The month of March brings many visitors to the Capitol who are in Lincoln to attend state athletic tournaments and fine arts competitions. I have appreciated getting to see both new and familiar faces around the Rotunda.

With news of the final payment in the federal judgment of the “Beatrice 6” case by the Gage County Board, all of those involved have felt a tremendous amount of relief. We are grateful for some degree of closure for the Helen Wilson family first, the six defendants and everyone in Gage County.

Between sales tax collected, the state allocation of $4 million, an insurance settlement and property tax, the county was able to retire this debt much earlier than anticipated. The Gage County Board of Supervisors, Clerk Dawn Hill and many others worked very hard on this issue for a lot of years. As board member Gary Lytle said, you really don’t know whether to celebrate or cry. It is deeply emotional on a lot of levels. But I do want to be sure to extend my thanks to everyone who helped with this.

Regarding the two bills I introduced previously that dealt with the Beatrice 6 case, I found that in moving from the county board to the Legislature, there is an unbelievable learning curve in your first year. You must familiarize yourself with the process it takes to develop a bill, get it through the committee hearing, and work the bill on the floor. Then in one instance, the Governor vetoed a bill, so we had to learn how to take up an override. I just knew my intent and my passion was to keep the judgment from being paid entirely by property taxes. In fact, the idea of the entire settlement resting on property tax was something that resonated with other senators and helped the bills be successful in passing. As I said, it is a relief to be finished with the monetary settlement of this case.

Another success story from past legislation has to do with our local rescue squads and rural fire districts. Last year a little over a billion dollars in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding was allocated by the Legislature. Along with the Governor’s proposal of funding $20 million for ambulances, I had a bill for equipment funding of $5 million. As the pandemic unfolded, we knew we needed to help our rural emergency departments with this money.

The supply chain adversely affected the cost and timeline of replacing an ambulance; a new one costs well over $300,000. After an application and evaluation process, several of our District 30 and neighboring communities were able to benefit from the ARPA program. These communities received $150,000 towards ambulance replacement: Tecumseh, Bennet, Exeter, Firth, Daykin, Douglas, Diller and DeWitt. Awarded $75,000 were: Palmyra, Adams, Wilber, Clatonia, Hallam, Wymore, Hickman, Crete and Beatrice.

Awards for EMS equipment were also given out. Tecumseh, Sterling, Wilber, and Plymouth received $49,999 and DeWitt was awarded $37,430 towards medical equipment. The total list of ARPA funded squads spans the entire state. Community fundraisers are often held to try to cover their substantial costs. While the award amounts won’t cover all the needs, these federal dollars are certainly welcome. Without our rescue squads and fire departments nearby, results could be catastrophic, so we need to keep these local services viable.

In current legislation, my bill LB 564 to expand the Economic Opportunity Program, was heard by the Transportation Committee this week. The program has been used to build rail spurs, pave county roads, build turn lanes and improve existing roads to attract new business. It has already benefited several enterprises across the state.

The idea for this bill was brought to me by the Nebraska Dairy Association, as they are looking at the possibility of a dairy processor and some large dairies coming into the state. For instance, a ten thousand head dairy would probably be located several miles from an urban area, so roads become an issue for heavy transportation of milk, feed and livestock, and workers. A dairy facility of this size could generate $1.7 billion in economic impact.

LB 564 adds livestock production and processing operations to businesses eligible for this program. Applicants must show the potential economic benefit to Nebraska. Counties and business entities would work together to apply for this financial assistance.

I have signed on to LR 22CA as a co-sponsor, a constitutional amendment that would allow a state senator to serve three terms instead of just two. If the legislature approves this, it would be on the ballot in November of 2024, and voters would decide. As a new state senator, I was very glad to have experienced staff with institutional knowledge of the legislature. I mentioned the enormous learning curve earlier; there is also a great deal of responsibility. So the concept of LR 22CA is to have a greater number of senators with more of that historical perspective, who can serve more effectively and efficiently as a representative of a district, yet still be limited in terms.

Your input is important to me as we consider the bills and issues before the Legislature. Contact me at 402-471-2620 or send email to mdorn@leg.ne.gov. Thank you.