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(62) stories found containing 'tim gragert'


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  • Legislature swears in new members, selects leadership for 2023-24

    Zach Wendling, Nebraska News Service|Jan 12, 2023

    Twenty-six Nebraska senators took their oaths of office, Wednesday, Jan. 4, and selected more than a dozen leaders who will fill out the ranks of the Legislature for the next two years. The 108th Nebraska Legislature convened for the first day of a 90-day session, which is scheduled to end June 9. Nearly one-third of the senators - 16 - are brand new to the 49-member, officially nonpartisan body, while two senators are returning after previously serving. One of the first responsibilities for...

  • Experts call state nitrate problem serious. Can we solve it?

    MATTHEW HANSEN and YANQI XU, Flatwater Free Press|Dec 29, 2022

    Pretend for a moment that Nebraska somehow halted all use of nitrogen fertilizer – not a single speck more on our lawns, golf courses and corn fields. What would happen? Nothing fast. That's because, experts say, generations of corn growing, feedlot runoff and oft-unwitting nitrogen overuse has left a legacy of nitrate, creeping slowly downward toward our water supply. "It's there, it's moving towards the groundwater, and there's not a thing we can do about it," said Don Batie, a farmer near L...

  • No nitrate police: State, local regulators can't, or won't, stop drinking water from getting worse

    Yanqi Xu, Flatwater Free Press|Nov 24, 2022

    The farmer was growing impatient. He and dozens of other central Nebraska farmers had gathered for mandatory training in Columbus a few weeks before last Christmas. In response to high nitrate levels, the Lower Loup Natural Resources District had designated a "Phase 3 area." That led to new requirements – like this training to help farmers manage their nitrogen fertilizer use. The farmer didn't like this. He told NRD leaders he had been drinking water containing nitrate at 40 parts per m...

  • Ground broke for housing project in Clearwater

    LuAnn Schindler, Publisher|Nov 3, 2022

    A new duplex is under development in Clearwater, with assistance from a $221,000 Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund grant. A groundbreaking ceremony was held Thursday, Oct. 27, at the site on the corner of Nebraska and Utah streets. Steve and Michelle Stearns, members of the village's economic development board, board of trustees and other dignitaries attended the 1 p.m. event. Stearns Construction, of Clearwater, will serve as developer of the housing project. Each unit covers 1,085 square...

  • Legislative session ends

    Sen. Tim Gragert|Apr 28, 2022

    The 107th Legislature, second session, has adjourned sine die. The last day was filled with last-minute items, the governor’s closing speech and ceremonial procedures. The 13 senators who won’t be back in January, either due to term limits or deciding not to seek a second term, were recognized. Although I won’t be running for another term, I will miss my colleagues and am thankful for being given the chance to serve with them in representing the State of Nebraska. When I ran for office, my pr...

  • STAR WARS bill passes in legislature

    Sen. Tim Gragert|Apr 21, 2022

    The Legislature passed nearly 100 bills during the first three days of this past week. We will now recess for several days, thereby giving the Legislature the opportunity to override any potential governor veto prior to adjourning sine die. Governor Ricketts has five days (not counting Sunday) to either sign or veto the bills. He also has the option to let the legislation become law without his signature. Bills passed include all five bills that I introduced this year, in addition to one...

  • Legislators override all but one line-item vetoes

    Senator Tim Gragert|Apr 14, 2022

    Many major issues were dealt with this past week in the Legislature, with the most significant being the passage of LB 873. When fully implemented, LB 873 will result in almost $900 million in annual tax relief. The legislation sets a floor for the refundable income tax credit of $548 million in 2022 and $560.7 million in 2023. This guarantees an approximate 25% refund for property taxes paid to school districts. Additionally, a similar income tax credit will be implemented for property taxes pa...

  • Gragert meets with local residents, discusses priority bills

    LuAnn Schindler, Publisher|Apr 7, 2022

    Even though only a handful of days remain in the 2022 legislative session, District 40 Sen. Tim Gragert said he wants to hear from constituents. Gragert met area residents, Friday, at the Antelope County Ag Society Event Center. Through redistricting, following the 2020 census, Antelope and the northern part of Pierce counties were added to the district. Gragert, who will serve through January 2023, said, "I have never taken this job as a position or title. I stepped up, put my best foot...

