UNICAMERAL UPDATE Stories published daily at Update.Legislature.ne.gov Vol. 38, Issue 1 / Jan. 7 - 9, 2015 Legislature convenes, elects leaders Senators who were elected or re-elected in November were sworn into office Jan. 7, the opening day of the 2015 legislative session. he 104th Nebraska Legislature Term limits also opened up leader- Omaha to chair the Business and convened at 10:00 a.m. on Jan. ship positions on 10 of the Legisla- Labor Committee; Sen. Tyson Larson T 7 for the 90-day first session. ture’s 14 standing committees. of O’Neill to chair the General Affairs Seventeen new members were sworn Sen. Jerry Johnson of Wahoo de- (continued page 3) into office and senators were elected feated Bancroft Sen. Lydia to serve as chairpersons of the Legis- Brasch as chairperson lature’s standing committees. of the Agriculture Com- Kearney Sen. Galen Hadley de- mittee. Johnson said his feated Sen. Colby Coash of Lincoln 42 years of experience in in the race to replace outgoing speaker agribusiness would help of the Legislature, York Sen. Greg him meet the challenge Adams, who left the Legislature due of expanding the state’s to term limits. livestock industry. Hadley said one of his priorities “My focus will be to would be to assist new committee build agriculture and to leaders in their work. As the former build Nebraska,” Johnson chairperson of the Revenue Com- said. mittee and the Tax Modernization Elected in uncontest- Committee, Hadley said he would ed races were: Sen. Jim bring vital experience to the position Scheer of Norfolk to chair of speaker. the Banking, Commerce “I have an understanding of what and Insurance Commit- it takes to chair a committee,” he said. tee; Sen. Burke Harr of Legislators elected Sen. Galen Hadley of Kearney to serve as speaker of the Legislature. INSIDE: Ricketts inauguration • 2015 list of senators • New bills • Committee membership January 7 - 9, 2015 Gov. Ricketts takes oath of office efore a crowded chamber of legislators, staff, family returning and newly elected officials, including: and friends, Pete Ricketts was sworn in Jan. 8 as the • Lieutenant Governor Mike Foley; B40th governor of Nebraska. • Secretary of State John Gale; Joining Ricketts was his wife, Susanne Shore, and their • State Treasurer Don Stenberg; three children, Roscoe, Margot and Eleanor. Nebraska • State Auditor Charlie Janssen; Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Heavican administered • Attorney General Doug Peterson; the oath of office. • Public Service Commissioner Crystal Rhoades; In his remarks, Ricketts said that the success of the state • State Board of Education members Patrick McPher- depends upon the strength of its diverse citizens. son, Maureen Nickels, Molly O’Holleran and Patri- “Our rich history is deeply rooted in freedom, oppor- cia Timm; and tunity, liberty and hope for a better life for future gen- • Board of Regents members Tim Clare and Rob erations,” he said. “As we gather here today, we continue Schafer. g to welcome people who value freedom and who search for a better life.” Ricketts outlined several pri- orities for lawmakers, including the creation of jobs, growth of businesses and modernization of educational policies. His number one priority, however, is cutting property taxes. “We must cut taxes,” Ricketts said. “At the same time, we must act responsibly.” “The people of Nebraska expect government to work and they hold us to high standards. I will work every day to meet those standards and safeguard that trust,” he said. The inaugural ceremonies also included the swearing in of several Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Heavican administers the oath of office to Gov. Pete Ricketts as First Lady Susanne Shore looks on. UNICAMERAL UPDATE The Unicameral Update is a free, weekly newsletter published during the legislative session. It is produced by the Clerk of the Legislature’s Office through the Unicameral Information Office. For print subscriptions, call 402-471-2788 or email [email protected]. Visit us online at Update.Legislature.ne.gov and follow us on Twitter.com/UnicamUpdate. Clerk of the Legislature: Patrick J. O’Donnell Editor: Heidi Uhing; Writers: Kate Heltzel, Ami Johnson, Jon Taylor; Photographer: Bess Ghormley Printed copies of bills, resolutions and the Legislative Journal are available by calling the 24-Hour Request Line at 402-471-2877. Subscriptions are available by calling 402-471-2271 or visiting Room 2108 in the State Capitol. For status of bills and resolutions, visit NebraskaLegislature.gov/bills or call the Legislative Hotline (during session) at 402-471-2709 or 800-742-7456. Live video of hearings and floor debate can be viewed on NET2 and at NetNebraska.org/capitol. Senators may be contacted by mail at this address: Senator Name, District #, State Capitol, P.O. Box 94604, Lincoln, NE 68509-4604 Assistance provided by the Clerk of the Legislature’s Office, the Legislative Technology Center, committee clerks, legal counsels, journal