UNICAMERAL UPDATE News published daily at Update.Legislature.ne.gov Vol. 44, Issue 1 / Jan. 6 - 8, 2021 Lawmakersenators gath- convene, elect leadersas Education Com- ered at the mittee chairperson. SState Capitol As a former Jan. 6 to open the teacher, school first session of the board member 107th Nebraska and parent of Legislature. children who at- Twenty-five sen- tended Nebraska ators were sworn schools, Walz said, in. Nine are newly she would bring a elected members, valuable perspec- including three tive to the role. She who served previ- said senators could ously in the Legis- expect her to listen lature but left office to their views and due to term limits. Sens. Terrell McKinney (left) and Eliot Bostar took the oath of office on opening day. New include all voices Lawmakers also and returning senators were sworn in at their desks this year as a public health precaution. in education policy elected a new speaker and chairpersons of the Legislature’s discussions. 14 standing committees. “Education touches on each and every aspect of our Senators elected Lincoln Sen. Mike Hilgers to serve a lives,” Walz said. “It is the key to strengthening our econ- two-year term as speaker of the Legislature. Among other omy and providing opportunities for people who make duties, the speaker prepares the Legislature’s daily agenda Nebraska their home.” and serves as its presiding officer in the absence of the Blair Sen. Ben Hansen defeated incumbent Sen. Matt Lieutenant Governor. Hansen of Lincoln to serve as Hilgers said he would work chairperson of the Business to strengthen the Unicam- and Labor Committee. eral’s process and culture to As chairperson, Hansen ensure that it can meet current said, he would work to find a challenges while also working proper balance between free toward a better future for all market principles and govern- Nebraskans. ment regulation. He said his “You have my commitment experience in business and in to do everything I can to make local government have given this place run right,” he said. him firsthand knowledge of “And maybe if it runs right, it how the Legislature’s actions will unleash the creative ener- affect businesses and munici- gies and talents of every one of palities. you, who speak for thousands Lawmakers chose Sen. Dan of others in your communi- Hughes of Venango as chair- ties.” person of the Legislature’s Fremont Sen. Lynne Walz Executive Board, which over- unseated incumbent Sen. Mike sees legislative services and Sen. Mike Hilgers was elected speaker of the Legislature in an Groene of North Platte to serve uncontested race. (continued page 2) INSIDE: 2021 senators and committees • New bills from the first week of session January 6 - 8, 2021 Lawmakers convene, elect leaders (continued from front page) employees. “We must preserve these resources Committee. Hughes, who was uncontested, said while providing opportunities in their Lawmakers will spend the 90-day his six years on the board have shown enjoyment and utilization,” Bostel- session creating a two-year state budget him how important it is in helping the man said. and redrawing legislative and other Legislature function. In an uncontested race, lawmak- district boundaries based on popula- “This is the highest profile institu- ers chose La Vista Sen. John Arch as tion changes reflected in the 2020 tion of state government there is,” he chairperson of the Health and Human U.S. Census. They also are expected said, “and it’s extremely important Services Committee. to consider legislation related to pan- that we do our job professionally—in Ten incumbent chairpersons were demic recovery, the construction of a a timely fashion—so that we maintain re-elected in uncontested races: Hast- new state prison, police oversight and that trust with the citizens of the state ings Sen. Steve Halloran to the Ag- public school funding. of Nebraska.” riculture Committee; Gering Sen. Senators may introduce new bills Omaha Sen. Tony Vargas was re- John Stinner to the Appropriations for the first 10 legislative days, or until elected as the Executive Board’s vice Committee; Gothenburg Sen. Matt Jan. 20. Public hearings are scheduled chairperson, fending off a challenge Williams to the Banking, Commerce to begin Jan. 25. from Sen. Julie Slama of Peru. and Insurance Committee; Albion Gov. Pete Ricketts is scheduled Sen. Bruce Bostelman of Brainard Sen. Tom Briese to the General Affairs to give his State of the State address defeated Creighton Sen. Tim Gragert Committee; Gordon Sen. Tom Brewer Jan. 14, followed Jan. 21 by Nebraska in a contest to replace Hughes as to the Government, Military and Vet- Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael chairperson of the Natural Resources erans Affairs Committee; Omaha Sen. Heavican’s State of the Judiciary ad- Committee. Steve Lathrop to the Judiciary Com- dress. Bostelman said he would be a fair mittee; Seward Sen. Mark Kolterman Live coverage of the legislative and effective leader whose four years to the Nebraska Retirement Systems session is provided at www.Nebras- of experience as vice chairperson Committee; Elkhorn Sen. Lou Ann kaLegislature.gov, where the public would ensure that the committee gives Linehan to the Revenue Committee; also may find information on bills, full consideration to each bill it hears. Henderson Sen. Curt Friesen to the the legislative calendar and Nebraska He said he is an outdoor enthusiast Transportation and Telecommunica- state senators. who appreciates the state’s waterways, tions Committee; and Omaha Sen. The session is scheduled to adjourn landscapes and wildlife. Justin Wayne to the Urban Affairs June 10. n 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, twitter.com/UnicamUpdate and facebook.com/UnicameralUpdate. Clerk of the Legislature: Patrick J. O’Donnell Editor: Kate Heltzel; Writers: Kyle Harpster, Ami Johnson, Mike Malloy; Photographer: Bess Ghormley Printed copies of bills, resolutions and the Legislative Journal are available at the State Capitol room 1104, or by calling 402-471-2709 or 800-742-7456. Status of bills and resolutions can be requested at that number or can be found on NebraskaLegislature.gov. 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 • 107TH LEGISLATURE January 6 - 8, 2021 2021 Senators District 1, Peru District 2, Elmwood District 3, Bellevue Sen. Julie Slama Sen. Robert Clements Sen. Carol Blood Office: Office: Office: 11th Floor, State Capitol Room 1120, State Capitol Room 1021, 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. Mike McDonnell Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh Office: Office: Office: Room 2028, State Capitol Room 2107, State Capitol 11th Floor, 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. Tony Vargas Sen. Megan Hunt Sen. John Cavanaugh Office: Office: Office: Room 1000, State Capitol Room 1523, State Capitol Room 1306, 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, Bennington District 11, Omaha District 12, Omaha Sen. Wendy DeBoer Sen. Terrell McKinney Sen. Steve Lathrop Office: Office: Office: Room 1114, State Capitol 11th Floor, State Capitol Room 1103, State Capitol Lincoln, NE 68509 Lincoln, NE 68509 Lincoln, NE 68509 (402) 471-2718 (402) 471-2612 (402) 471-2623 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] District 13, Omaha District 14, La Vista District 15, Fremont Sen. Justin Wayne Sen. John Arch Sen. Lynne Walz Office: Office: Office: Room 1115, State Capitol Room 1402, State Capitol Room 1107, 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, Blair District 17, Thurston District 18, Omaha Sen. Ben Hansen Sen. Joni Albrecht Sen. Brett Lindstrom Office: Office: Office: Room 2010, State Capitol Room 1404, State Capitol Room 2015, 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] 107TH LEGISLATURE • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • PAGE 3 January 6 - 8, 2021 2021 Senators District 19, Norfolk District 20, Omaha District 21, Lincoln Sen. Michael Flood Sen. John McCollister Sen. Mike Hilgers Office: Office: Office: 11th Floor, State Capitol Room 1017, State Capitol Room 2103, State Capitol Lincoln, NE 68509 Lincoln, NE 68509 Lincoln, NE 68509 (402) 471-2929 (402) 471-2622 (402) 471-2673 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] District 22, Columbus District 23, Brainard District 24, Seward Sen.