HOG FARMER JIM PILLEN TAKES REINS AS NEBRASKA'S GOVERNOR

LINCOLN- Jim Pillen was officially sworn in as the Governor of Nerbaska on the second day on the 108th legislative session. Gov. Pillen marks the first farmer to governor in over a century. He referenced his background during a brief speech after being sworn in by Chief Justice Mike Heavican, calling Nebraska a “very special place” where the son of a tenant farmer and a seamstress can lead the state.

In his speech, Pillen called for changes to the state aid formula to provide a baseline of aid to every student in Nebraska, instead of the current system of equalization that leaves the majority of school districts without the aid. “State aid to education must be modernized so that it is more equitable, meeting the needs of communities across Nebraska."

Gov. Pillen addressed the legislature telling them that he is looking to work with them to attract the youth of Nebraska. He has also said he expects the Legislature to consider additional restrictions on abortion in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Gov. Pillen said he was overcome with emotion upon being sworn in, and he is ready to get to work for all Nebraskans.

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MULTIPLE DELAYS STALL PROGRESS ON NEBRASKA'S $335 MILLION ECONOMIC RECOVERY EFFORT

LINCOLN- The $335 million aid project that was approved in the last legislative session still has $250 million that needs to be allocated. Where that money goes is dependent on a bill this session but multiple delays have slowed the progress of the remaining funds. One problem contributing to the delay is the engineering firm Olsson who is recommending ideas for the money. Olsson has pushed the deadline back for their report now twice and is now expected in the coming weeks. 

Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, the leading lawmaker for the project, said he hopes the list will be finalized by Jan. 9, but it could come later. He said multiple minor problems, primarily a slew of illnesses, contributed to the delays. If the recommendations do come when expected, that leaves lawmakers with very little time to introduce a bill as they must be introduced by January 18th.

Senator Wayne said the legislation drafting is already underway and that there are ways to amend the legislation in the future. If the recommendations are not submitted, Wayne said he would introduce what he called a "shell bill," which is legislation that explains the general ideas of a proposal but leaves certain areas blank to fill in with specifics later. 

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SENATOR JOHN ARCH ELECTED SPEAKER OF THE NEBRASKA UNICAMERAL LEGISLATURE

LINCOLN- The start to the new year did not go as smoothly in Washington D.C. as it did in Lincoln on Wednesday. The 108th Nebraska Unicameral Legislature is officially underway and began by electing its new speaker and leadership positions. 

The senators offered unanimous approval of Sen. John Arch to be the new Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature. The senator from La Vista just won re-election to his District 14 post in November. He takes over the Speaker's chair after previous Speaker Mike Hilgers was elected State Attorney General. Arch promised lawmakers he would promote a positive culture with healthy relationships and communication. “There is no replacement for good communication amongst the members.  Misunderstandings are the result of poor or lack of communication,” Arch says. 

Speaker Arch is returning to his post in the legislature where he welcomed 14 new senators, many seeing the rotunda for only the first time in their careers. The new faces will be facing familiar issues. It is commonly speculated that cutting taxes and revamping the school aid formula will be among the top priorities for the legislature this year. 

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FORMER LEGISLATIVE SPEAKERS, 11 OTHER SENATORS URGE LAWMAKERS TO RETAIN SECRET BALLOTS

LINCOLN- Former Speakers of the Legislature Galen Hadley and Greg Adams, alongside 11 former state Senators, are calling on the Legislature to maintain secret ballots for committee chair elections. "Political parties get in the way of truly representing the will of the people," said former Speaker Adams, "All senators, regardless of party, can represent their constituents equally."

Former Speaker Galen Hadley echoed a similar sentiment, stating that the nonpartisan nature of the secret ballots makes senators "more equal and independent." Former gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster, in an attempt to rid the Legislature of its secret voting system, created the Nebraska First PAC, which aims to end secret voting as soon as the Legislature convenes.

Rod Edwards, a representative of the Nebraska First PAC, claimed that at least 28 senators in Nebraska's 49-seat Unicameral Legislature have pledged to end secret ballots. "It's in the hands of the Legislature now," said Edwards, who argues that the State Constitution requires all legislative votes to be public. 

