# Pillen launches property tax hotline to pressure Legislature on relief  
**Published:** 2026-06-25T09:00:18.000Z  
**Source:** [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/25/pillen-creates-property-tax-hotline-to-solicit-nebraskans-anger-on-rising-taxes-valuations/)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/pillen-launches-property-tax-hotline-to-pressure-legislature-on-relief

LINCOLN, Neb. — Gov. Jim Pillen announced a new property tax hotline Wednesday designed to collect Nebraskans' complaints about rising valuations and tax bills, marking another attempt to pressure state lawmakers to address what he calls the state's property tax crisis, according to [the Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/25/pillen-creates-property-tax-hotline-to-solicit-nebraskans-anger-on-rising-taxes-valuations/).

The hotline, accessible through a state website and phone number 402-471-9554, invites property owners who have experienced significant tax increases to share their experiences. Pillen told those considering using the service, "I want to hear your story."

The governor said he hopes the initiative will pressure lawmakers who may not view the issue as urgent as their constituents do. "Some of our senators don't believe this issue to be as urgent as their constituents do," Pillen said. "My hope is that this website will be a catalyst for getting this important message across."

But some key lawmakers expressed skepticism about the effort. State Sens. Brad von Gillern of Elkhorn and George Dungan of Lincoln, both on the Legislature's Revenue Committee, said they already understand property taxes are a major problem. Dungan said he doesn't believe a hotline is needed to make that case.

Von Gillern, who participated in previous working groups with the governor on property tax reform, said he learned about the initiative only on radio Wednesday morning and wanted clarification on what data it would collect and how it would be used. "I'm not aware of what data it's really attempting to collect and what the end goal is," Von Gillern said.

Laura Strimple, a Pillen spokesperson, said the governor will use the collected stories "to further demand that the Legislature take action on this important issue." She added that Nebraskans should protest any property valuation increases they believe are unfair.

The hotline represents Pillen's latest push in a years-long effort to address property taxes, an issue he has made central to his political brand since his 2022 campaign. Previous initiatives include a 26-city listening tour in 2024 and a special legislative session dedicated to property tax relief, though major [proposals have faced bipartisan opposition](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/08/08/gov-pillen-pushes-back-against-legislative-criticism-of-his-property-tax-approach/).

Pillen's property tax relief plans have included cutting state spending, raising the state sales tax rate, and expanding the tax base to goods and services currently exempt from sales taxation. He requested $170 million in property tax relief this year, but [lawmakers approved no major relief package](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/04/20/pillen-eyes-more-state-budget-cuts-to-help-offset-local-property-taxes/) during the 2026 session.

Property valuations are set to rise an average of 5.3% statewide, and the deadline to protest valuations is Tuesday. Nebraska's property tax burden remains among the nation's highest, with the total state property tax burden estimated at $5.3 billion annually, of which schools account for $3.2 billion.

## Sources

- [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/25/pillen-creates-property-tax-hotline-to-solicit-nebraskans-anger-on-rising-taxes-valuations/)
- [Nebraska Examiner - Gov. Pillen pushes back against legislative criticism](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/08/08/gov-pillen-pushes-back-against-legislative-criticism-of-his-property-tax-approach/)
- [Nebraska Examiner - Pillen eyes more state budget cuts for property tax relief](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/04/20/pillen-eyes-more-state-budget-cuts-to-help-offset-local-property-taxes/)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Nebraska Examiner, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/25/pillen-creates-property-tax-hotline-to-solicit-nebraskans-anger-on-rising-taxes-valuations/.