  • Legislative candidates participate in forum

    LuAnn Schindler, Publisher|Apr 7, 2022

    The public had an opportunity to hear platforms of four candidates vying for the District 40 legislative seat, last Thursday, during a forum held in Plainview. Barry DeKay, of Niobrara; Robert Johnston, of Clearwater; Keith Kube, of Crofton and Mark Patefield, of Laurel participated in the 90-minute event. Farm Bureau sponsored the forum, which was moderated by Chad Moyer, of the Rural Radio Network. Candidates were given two minutes to respond to questions submitted by audience members. While...

  • Prison debate continues in legislature

    Sen. Tim Gragert|Apr 7, 2022

    The Legislature gave final approval to the budget bills. During the 90-day legislative session, the biennial budget is crafted. During the 60-day session, adjustments are made. This was a much more demanding task this year due to the increased revenue projections and the influx of federal money due to the pandemic. The budget was filibustered at every stage of debate, not because of what was in it, but due to possible amendments that could have been added. The budget sets aside $175 million for...

  • Legislature contemplates ARPA fund spending

    Sen. Tim Gragert|Mar 31, 2022

    The Legislature gave second-round approval to budget bills this past week, working late each evening. This will allow the budget to be read on Final Reading next week, meeting the requirement to have it passed by the 50th legislative day. The budget provides funding to cover salary increases recently negotiated with the union and the state for employees at correctional facilities and other 24/7 facilities that were experiencing dangerous staffing shortages. Worker shortages and competition also...

  • Senators discuss permanen daylight saving time

    Sen. Tim Gragert|Mar 24, 2022

    We change our clocks twice a year, switching from standard time to daylight saving time and back again, even though we may not like it. This could soon change. The Legislature gave first-round approval to LB 283, which would keep daylight saving time year-round, if given approval on the federal level and three adjacent states adopt similar laws. To date, Wyoming has passed this legislation and the proposal is pending in Colorado, Iowa and Missouri. In total, 18 states have passed bills to...

  • District 40 candidate forum set for Thursday in Plainview

    Mar 24, 2022

    Nebraska Farm Bureau will sponsor a District 40 candidate forum, Thursday, March 31, at 7 p.m., at Mary's Restaurant, at 108 S. West Street, in Plainview. Individuals interested in learning more about the four candidates running for the District 40 seat in the Nebraska Legislature are invited to participate in the forum, sponsored by Antelope, Cedar, Dixon, Holt, Knox and Pierce County Farm Bureaus. The four candidates who have filed to represent District 40 have been invited to participate,...

  • Northeast Nebraska tourism improvements given nod

    Sen. Tim Gragert|Mar 17, 2022

    A new event center and lodge at Niobrara State Park, a new boat launch near the village of Niobrara and expanding the Weigand Marina at Lewis and Clark State Recreational Area, are one step closer to reality, as the Legislature gave first-round approval to LB 1023 on a 29-4 vote. LB 1023 carries out the recommendations of the State Tourism and Recreational Water Access and Resource Sustainability (STAR WARS) Special Committee, of which I am a member. The bill also includes funding for road...

  • Gragert plans Neligh visit

    Mar 10, 2022

    On April 1, Nebraska State Senator Tim Gragert plans to be visit Neligh and hold an informal meet-and-greet with constituents. He will take time to discuss the ongoing legislative session, bills he is working on and answer questions. The event will be held at the Antelope County Ag Society Event Center, 709 East Highway 275, in Neligh, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Gragert was elected to represent District 40 since January 2019. His term concludes in January 2023. Prior to taking office, he served in the military for 40 years and worked for the...

  • Economic Advisory Board increases state revenue forecast

    Sen. Tim Gragert|Mar 10, 2022

    The public hearing process is now complete. A hearing was held on every bill that was introduced before the committee with jurisdiction over the subject matter. The Legislature began meeting in full-day sessions March 8. The following week, we will begin meeting into the evenings, in order to complete our work by April 20. On Monday of this past week, senators focused on consent calendar bills. Consent calendar is a process to allow noncontroversial bills, without priority status, to be debated...