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WILL NEBRASKA NEED NOT ONE, BUT TWO NEW PRISONS AT COST OF NEARLY $500 MILLION?

LINCOLN- When asked whether or not Nebraska would require even more beds after building the proposed 1,500-bed prison, Diane Sabatka-Rine, interim Director of Corrections, responded "yes." The proposed prison would cost around $220 million, but former State Sen. Steve Lathrop, former head of the Judiciary Committee, believes Sabatka-Rine's response to be an indication that supporters of the bill see it as just the beginning of a large spending spree on prison beds. 

"If there's not some meaningful prison reform, which by the way will make our communities safer," said former Sen. Lathrop, "then we're looking at spending half a billion dollars to accommodate our prison population to the year 2030." Lathrop was among several senators pushing for changes to Nebraska sentencing that would allow inmates to be released from prison sooner. 

The proposal to enact this change was shot down during the last Legislative session, with Gov. Ricketts calling it "soft on crime." In response to this, Lathrop said that Nebraska "is going to be known as the state that won't listen" to data-driven prison reforms recommended to us by experts all over the country. 

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HEALTHY STATE REVENUES HAVE LAWMAKERS EYEING TAX CUTS, INFRASTRUCTURE IN NEW SESSION

LINCOLN- Flush state coffers have certain Nebraska lawmakers dreaming about large tax cuts and infrastructure projects after fiscal estimates showed projected state revenues topping estimated expenses by $1.9 billion for the two budget years ending June 30, 2025. 

Additionally, Nebraska's cash reserve is expected to reach $2.3 billion in that same timeframe, equal to a whopping 35.7% of state tax revenues for the biennium. "We have an unprecedented amount of money available that leads to an unprecedented opportunity," said State Sen. Tom Briese. However, despite the expected overflow, figuring out exactly what to do with this immense opportunity may split lawmakers and put them at odds with Gov.-elect Jim Pillen.

Battles over whether to focus on property tax relief, income tax cuts, revamping school aid, or increasing infrastructure projects loom on the horizon, and newly elected State Sen. Brian Hardin said he knows the choices will be difficult to make. "I've been warned about having so much money," he said.

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LINCOLN SENATORS SHARE GOALS, PRIORITIES HEADING INTO LEGISLATIVE SESSION

LINCOLN- Medical marijuana, criminal justice reform, education funding, and voter ID are among the issues expected to be tackled in this new Legislative session, and some Senators are gearing up for much debate. State Sen. Suzanne Geist stated that she'll be focusing on crafting legislation that will help law enforcement and the Department of Correctional Services, a move that may give her an edge in the upcoming Lincoln mayoral races. 

Geist plans to introduce several bills that would specifically raise the penalties for dealing fentanyl, as well as legislation that would allow law enforcement to use GPS to locate an individual ordered to wear an ankle monitor. However, Geist also indicated that she'd like to reintroduce certain aspects of last year's failed criminal justice reform bill, and plans to work closely with Sens. Justin Wayne and Terrell McKinney to pass those. 

"It's not a rebirth of LB920," said Geist, "but some of the things I felt were important like additional probation officers and transitional housing for people coming out of corrections." On another note, Sen. Anna Wishart stated that she would be reintroducing a bill to legalize marijuana in Nebraska, and plans to work across the aisle to get it passed. 

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'YEAR OF WATER'- SENATORS SAY WATER INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE FRONT-AND-CENTER IN 2023 SESSION

LINCOLN- In the 2022 legislative session lawmakers appropriated $700 million for water infrastructure projects. Many believe water will be one of the leading issues once again, but this time for a new legislature to weigh in on. “Coming out of the drought we experienced in the state this year, I think 2023 is going to be the year of water and water infrastructure,” said Sen. Anna Wishart.

One of the larger water-related topics will be a second source of water for Lincoln. Senator Bostar led an effort last year to secure a new source, and he has announced he will lead the charge again. “The future of Lincoln’s water isn’t just a city issue, but a state issue,” Bostar said.

Other water infrastructure projects that are expected to come before the Legislature include further development of the Perkins County Canal, which will connect Nebraska to the South Platte River in Colorado. This concept was first sparked in the 2022 legislature and had support from many including Governor Ricketts.

