STATE of NEBRASKA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

LINCOLN

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 25-06
Emergency Relief Due to Power Outages Caused by Winter Storm

WHEREAS, on March 19, 2025, a severe winter storm impacted the state of Nebraska that included blizzard conditions that included damaging high winds, mixed precipitation, and areas of high snowfall; and

WHEREAS, extreme conditions during the storm resulted in significant infrastructure damage to power line transmission systems; and

WHEREAS, twenty-four counties including Burt, Butler, Cass, Clay, Colfax, Cuming, Dodge, Douglas, Fillmore, Gage, Jefferson, Lancaster, Platte, Polk, Nuckolls, Saline, Sarpy, Saunders, Seward, Thayer, Thurston, Washington, Wayne, and York suffered widespread power outages due to the storm; and

WHEREAS, these power outages present a significant threat to the public safety and health of citizens of this state; and

WHEREAS, local resources are inadequate or have been exhausted for a timely restoration of power systems in the affected areas and will require support from surrounding states.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Jim Pillen, Governor of the State of Nebraska, pursuant to the authority vested in me as Governor by the Constitution and the laws of the State of Nebraska, find these conditions constitute an emergency and meet the purpose pursuant to 49 CFR part 390.23 of facilitating a waiver to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, specifically 49 CFR part 395.3, maximum drive time for property-carrying vehicles, subjects to the following provisions:
 

1. No motor carrier operating under the terms of this emergency declaration shall require or allow an ill or fatigued driver to operate a motor vehicle. A driver who notifies a motor carrier that he or she needs immediate rest shall be given at least ten (10) consecutive hours off duty before the driver is required to return to service.
    
2. Motor carriers or drivers currently subject to an out-of-service order are not eligible for the relief granted by this Executive Order until they have met the applicable conditions for its rescission and the order has been rescinded in writing by FMCSA.
    
3. This executive order provides for regulatory relief from 49 CFR § 395.3 for commercial motor vehicle operations while providing direct assistance supporting emergency relief efforts.
    
4. Drivers operating under this proclamation shall carry a copy of the proclamation with them as evidence of their direct support to the State of Nebraska during this emergency period.
    
5. This emergency relief is effective immediately and shall remain in effect until April 2, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.

This order does not trigger the transportation network company dynamic pricing prohibition under Neb. Rev. Stat.§ 75-327(2)(d)(iv).

IN WITNESS THEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and cause the Seal of the State of Nebraska to be affixed on this 25th day of March, 2025.

Jim Pillen, Governor
State of Nebraska

Attest:
 

Robert Evnen, Secretary of State
State of Nebraska