, with funds being transferred to the Workforce Development Program Cash Fund. The bill emphasizes the importance of workforce development initiatives and includes provisions for job training grants, particularly for small businesses and those in rural or high-poverty areas, while also detailing the responsibilities of employers in reporting wages and paying taxes related to unemployment insurance.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 48-602, 48-622.01, 48-622.02, 48-648, 48-649.01, 48-649.03, 48-657, 48-3405, 81-407, 81-1201.21
Final Reading: 48-602, 48-622.01, 48-622.02, 48-626, 48-648, 48-649.01, 48-649.03, 48-657, 48-3405, 81-407, 81-1201.21, 84-612
Slip Law: 48-602, 48-622.01, 48-622.02, 48-626, 48-648, 48-649.01, 48-649.03, 48-657, 48-3405, 81-407, 81-1201.21, 84-612