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THE NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE RETURNED WITHOUT ATTEMPT AT ENDING SECRET BALLOT VOTING ON THE FIRST DAY

LINCOLN- Despite a heated push to change the process that elects leadership within the body, the 108th Nebraska Legislature operated under the same rules as used in the past. Lawmakers were sworn in and elected a new Speaker in Senator John Arch. 

Lawmakers also quickly adopted the usual temporary rules, which will remain in effect until permanent rules are adopted on or before Jan. 20, according to a motion made by Sen. Robert Clements of Elmwood. There was no attempt to amend the rules, as some suspected there might be. The body still has an opportunity to change the process, but it would not be enacted until 2025.

The suspicion stems from an ongoing effort to end secret ballot voting to elect legislative leadership, which has for a long time been something some lawmakers have pushed for. The effort gained some momentum earlier last year through the Nebraska First PAC, which was founded by former GOP gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster and set its sights on making the rules change a reality.  

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NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE BREAKING RECORDS FOR DIVERSITY BUT KEY ISSUES ARE NOTHING NEW

LINCOLN- In the past, the Nebraska Legislature had a reputation of being dominated by white males, but that seems to be changing. This year, the new 49-member group will include a record 18 women, two Black, two Latino, and one Asian American, as well as two openly LGBTQ senators, making it the most diverse Legislature in the history of the state. 

State Sen. John Fredrickson, who is joining the Legislature for the first time, called the group's diversity "fantastic." "I think when government represents the diversity of Nebraskans, it serves our state really well," said Fredrickson, "I think this is a huge strength for the Legislature. We have to understand we're all Nebraskans."

However, despite the diversity present this Session, the newness of the legislative makeup contrasts greatly with the long-standing issues that senators are expected to confront this year. Tax cuts, inflation, and state school aid will likely be front and center this year, as they normally are, as well as abortion and concealed carry.

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CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WOULD END UNICAMERAL EXPERIMENT IN NEBRASKA

LINCOLN- Each year, and according to a 1981 state law, January 5th is designated each year as George W. Norris Day in Nebraska. The unique state holiday is set aside "in recognition of the many great benefits bestowed upon the people of the State of Nebraska and the United States as a whole" by Norris. The first of these benefits is the establishment of Nebraska's nonpartisan unicameral legislative body, but a new constitutional amendment, introduced by Sen. Steve Erdman, may end that.

The measure seeks to revert Nebraska to a bicameral legislative body, which according to Erdman, will result in better representation for rural parts of the state. With at least half of the state's population concentrated in Lincoln, Omaha, and surrounding areas, rural areas are often underrepresented in state government.

The plan to end the unicameral body is supported by the Nebraska GOP, which in 2022 indicated that it was seeking to "return to a bicameral legislature whereby the upper house has fewer members but larger territorial areas to include a more diverse set of interests in the legislative process."

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NEBRASKA'S COVID CASES, HOSPITALIZATIONS DROP

LINCOLN- Last week, Covid-19 cases dropped after running high through December. The state recorded around 1,738 cases during the week of December 28th, a significant drop from the 3,982 cases identified the week before. This is the first time cases had been below 1,800 since early November.

Cases have been generally trending upward since late October, but weekly counts have been up and down in recent weeks. Despite the drop, Covid-19 cases are widely considered to be underreported in Nebraska and around the country since many people are not testing or using at-home tests. 

Nationally, cases have also been trending downwards last week, with Nebraska standing at the top of the lower third of states in terms of case rates. A new variant of Covid-19, XBB.1.5, has been identified by the CDC, but has had little effect in the four-state region of Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri.

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NEBRASKA'S BEN SASSE LOOKING FORWARD TO SHAPING 'FUTURE OF WORK' AT FLORIDA

LINCOLN- Sen. Ben Sasse, when running for office in 2013, told voters that he did not plan on becoming a 'Senate lifer,' but also did not expect to leave so soon. According to Sasse, the job he was offered at the University of Florida will allow him to steer the institution and its young students through the major disruptions to jobs coming from artificial intelligence and other related technologies. 

