The Thundercloud Singers at the Winnebago Tribe's powwow in July 2015. Photo from Facebook

A bill pending in the Nebraska Legislature authorizes the state to enter into tax sharing agreements with tribes.

Tribes would be able to impose a sales tax on businesses on their reservations. The rate would be equal to or lower than the state's rate and the tribe would keep 80 percent of the revenues.

LB1104 also includes tax breaks for businesses on reservations. Another provision directs a portion of the state's community college levy to tribal colleges.

“This isn’t the silver bullet, but it will offer economic growth," state Sen. Tyson Larson, the sponsor of LB1104, told The Omaha World-Herald. “It will offer economic certainty for business. And I think it will be a massive benefit not only to the tribes, but also the state of Nebraska, in the end.”

The bill is due to be considered by the State-Tribal Relations Committee, the paper reported.

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Tax breaks for businesses owned by non-Native Americans would tackle poverty on reservations (The Omaha World-Herald 1/25)