Weekly News – April 22, 2022 – Senator Joni Albrecht

Spring has arrived and we should be excited to get outside. The students have been outside participating in school activities. I enjoy reading the school sports articles and seeing so many great accomplishments. The 107th Session has come to a close; Sine and Die was on April 20th. THE MOST HISTORICAL SESSION IN NEBRASKA’S HISTORY. Included in this was a tax package that has something for every Nebraskan that will have an impact for many years to come.

Senators Mike Hilgers, Myron Dorn and Steve Lathrop paid tribute to Nebraska State Senators who have passed. My office and I extend our deepest sympathy to their families.

Brad Ashford and Dennis Michael Byars. Senator Ashford served in the Nebraska Legislature from 1987 to 1995 and from 2007 to 2015. Additionally, he represented Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District in Congress from January 2015 to January 2017. Brad spent his adult life in service to our state. He passed on April 19, 2022 at the age of 72.

Senator Dennis Michael Byars served Gage County from 1988-1994 and from 1999-2006. He was very active in public service. He most recently was serving as Gage County Commissioner at the time of his death. He passed on April 14, 2022. He was 81 years old.

The Legislature passed 119 bills out of 593 bills presented. They included tax relief, public safety, water investments and allocating more than $1 billion in federal ARPA funds for Nebraskans. Which includes investments in police training, Perkins County Canal project, a new marina and road safety for Lake McConaughy, a new boat access facility and event center on the Niobrara River, a marina expansion at Lewis and Clark Lake, flood control near Schuyler and Wahoo and a new 4,000-acre reservoir between Lincoln and Omaha. These are just a few of the many bills that will benefit Nebraskans throughout the state.

The Governor so far has signed 29 bills into law. My most memorable moment in Nebraska history was standing with Governor Ricketts as he signed LB873 into law. It is now on the books in the107th Legislative Session as the most momentous bill signing. It was an honor representing District 17 as I served on the Revenue and Transportation and Telecommunications Committees this session. Again, every Nebraskan will benefit from the 107th Unicameral Session. Nebraska taxpayers will be keeping more of their own money.

When we heard the Governor’s last State of Address, he used one word to explain it all, WOW!
It has been a privilege to serve with Governor Ricketts. Nebraska had some trying times with floods, Covid19 and fiscal responsibilities, he succeeded them all. He is Second to none.

Governor Ricketts invited Senator Dave Murman, the sponsor of LB1261e and I the sponsor of LB596 for the bill signing. Those in attendance were Senators Myron Dorn and Tom Brandt and the Nebraska Cattlemen, Nebraska Pork Producers, Nebraska Farm Bureau, Nebraska Dairy Association, Nebraska Corn Board, Agricultural Leaders, Renewable Fuels Advocates as well as Ethanol Board members. LB1261e extends the Nebraska Advantage Rural Development Act which was set to expire at the end of 2022. This bill promotes investment in Nebraska agriculture (livestock modernization or expansion) and to encourage businesses to locate in rural Nebraska. I amended LB596 into LB1261e to provide tax credits to fuel retailers selling E15 or higher blends of ethanol.

The Legislature approved a Resolution submitted from my office, saluting the Nebraska Association of County Extension Boards. For 50 years the Nebraska Extension still remains a strong asset for the state in both urban and rural areas in all 93 counties.

As the Session came to a close, we heard from the Senators who will not be returning next year. We want to wish them well in their future endeavors. We will be looking forward to new faces on the floor of the 108th Legislative Session starting in January of 2023.

I will not be in the office much during the interim but I do anticipate many calls from you. My staff will gladly take your calls and inform me of your questions or concerns. I will not be publishing a newsletter weekly, but I plan to send news to the newspapers and on my webpage if I feel there is something of importance to share. Please call 402-471-2716 or email: jalbrecht@leg.ne.gov.