Besides the great offer he received, Sasse also seeks to spend more time with his family and be closer to home, especially after his wife suffered a severe brain aneurysm 16 years ago. "When these seizures happen now, it critically creates a few days of real turmoil to navigate," said the outgoing Senator, "Being able to consolidate--that the family will mostly be around the same dinner table most nights--it's an important variable that we considered as well."

With Sen. Sasse leaving in just a few days, Governor Pillen is expected to select a replacement almost immediately. Sasse stated that he hopes his successor will be able to "look past the Washington, D.C., show," and not get caught up in how their actions "look on cable." "I think the people doing this job well are the people who are trying to think 10 and 15 years in the future about what the country needs," said Sasse, "It turns out, Nebraskans seem pretty satisfied with taking a longer-term perspective, and they don't really want to respond to short term."

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UNMC SCHOLARSHIP INTENDED TO DRAW NURSING STUDENTS FROM SURRONDING STATES

OMAHA- In an effort to draw in students from surrounding states, UNMC has announced a scholarship program that will feed its Scottsbluff, Kearney, and Norfolk campuses. The "Nebraska Neighbors: UNMC Nursing Rural Advantage Scholarship" is available to students pursuing a bachelor of science in nursing degree in UNMC's traditional or accelerated program. 

The scholarship targets the surrounding states of Nebraska. The states are split up into categories that feed into a specific branch. Students from Wyoming, Colorado and South Dakota can apply for the scholarship at the Scottsbluff campus; those from South Dakota and Kansas can apply for it at the Norfolk campus; and Kansas and Colorado students can seek it at the Kearney campus. 

The states mentioned have historically shown interest in the program, and the locations mentioned have availability to take in students. The scholarships are designed to make it easier for students from those neighboring states to study at one of the rural campuses, said Juliann Sebastian, dean of the UNMC College of Nursing. They will reduce the net cost of out-of-state tuition to at or near resident tuition rates. 

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NEBRASKA'S FLOOD SAYS MESSY FIGHT OVER SPEAKER IN CONGRESS HAS PRODUCED SOME GOOD

WASHINGTON, D.C.- As the messy and convoluted fight for a Speaker of the House continues, Rep. Mike Flood says that Republicans need to keep fighting until Rep. Kevin McCarthy wins. "I think it's time for us to pick a Speaker, and that should be Kevin McCarthy, said Flood, "It's time to govern." Flood went on to state that it's frustrating to see Congress held up by just a select few. 

Flood also stated that the GOP caucus has little choice but to keep pushing for McCarthy's election, since giving in would "set a bad precedent" and make it more difficult for the House Republican majority to function over the next two years. "This isn't about tonight or tomorrow," he said, "This is about the next two years. If 90% of the caucus has to give in to 10%, it's going to be like this for the next two years. You have to draw the line."

All three Nebraska Congressmen have voted each time for McCarthy, but Rep. Don Bacon expressed interest in working with moderate Democrats to elect a more moderate GOP speaker, if the handful of Republican "cowboys," or those Republicans holding up the Speaker vote, refuse to give in. Flood disagreed with this sentiment, saying, "I don't think we should share power with Democrats. The people of this country made a choice in November..."

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PILLEN NAMES INTERIM DIRECTOR FOR NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

LINCOLN- Gov.Jim Pillen, who assumed the governorship this Thursday, has named an interim director for the Nebraska Department of Transportation. Moe Jamshidi, who has served in the Transportation Department as deputy director, will replace John Selmer, who plans to retire next Wednesday. 

John Selmer has held the directorship since 2021, and previously served as director of the strategic performance division of the Iowa Department of Transportation for 31 years.

Jamshidi has worked for Nebraska's Department of Transportation for nearly 40 years, and even served as interim director in 2015.

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NEBRASKA GOVERNOR RICKETTS LEAVING 'BEST JOB IN THE WORLD' WITH RECORD OF TAX CUTS, SPENDING RESTRAINT

LINCOLN- Former Gov. Pete Ricketts closed out his governorship this Thursday, calling his old job the "honor and privilege of a lifetime" and the "best job in the world." Ricketts is exiting his position with his eye on another, the soon-to-be-vacated Senate seat left by Ben Sasse, which the former Governor applied for in December.

