Brian Hardin

Candidate for Legislature, District 48

Incumbent
City
Gering
On the ballot as
Brian Hardin
Campaign website
hardin2026.com

Property taxes and cost of living

Summary

Wants a simpler tax structure with a broad-based sales tax instead of stacked income, property and inheritance taxes, and says relief requires an equal decrease in government spending.

“Longer term I still want a simpler tax structure — broad-based sales tax instead of stacking income, property and inheritance taxes — so families and farms are not punished for owning something and building something.”

Source: Nebraska Examiner: Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 48 (2026 General Election voter guide)QuestionnaireRetrieved Archived copy of Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 48 (2026 General Election voter guide)

“Tax cuts without spending restraint is just a tax shift. Real relief requires an equal decrease in government spend.”

Source: Nebraska Examiner: Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 48 (2026 General Election voter guide)QuestionnaireRetrieved Archived copy of Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 48 (2026 General Election voter guide)

Economy, jobs and trade

Summary

Wants to keep the LB 754 income and corporate rate cuts on schedule.

“Keep the LB 754 income and corporate rate cuts on schedule so Nebraska can compete with neighboring states and so working families keep more of what they earn.”

Source: Nebraska Examiner: Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 48 (2026 General Election voter guide)QuestionnaireRetrieved Archived copy of Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 48 (2026 General Election voter guide)

Agriculture and rural Nebraska

Summary

Says he will champion higher ethanol blends, protect farmland from foreign control and cut regulatory obstacles; campaign site says he supports exploring new markets for local produce.

“On the growth side I will keep championing agriculture and small business: higher ethanol blends that raise demand for our corn, protecting farmland from foreign control (LB 1120) and cutting regulatory obstacles so producers and local shops can expand.”

Source: Nebraska Examiner: Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 48 (2026 General Election voter guide)QuestionnaireRetrieved Archived copy of Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 48 (2026 General Election voter guide)

Campaign website text

“Brian supports exploring new markets for local produce and attracting ag-related businesses to our region.”

Source: Hardin for Legislature: Brian Hardin for District 48 Nebraska LegislatureCampaign websiteRetrieved Archived copy of Brian Hardin for District 48 Nebraska Legislature

Health care

Summary

Says Health and Human Services cuts must be surgical so as not to deepen the rural medical desert.

“As HHS Committee chair, I have said we will be front and center on cuts — but they have to be surgical so we do not deepen the rural medical desert while we close the books.”

Source: Nebraska Examiner: Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 48 (2026 General Election voter guide)QuestionnaireRetrieved Archived copy of Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 48 (2026 General Election voter guide)

Abortion

Summary

Campaign site says he supported and helped pass LB574, which bans abortion after 12 weeks.

Campaign website text

“Brian supported and helped pass Nebraska’s first significant abortion ban post-Roe v. Wade (LB574), banning abortion after 12-weeks and prohibiting puberty blockers for minors and bannning gender-altering surgery for minors.”

Source: Hardin for Legislature: Brian Hardin for District 48 Nebraska LegislatureCampaign websiteRetrieved Archived copy of Brian Hardin for District 48 Nebraska Legislature

Immigration and the border

Summary

Campaign site says he supported Nebraska's participation in Operation Lone Star to secure the southern border.

Campaign website text

“Supported Nebraska’s participation in Operation Lone Star, backing Gov. Pillen’s deployment of state resources to secure the southern border and prevent fentanyl and human trafficking from impacting our communities.”

Source: Hardin for Legislature: Brian Hardin for District 48 Nebraska LegislatureCampaign websiteRetrieved Archived copy of Brian Hardin for District 48 Nebraska Legislature

Education and school choice

Summary

Campaign site says he backed legislation to prohibit teaching what it calls “divisive Critical Race Theory” and “inappropriate gender ideology,” and advocates school choice (LB753).

Campaign website text

“Actively backed legislation to prohibit the teaching of divisive Critical Race Theory and inappropriate gender ideology in Nebraska schools, while strongly advocating school choice (LB753) to empower parents to choose schools aligning with their values.”

Source: Hardin for Legislature: Brian Hardin for District 48 Nebraska LegislatureCampaign websiteRetrieved Archived copy of Brian Hardin for District 48 Nebraska Legislature

Energy, water and environment

Summary

Opposes a statewide data center ban; wants no ImagiNE subsidies for data centers, public disclosure of water and electricity use, and Natural Resources District review.

“A statewide ban is the wrong tool. Counties and NRDs know their water and their land.”

Source: Nebraska Examiner: Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 48 (2026 General Election voter guide)QuestionnaireRetrieved Archived copy of Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 48 (2026 General Election voter guide)

“Pair it with no ImagiNE subsidies for data centers, full public disclosure of water and electricity use, and Natural Resources District review so a project cannot quietly drain a basin.”

Source: Nebraska Examiner: Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 48 (2026 General Election voter guide)QuestionnaireRetrieved Archived copy of Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 48 (2026 General Election voter guide)

Guns and public safety

Summary

Campaign site says he voted to enact Constitutional Carry (LB77) and championed increased funding, resources and training for State Patrol and local law enforcement.

Campaign website text

“Successfully voted to enact Constitutional Carry (LB77), allowing law-abiding Nebraskans to carry concealed firearms without permits or unnecessary regulation”

Source: Hardin for Legislature: Brian Hardin for District 48 Nebraska LegislatureCampaign websiteRetrieved Archived copy of Brian Hardin for District 48 Nebraska Legislature

Campaign website text

“Championed increases in funding, resources, and training for Nebraska State Patrol and local law enforcement agencies to ensure community safety and officer retention.”

Source: Hardin for Legislature: Brian Hardin for District 48 Nebraska LegislatureCampaign websiteRetrieved Archived copy of Brian Hardin for District 48 Nebraska Legislature

Elections and government

Summary

Says the 33-vote threshold to break cloture should fall to 30 or 28, and that two-thirds of the Unicameral is already a high bar to amend what voters pass.

“The 33-vote threshold needs to fall to 30 or even 28 to break cloture.”

Source: Nebraska Examiner: Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 48 (2026 General Election voter guide)QuestionnaireRetrieved Archived copy of Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 48 (2026 General Election voter guide)

“The people reserved the initiative power, and two-thirds of the Unicameral is already a high bar to amend what voters pass.”

Source: Nebraska Examiner: Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 48 (2026 General Election voter guide)QuestionnaireRetrieved Archived copy of Nebraska Legislature, Legislative District 48 (2026 General Election voter guide)

Compare all candidates for Legislature, District 48