The Defense Efforts Workforce Act aims to encourage employers to establish their workforce in Nebraska to support military defense initiatives and enhance global defense communications and technologies. The bill defines "qualified employers" and "qualified employees," setting criteria for employment levels, wage standards, and work eligibility verification. It offers a wage credit of five percent of total compensation paid to qualified employees, capped at four million dollars per employer annually, with a total limit of forty million dollars for all employers combined. The act also outlines an application process, including a nonrefundable fee and confidentiality provisions, and specifies conditions under which wage credits may be recaptured if employers do not meet the required standards.

Additionally, the bill introduces new reporting requirements for taxpayer agreements, mandating an annual report that includes a list of agreements from the previous year, those still in effect, and the identities of the taxpayers involved. It requires the disclosure of total credits used every two years, combining the first and second years of credits into one report. Importantly, any information protected by state or federal confidentiality laws will be excluded from the report. The provisions of this bill are set to take effect on July 1, 2027.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 77-2715.03