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Capitol Conversations: From Pasture to Policy Continuing to Fight for Nebraska’s Cattle Industry
Continuing the fight for the Nebraska Cattle Industry

Tanya Storer
4 days ago3 min read


Capitol Conversations: From Pasture to Policy Ensuring Distance Is No Barrier to Justice
Our constitutional freedoms depend on more than the laws we pass. They depend on the judicial system that applies those laws fairly, protects individual rights, and ensures every Nebraskan receives due process under the law. The Nebraska Supreme Court’s recent summer tour through north-central Nebraska provided an opportunity to recognize the people who keep justice accessible in our rural communities. From August 10–12, Chief Justice Jeffrey Funke and members of the Supreme

Tanya Storer
Aug 313 min read


Senator Storers Applauds Historic Meta Settlement and New Protections for Children
Senator Storers Applauds Historic Meta Settlement and New Protections for Children

Tanya Storer
Aug 270 min read


Capitol Conversations: From Pasture to Policy Growing Nebraska Without Losing What Makes Nebraska Valuable
Nebraska is heading toward another difficult budget conversation this session. When the cost of government rises faster than state revenues, there are only a few choices: spend less, raise taxes, or grow the economy enough that existing tax rates can support the services Nebraskans expect. Responsible budgeting requires spending discipline. But in the long term, we can neither cut our way nor tax our way to prosperity. Economic growth has to be part of the answer, based on t

Tanya Storer
Aug 244 min read


Capitol Conversations: From Pasture to Policy Taking the Scenic Route: A Passport to Adventure.
Sometimes the most memorable adventures in life begin by taking the road less traveled and, in the words of my beloved grandmother, taking time to “stop and smell the roses.” That's part of what makes the Nebraska Passport program so beneficial. It gives us a reason to take the scenic route, explore communities across our state, support local businesses, and discover places we might otherwise miss. This year, seven of the 70 stops on the 2026 Nebraska Passport are located rig

Tanya Storer
Aug 103 min read


Capitol Conversations: From Pasture to Policy The Cost of COVID: Lives Changed Forever, Questions Still Unanswered
It seems like a lifetime ago, when COVID turned our lives upside down, yet the consequences for many remain very real. While the shutdowns in much of rural Nebraska may not have been as severe as those experienced in our larger cities, our lives were still changed in ways we never imagined. Schools closed or were disrupted, weddings and funerals were canceled, businesses struggled, churches wrestled with how to continue serving their congregations, and families found themselv

Tanya Storer
Aug 33 min read


Capitol Conversations: From Pasture to Policy Extremes Are Rarely Healthy—in Weather or Politics
Extremes seem to be something Nebraska’s weather and politics have in common lately. In both cases, the results are rarely positive. Nebraska entered 2026 with much of the state receiving roughly half its normal moisture. Those dry conditions contributed to a devastating fire season that burned nearly one million acres. June brought welcome rain, but it came too late for much of the spring forage to recover. By July, record heat and persistent winds have quickly robbed that m

Tanya Storer
Jul 273 min read


Capitol Conversations: From Pasture to Policy Where Champions Are Made: Welcoming the National High School Finals Rodeo Back to Nebraska
There are certain moments in life that are difficult to put into words. For me, simply pulling into the National High School Finals Rodeo is one of them. The excitement is unlike anything else. Seeing hundreds of trailers, horses being unloaded, families greeting old friends, and young competitors preparing for the biggest week of their high school rodeo careers creates an atmosphere that is hard to describe. It is a feeling of anticipation, excitement, and pride that never g

Tanya Storer
Jul 203 min read


Capitol Conversations: From Pasture to Policy Taking Time for What Matters Most
Summer is flying by, and it can be so easy to become consumed by busy schedules, deadlines, and the constant responsibilities competing for our attention that we miss the opportunities to enjoy the “good life.” Summer in Nebraska offers many opportunities to step back and reconnect with the people and traditions that matter most. Some of my favorite memories as both a kid and a parent involved 4-H, and with county fairs well underway, I am reminded of those values. Fair time

Tanya Storer
Jul 133 min read


Capitol Conversations: From Pasture to Policy Celebrating Independence: Reflecting on the Principles That Built Our Nation
As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary this Fourth of July, let's take this opportunity to reflect on the principles that shaped our nation and the responsibility we all share in preserving them. The founding of our country was built on constitutional government, the rule of law, and individual liberty. Our Founding Fathers understood that government exists to serve the people primarily by protecting their individual rights; rights endowed by our Creator, not the governm

