Ag Committee State Fair Hearings to be Televised

LINCOLN: Senator Philip Erdman, Chairman of the Agriculture Committee of the Legislature, announced the CommitteeÕs February 26th public hearing on a series of bills pertaining to the State Fair will be televised on NET2. The February 26th hearing will be broadcast from Hearing Room 1525 of the State Capitol Building beginning at 1:30 p.m (CST) where the Committee will receive public testimony on the five bills introduced this session.

Senator Erdman noted that discussions surrounding the future of the state fair have generated considerable interest statewide. "I am pleased that Nebraska Education Television will provide this opportunity for the public to view the hearings on the legislation that I hope provides a resolution to the question of the location of the Nebraska State Fair."

The Committee will take testimony simultaneously on LB 861, LB 1044, and LB 1116. These three bills are related to the location of the State Fair. Groups have been developing solutions for accommodating the State Fair at what have emerged as viable locations including: Fonner Park in Grand Island, the Lancaster Events Center in southeast Lincoln, and State Fair Park. The Senator anticipates that these groups will present updated information to the committee during the joint hearing of LBs 861, 1044, and 1116. LBs 1114 and 1115 will be heard separately following the hearing on the prior bills. Testifiers will be asked to confine their prepared testimony to 5 minutes.

NET2 is available on most cable television services throughout the state. The State Fair hearings will also be web cast on NET's Web site [netNebraska.org]. All that is needed is access to the Internet and a free Windows Media Player program. Webcasting of the program is a free service of NET.

The Hearing Schedule is as follows:

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2008
Room 1525 - 1:30 p.m. (CST)
Also available on NETV2

Appointment (State Fair Board) -- Tam Allen
LB 861 (Agriculture Committee) Change state fair provisions
LB 1044 (Raikes) Create and provide duties for the State Fair Future Commission
LB 1116 (Erdman) Change state fair and Nebraska State Fair board provisions
LB 1114 (Erdman) Require a vote of the people to approve county fairground bonds
LB 1115 (Erdman) Change Nebraska State Fair Board membership