  • Gragert selects LB925 as priority bill

    Sen. Tim Gragert|Mar 3, 2022

    The Legislature has passed the midway mark in this 60-day legislative session. The priority bill designation process is also complete. From this point on, generally only bills with priority status will be debated by the Legislature. Every senator gets to select one bill as their priority bill, every committee can pick two and the speaker is authorized to designate 25 bills as speaker priority bills. I selected LB 925 as my priority bill and it received first-round approval this past week on a...

  • Peer disucssions, reliable resources key in adopting soil health practices

    Kalee Olson, Policy associate Center for Rural Affairs|Feb 24, 2022

    Nebraska’s agricultural economy relies on soil and water, so when the quality of those natural resources are in jeopardy, so too is the health of our state at large. Since the beginning of modern agriculture, Nebraska has lost nearly one-third of its topsoil. Wind and water erosion have shifted valuable organic matter from fields, where it provides vital plant nutrients, to watersheds where runoff negatively impacts the safety of our water. Just as unhealthy soil can cause a chain reaction t...

  • Legislators debate COVID vaccine mandate

    Sen. Tim Gragert|Feb 24, 2022

    The Legislature spent four hours this past week debating LB 906, which focuses on employer vaccine mandates. As amended by Health and Human Services Committee amendments, LB 906 would apply to businesses with one or more employees but would only pertain to the COVID-19 vaccine. LB 906 clarifies that if an employer requires employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, an exemption to the mandate is allowed for a medical reason, accompanied by a signed statement from their health care...

  • Bill debate underway in legislature

    Sen. Tim Gragert|Feb 17, 2022

    The public hearing on LB 1023 was held Thursday, Feb. 10 before the Natural Resources Committee. It reflects the work of the Statewide Tourism and Recreational Water Access and Resource Sustainability Special Committee and proposes to adopt the Lake Development Act and the Water Recreation Enhancement Act. I was appointed to serve on the STAR WARS Committee, stemming from the passage of LB 406, last year. In addition to recommendations to construct a 3,600-acre lake in or near Sarpy County and...

  • Public hearings underway on proposed bills

    Sen. Tim Gragert|Feb 10, 2022

    We have reached the one-third mark of this 60-day legislative session but still have a great deal of work to do. The various standing committees are busy holding public hearings on the 600 bills that were introduced in January. As of Feb. 3, public hearings have been conducted on 257 bills during the first three weeks of hearings, but 343 bills have yet to be heard during the next four weeks, before the public hearing process concludes and the Legislature begins to meet on the floor in full-day...

  • DeKay announces bid for state Legislature

    Feb 3, 2022

    SUBMITTED ARTICLE Barry DeKay of Niobrara announced recently he has filed paperwork with the Nebraska Secretary of State to run for the Nebraska Legislature in District 40. On Jan. 26, State Senator Tim Gragert of Creighton announced he will not be seeking a second term in the Legislature. "I appreciate Senator Gragert and his service to our district," DeKay said. "I consider Tim a friend and value his service to our country and our state. He and Donna certainly deserve to live a great...

  • Property tax bills introduced in legislature

    Sen. Tim Gragert|Feb 3, 2022

    This past week, the Legislature gave first-round approval to two bills offering tax relief for Nebraskans. Further debate on the two proposals will wait until we are further along in the session and have a better idea of projected revenues and expenses. LB825 accelerates the phase-out of the taxation of social security benefits. Under the proposal, all social security benefits will no longer be subject to the income tax, beginning in 2025. LB723 guarantees a higher level of property tax relief...

  • Bills, resolutions introduced

    Sen. Tim Gragert|Jan 27, 2022

    Just more than 600 bills and constitutional amendments were introduced during the 10-day bill introductory period for this legislative session. Currently, various committees are in the process of holding public hearings on every bill introduced. Senators gave second-round approval to LR14 this past week. This resolution would serve as Nebraska’s application for a convention of the states, authorized under Article V of the U.S. Constitution, to limit the power of the federal government, impose f...

  • Gragert won't seek a second legislative term

    Jan 20, 2022

    Nebraska State Senator Tim Gragert announced Sunday, he will not be seeking a second term in the Legislature in 2022. Gragert was elected to the Legislature in 2018. After winning the Primary Election in a crowded field of six candidates, Gragert went on to win the General Election and has represented Legislative District 40 since being sworn into office in January 2019. In announcing his intentions, Gragert said, "Serving the constituents of District 40 has been a great honor. I want to thank...

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