Senators return to State Capitol for second session of 108th Nebraska Legislature

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – On Wednesday, as a bright, blue-skied day settled over the capital city, state senators in the Capitol building called for a cloudless session.

For seven months, the George Norris Legislative Chamber sat dormant after a spasm of infighting last year. As they return to work, senators said they’re hoping last year was an anomaly.

“The energy feels great in the halls,” Sen. Anna Wishart said. “And so I’m optimistic we will have a good session.”

Inside the chamber, business started with elections of chair and vice chair of the important Executive Board. Sen. Raymond Aguilar will take the place of former Sen. Tom Briese, now Nebraska’s state treasurer, as chair, and Sen. John Lowe will be vice chair.

Speaker of the Legislature John Arch made an appeal to his fellow senators to show respect and avoid the pitfalls of last year.

“We have a treasure that is much easier to tear down than to build up,” Arch said. “Our society must look to this institution to govern wisely with thoughtful professionalism and decorum. We must set the example so that our society respects the institution.”

This session brought a new face into the ranks of the 49 legislators: Sen. Fred Meyer, who was appointed to replace Tom Briese.

“It’s been an honor to be selected to serve,” Meyer said. “At this point, I don’t know what I don’t know, but I’m anxious to learn.”

And this year is the final consecutive time a slew of term-limited senators will get to pace up and down the chamber floor.

“It’s bittersweet,” Wishart said. “It’s been the most incredible chapter of my life… and I’m just going to soak everything in and be really grateful for having one more year.”

The first few weeks will be marked by a wave of bill introductions and debates over rule changes, which will shape procedure going forward. Arch said he doesn’t want those debates to spill into late January, but there are several proposed rules packages for the legislative body to mull over.

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