It didn't take the state's newest lawmaker long to jump into the tug-of-war over property taxes: More specifically how the state puts a price tag on some 45 million acres of farmland.

State Sen. Fred Meyer, of St. Paul, says other states have a better plan.

Sen. Meyer: “All the state’s around us use a different method. They use a profitability index rather than our selling price. Consequently, their property taxes as a percent of their income is 10-20 percent of what ours is. So, it’s a hardship in Nebraska.”

Meyer takes over for former State Sen. Tom Briese, the new State Treasurer.

Although Gov. Jim Pillen has named Meyer to the seat, he says he won’t be endorsing Meyer or anyone else who runs for the central Nebraska post in 2024.