"I want to continue to look for ways to be able to serve the people of Nebraska," said the former Governor, "and I believe that my experience as governor for the last eight years makes me the best candidate to be the next U.S. Senator." Ricketts went on to list several of his greatest accomplishments, including improving how Nebraska's government is run, updating tax relief, and leading us through the pandemic and widespread flooding. 

"I believe that is a strong case for why I should be the next U.S. Senator," he finished. Sen. Ben Sasse's resignation will take effect on January 8th, and many expect Governor Pillen to appoint Ricketts. State Sen. Tom Briese, in a goodbye statement to outgoing-Governor Ricketts, said, "His legacy is one he can be proud of in the arena of fiscal restraint and tax reform."

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BREAKING: LEGISLATURE ELECTS NEW SPEAKER, CHAIRS OF STANDING COMMITTEES

LINCOLN- Today, new and returning Nebraska senators voted to elect the leaders of the 14 standing committees of the 108th 1st session Legislature. Listed below are the committee names, as well as those senators elected to serve as the chair for the biennium.

Speaker of the Legislature

Speaker John Arch

Agriculture

Senator Steve Halloran

Appropriations

Senator Rob Clements

Banking, Commerce and Insurance

Senator Julie Slama

Business and Labor

Senator Merv Riepe

Committee on Committees

Senator Joni Albrecht

Education

Senator Dave Murman

Executive Board

Senator Tom Briese

General Affairs

Senator John Lowe

Government, Military and Veterans Affairs

Senator Tom Brewer

Health and Human Services

Senator Ben Hansen

Judiciary

Senator Justin Wayne

Natural Resources

Senator Bruce Bostelman

Nebraska Retirement Systems

Senator Mike McDonnell

Revenue

Senator Lou Ann Linehan

Transportation and Telecommunications

Senator Suzanne Geist

Urban Affairs

Senator Terrell McKinney

*Members of each of the above committees will be decided by the Committee on Committees. We will send another breaking news when those assignments are available.

LAWMAKERS SEE CHANCE TO REVIVE FAILED EFFORTS AT REFORMING CRIMINAL JUSTICE, PRISONS

LINCOLN - A year after a data-driven effort to relieve Nebraska’s prison overcrowding crashed and burned, some lawmakers are hopeful of resurrecting criminal justice reform in the 2023 Nebraska Legislature.

State Sen. Justin Wayne, an Omaha attorney who appears in line to become the new chairman of the Judiciary Committee, which deals with criminal justice issues, has already had some initial talks with senators on both sides of last spring’s debate in hopes of finding the common ground that eluded them then.

And the problem certainly hasn’t gone away. With some 44% more prisoners than it’s designed to hold, Nebraska’s prison system has not only been the most overcrowded in the country, but also the nation’s fastest-growing.

Sen. Suzanne Geist of Lincoln, who led opposition in the Legislature to criminal penalty changes during the 2022 session, has said she still believes the two sides can reach some kind of agreement going forward.She said one of the flaws of the 2022 bill was that the programs intended to create alternatives to prison were not well-developed.

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DOUG PETERSON RELFECTS ON TWO-TERM TENURE AS NEBRASKA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL

LINCOLN- Doug Peterson, Nebraska's 63-year-old Attorney General, has had an eventful eight years serving the state, and has brought in nearly $200 million in settlements, convicted high-profile murders, and worked to stop human traffickers. Peterson stated that he will leave the office just as he came: as an attorney and just an attorney.

"Prior AGs had often run for political office or said they were running for other political offices. I wanted to bring back the Bob Spire model of being a lawyer first," said Peterson. Peterson worked for Bob Spire, who was Nebraska's AG from 1985-1991. "So when I had to evaluate whether we made decisions or not," continued Peterson, "it wasn't even a matter oh would this play out politically."

Peterson went on to outline some of the most important issues he was able to tackle while Nebraska's AG, including the trafficking of children, clergy sexual abuse in the state, and consumer lawsuits that netted the state $200 million over the past eight years. 

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