Tanya Storer
Jul 62 min read


Capitol Conversations: From Pasture to Policy The Hard Balance: Local Control, Rural Schools, and Property Tax Relief
Nebraska’s property tax debate is often framed as a simple question: Are property taxes too high? For most Nebraskans, especially in rural communities, the answer is yes. Property taxes are one of the greatest financial pressures facing homeowners, farmers, ranchers, small businesses, and retirees on fixed incomes. People are not asking for luxury. They are asking for breathing room. But the debate is not over whether property taxes should be reduced. The real challenge is ho

Tanya Storer
Jun 294 min read


Capitol Conversations: From Pasture to Policy From Petition to Ballot: Understanding the Fairness for Girls Initiative
As Nebraskans travel across the state this summer, many have likely encountered petition circulators gathering signatures for various proposed ballot measures for the November election. One of those efforts is the Fairness for Girls constitutional amendment initiative. The proposed amendment would add language to the Nebraska Constitution establishing protections for sex-separated athletics. It would limit participation on female-designated athletic teams and programs to biol

Tanya Storer
Jun 223 min read


South Fork Fire Relief Fund Established to Support Nebraska Pine Ridge Communities
South Fork Fire Relief Fund Established to Support Nebraska Pine Ridge Communities

Tanya Storer
Jun 160 min read


Capitol Conversations: From Pasture to Policy Strengthening Rural Health Care and Long-Term Care in Nebraska
One of the concerns I hear often from families across rural Nebraska is the challenge of finding quality care for aging loved ones close to home. When a parent or grandparent begins experiencing memory loss or requires additional assistance, families want options that allow them to remain near their community, church, friends, and support network. In many rural areas, however, those options can be limited. In an effort to strengthen access to care in local communities I intro

Tanya Storer
Jun 153 min read


Capitol Conversations: From Pasture to Policy Understanding Property Taxes: Assessments, Levies, and Taxpayer Relief
As valuation notices arrive in mailboxes across Nebraska, many property owners are asking the same question: If my valuation increased, does that mean my property taxes will increase as well? The answer is, no, not necessarily. Your property tax bill is based on two things: the assessed value of your property times the tax rate, or levy, which is set by locally elected taxing authorities. Understanding how those two factors work together can help make sense of both your valua

Tanya Storer
Jun 83 min read


Capitol Conversations: From Pasture to Policy From the Ballot Box to the Real World Consequences
Following up on the discussion of the power and responsibility that comes with casting a ballot, this week I want to address one of the more debated issues of this legislative session: Nebraska’s new minimum wage law and the passage of LB258. LB258 was a bill created to provide practical, real-world guidelines for implementing Ballot Initiative 433, which was approved by voters in 2022. Initiative 433 mandated an increase in the state's minimum wage to $15 per hour starting J

Tanya Storer
Jun 13 min read


Capitol Conversations: From Pasture to Policy Rain Brings Relief, but Nebraska’s Drought Story Is Far From Over
Nebraska is finally beginning to receive some long-awaited moisture, providing some relief to dry pastures and fields. While this is good news, these rains do not necessarily signal the end of the state's drought. Recent updates show that drought conditions remain severe across much of the state. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor shows that over 90 percent of the state is in drought, with increasing portions of Nebraska in severe, extreme, and exceptional drought. The worst con

Tanya Storer
May 253 min read


Capitol Conversations: From Pasture to Policy Every Child Is Worth Fighting For: Strengthening Protections Against Online Exploitation
For too long, victims of child sexual abuse have faced persistent harm as their worst moments are viewed, shared, and monetized online, often without a meaningful way to force content removal. Existing criminal law was not always sufficient to hold commercial websites that knowingly profit from this illegal content accountable. I introduced LB978, now law, which passed 39–10 as part of LB965, to close this gap and provide another avenue for justice. This critical legislation

Tanya Storer
May 182 min read


Valentine National Wildlife Refuge Accepting Applications for Grazing Opportunities
Valentine National Wildlife Refuge Accepting Applications for Grazing Opportunities

Tanya Storer
May 140 min read


Capitol Conversations: From Pasture to Policy The Power and Privilege of the Ballot
As this week’s election takes place on Tuesday, May 12, it is a good time to pause and reflect on both the privilege and responsibility that come with the right to vote. Whether an election is local, statewide, or national, every ballot cast helps shape the future of our communities and our country. Voter participation often varies from election to election, but the consequences of every race and every ballot measure are real and lasting. From Omaha to Scottsbluff, the decisi

Tanya Storer
May 112 min read
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