This week, North Platte Regional Airport (Lee Bird Field) held a groundbreaking for the new Terminal Building. This is a major milestone for North Platte and the entire region. Many years of planning went into the development of the plan and the fundraising to make this project a reality. I cannot begin to adequately thank U.S. Senator Deb Fischer for her work in making this happen. It was Senator Fischer who secured an additional $7 million in federal dollars that got the funding to the finish line. Her committee role and tenure in the U.S. Senate were key. I have always appreciated her intellect and ability to get things done. We are so fortunate to have her in Washington working for us.

With the election a month out, much attention has been given to the potential election results and the impact it could have on the Nebraska Legislature. There are 15 current Senators who are either term-limited or have chosen not to run for a second term. This will bring at least 15 new Senators to the 108^th Legislature to join the Senators who are just now completing their first two years. With nearly two-thirds of the body made up of those who served less than three years, there will be many leadership changes and a significant loss of institutional knowledge. However, I am impressed with the leadership skills of many in my class and have been impressed with the backgrounds of several likely incoming Senators as well.

Once the election is over, there will be a push to identify likely standing committee chairs for the next biennium, as well as slotting the remaining Senators into the 14 standing committees. Standing committees typically meet for either one, two, or three days each week, and Senators are assigned a combination of standing committees so they have a committee meeting every day. The Appropriations Committee is the only committee that meets five days per week. The three-day committees meet on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, while the two-day committees meet on Monday and Tuesday. There are four one-day committees that meet either on Monday or Tuesday and the Nebraska Retirement Systems committee meets on an as-needed basis.

I currently serve as vice-chair of the Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee and the Natural Resources Committee. I plan to run for Chair of the Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee this next biennium and hope to move to the Revenue Committee for my three-day committee. I am also optimistic the third caucus will continue my service on the Executive Board and the Committee on Committees. There are several Special Committees and Select Committees that many of us serve on as well.

The next big legislative event will be the Annual Legislative Council Meeting to be held on December 12-13 in Kearney. This will be the first official meeting where all the returning and incoming State Senators meet to discuss potential rule changes and get a general overview from the Speaker regarding the coming legislative session.

Now that the Capitol construction is coming to an end, every Senator will be back to officing on the first or second floor of the Capitol. No one will remain in the tower. However, assigning offices is no small feat. All returning Senators will remain in their old offices until the first day of the session when leadership and standing committee chairs are elected. Every standing committee has an assigned office in the Capitol, so those newly elected chairs will move to their new offices following the election. From there, offices are assigned based on seniority. If you are an incoming Senator or a senior Senator who moves offices, you may be without a computer or phone for a day or two until all the other moves are completed. Meanwhile, bill introduction is taking place, and committee meetings are beginning. The first week of a new biennium is a real zoo, but somehow it seems to work.

I have begun drafting bills for the next session and look forward to your input regarding issues that are important to you. Now is the time to get that information to me so it can get included in newly proposed legislation. It is a privilege to serve as your State Senator, and I will continue to give my full effort to make a positive difference for the District and the State. You can reach me at mjacobson@leg.ne.gov or 402-471-2729.