clerks, pages, transcribers, mail room and bill room staff and the State Print Shop. THE NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE’S OFFICIAL NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1977 PAGE 2 • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • 104TH LEGISLATURE January 7 - 9, 2015 Legislature convenes, elects leaders (continued from front page) Committee; Sen. John Murante of that the committee has established to lead the Executive Board over Sen. Gretna to chair the Government, Mili- with various stakeholders. Dave Bloomfield of Hoskins. Previous- tary and Veterans Affairs Committee; “We did it the Nebraska way,” ly vice chairperson of the board, Krist Sen. Les Seiler of Hastings to chair the Nordquist said. “We all came to the said his goal as chairperson would be Judiciary Committee; Sen. Ken Schilz table looking [for] and working toward to focus on improving logistics and of Ogallala to chair the Natural Re- solutions.” supporting legislative staff. sources Committee; Sen. Jim Smith of Sen. Heath Mello of Omaha was “I believe that I’m ready for the Papillion to chair the Transportation re-elected chairperson of the Ap- next step,” Krist said. “I realize and and Telecommunications Committee; propriations Committee in an un- understand the significance—and ap- and Sen. Sue Crawford of Bellevue to contested race. Also re-elected were preciate the scope—of [this] position.” chair the Urban Affairs Committee. Sens. Kate Sullivan of Cedar Rapids New bills may be introduced for the Sen. Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha to chair the Education Committee first 10 legislative days, or until Jan. 21. held off a challenge from freshman and Kathy Campbell of Lincoln to Gov. Pete Ricketts’ State of the Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha to chair the Health and Human Services State Address is scheduled for Jan. 22. remain chairperson of the Retirement Committee. Committee hearings are scheduled to Committee. Senators also chose a new leader of begin Jan. 20 and continue through Nordquist said the state’s retire- the Executive Board of the Legislative March. ment plans are among the healthiest Council, which oversees all legislative The session will last 90 legislative in the country due to his leadership services and employees. days and is tentatively scheduled to and the good working relationships Omaha Sen. Bob Krist was chosen adjourn June 5. g Senators and their families filled the George W. Norris Legislative Chamber on the first day of the 2015 session. 104TH LEGISLATURE • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • PAGE 3 January 7 - 9, 2015 2015 Senators District 1, Syracuse District 2, Papillion District 3, Bellevue Sen. Dan Watermeier Sen. Bill Kintner Sen. Tommy Garrett Office: Office: Office: Room 2000, State Capitol Room 1000, State Capitol Room 1208, State Capitol Lincoln, NE 68509 Lincoln, NE 68509 Lincoln, NE 68509 (402) 471-2733 (402) 471-2613 (402) 471-2627 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] District 4, Omaha District 5, Omaha District 6, Omaha Sen. Robert Hilkemann Sen. Heath Mello Sen. Joni Craighead Office: Office: Office: Room 1115, State Capitol Room 1004, State Capitol Room 1529, State Capitol Lincoln, NE 68509 Lincoln, NE 68509 Lincoln, NE 68509 (402) 471-2621 (402) 471-2710 (402) 471-2714 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] District 7, Omaha District 8, Omaha District 9, Omaha Sen. Jeremy Nordquist Sen. Burke Harr Sen. Sara Howard Office: Office: Office: Room 2004, State Capitol Room 2010, State Capitol Room 1012, State Capitol Lincoln, NE 68509 Lincoln, NE 68509 Lincoln, NE 68509 (402) 471-2721 (402) 471-2722 (402) 471-2723 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] District 10, Omaha District 11, Omaha District 12, Ralston Sen. Bob Krist Sen. Ernie Chambers Sen. Merv Riepe Office: Office: Room 2108, State Capitol Office: Room 1528, State Capitol Lincoln, NE 68509 Room 1114, State Capitol Lincoln, NE 68509 (402) 471-2718 Lincoln, NE 68509 (402) 471-2623 [email protected] (402) 471-2612 [email protected] District 13, Omaha District 14, Papillion District 15, Scribner Sen. Tanya Cook Sen. Jim Smith Sen. David Schnoor Office: Office: Office: Room 2011, State Capitol Room 1110, State Capitol Room 1118, State Capitol Lincoln, NE 68509 Lincoln, NE 68509 Lincoln, NE 68509 (402) 471-2727 (402) 471-2730 (402) 471-2625 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] District 16, Bancroft District 17, Hoskins District 18, Omaha Sen. Lydia Brasch Sen. Dave Bloomfield Sen. Brett Lindstrom Office: Office: Office: Room 1016, State Capitol Room 1206, State Capitol Room 1202, State Capitol Lincoln, NE 68509 Lincoln, NE 68509 Lincoln, NE 68509 (402) 471-2728 (402) 471-2716 (402) 471-2618 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] PAGE 4 • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • 104TH LEGISLATURE January 7 - 9, 2015 2015 Senators District 19, Norfolk District 20, Omaha District 21, Malcolm Sen.