I wanted to open my article this week with an update on my health status. I am happy to report that I underwent a PET scan at UNMC three weeks ago, and the results indicate that the cancer in my body is gone. Although the medication caused side effects, including balance problems that led to my fall in June, it also seems to have done its job of attacking the cancer cells. My healthcare is now focused on regaining stamina after muscle loss from the fall-related rhabdomyolysis, and I’m glad to be able to spend more time in the District amongst my constituents. I hope to be fully recovered by the year’s end and am remaining active in the meantime.

I was glad to spend a little time on the farm in the last week running a grain cart as part of the corn harvest.  Although I think Julie would prefer that this be my last year farming, it’s hard to walk away. Anyone who has farmed knows the old saying that “you can take the kid out of the farm, but you can’t take the farm out of the kid.” I am a firm believer that much of Nebraska’s well-known work ethic stems from our agricultural roots. I am proud to be a part of the ag tradition and pass those values on to my own family.

Although a sad occasion, I was also grateful to be able to attend the memorial service for former state Senator and local rancher Tom Hansen over the weekend. Tom was very involved in the cattle industry and in local service organizations in North Platte. He was respected by the Senators he served with and was remembered as a fair-minded person who often reached across party lines to pass good legislation. He set a great example for others to follow, and I am glad to have counted Tom as a friend for many years. Julie and I wish Linda and the Hansen family the very best as they grieve, and thank them for sharing Tom with us.

In terms of legislative business, I spent the end of last week in Lincoln participating in interim study activities. I will do the same this week. I have also been keeping a close eye on the litigation related to the Perkins County Canal and the related compact from 1921. Many of you will have seen news coverage of Colorado’s brief filed in the lawsuit last Wednesday. I am eager to see if the U.S. Supreme Court will take up the case during the 2025-2026 session. A decision could go a long way toward advancing the Canal project and protecting the water rights of Nebraskans.

In my mind, the main benefit of the compact will be the ability to enforce water rights related to flows into the South Platte River. Although the compact does not require Colorado to guarantee Nebraska minimum flows into the Platte River, it does require them to take steps to enforce against “junior” water users. This would require the junior water users to stop removing water from the river and deep wells that impact the river flow if Colorado is not meeting the minimum flow requirements in the compact.

Nebraska is entitled to at least 120 cubic feet per second (CFS) of water in the summer months and 500 CFS of water in the winter months. The compact designates the gate at Ovid, Colorado, as the measuring point. When I toured the site a couple of years ago, it was clear that the flow was insufficient to meet the requirements, yet center pivots in eastern Colorado were still running. This is a clear violation of the compact. Also, remember that the 120 and 500 CFS of water are required minimums, not maximums. When enforcing the compact, I hope they consider what the flows would have been if junior rights had been shut off as required by the compact and the influence of inaction on historic and current flows.

As important as water is, there is no question why Colorado is pushing back. I believe the timing of the lawsuits is good, so Nebraska can get a better feel for the ultimate interpretation of the compact before more dollars are spent. But make no mistake, we would kick ourselves if we did not make every effort to enforce our rights now. Water will only become more precious as the Front Range continues to be developed and expanded. Colorado’s attitude towards Nebraska’s enforcement may ultimately open a can of worms that they didn’t bargain for.

And, although the compact does not have a time limit for Nebraska to complete the work on the canal and reservoir, development of the system will continue to increase in cost as time goes on.

I expect we will see efforts again next year from some in the Legislature to skim off funds currently held for the Perkins County Canal, whether to balance the budget or for other projects. I hope that we can get a quick resolution of the litigation matter prior to discussions about reallocating the funds, but the legal process can often be slow. I am appreciative of the Governor’s continued effort to protect the Canal dollars. Access to sufficient surface and groundwater in Nebraska is critical, not only for agricultural and industrial operations, but for the cooling ponds at Gerald Gentleman Station and to ensure sufficient drinking water for all of the communities along the Platte River – including Lincoln and Omaha.

It is a privilege to represent you in the Nebraska Legislature, and I look forward to continuing to hear about issues that are important to you. I can be reached at 402-471-2729 or by emailing me at mjacobson@leg.ne.gov.

I will be spending more time in Lincoln this week in order to take part in public hearings. The first public hearing will be held on October 15, as the Executive Board will hear testimony on LR198. The purpose of the hearing is to consider whether the Legislature should create a new standing committee to focus on technology. It also proposes to combine the Natural Resources and Agriculture Committees into one committee. I have some reservations about this proposal and look forward to taking part in the hearing.

My primary concern begins with the proposed combination of the Natural Resources and Agriculture Committees. Each standing committee is allowed to designate two bills as Priority bills. Priority bills have a better chance of being heard on the floor because they get scheduling priority over other non-prioritized bills. Although these committees don’t usually receive a significant number of bills, they have jurisdiction over two significant portions of Nebraska’s economy and areas that have a particular impact on rural Nebraska. I worry about losing two priority bills awarded to the committees today. The Legislature has attempted to combine these two committees in the past, but has never done so. We will see if it happens this time.

I’m also unsure if we need a separate committee to handle technology-related bills. As I look at past bills introduced in the Legislature, they generally are not bills that deal with technology alone. And I’m not sure there is enough technology legislation to justify a separate committee. It may be more prudent to clarify where these bills should be referred within our existing committee structure.

In the past, the Referencing Committee (the committee assigning bills to committees of jurisdiction) has defaulted to the Judiciary Committee any bill that included a legal penalty. This has resulted in the Judiciary Committee receiving many bills where the subject matter could be assigned to a different committee that deals with the primary subject matter, but for the fact that the bill included a legal penalty.

I look forward to the testimony. I remain open to the concept, but do wonder if the proposal in LR198 is the right solution.

On Friday, I will lead a roundtable dealing with the high cost of property insurance premiums as outlined by LR199 and LR200. I introduced both resolutions to look at ways to reduce the cost of our current high casualty insurance costs. As I have said in the past, homeowners are fighting a two-front battle of high property taxes and equally high casualty insurance costs. When combined with relatively high mortgage rates, the cost to own a home is putting home ownership out of reach for many. A strong economy relies on making home ownership accessible for workers to raise their families and retire in. I look forward to hearing from insurance stakeholders about the challenges facing the industry and ways the Legislature may be able to help make property insurance more affordable for Nebraskans.

There are also two other committees holding hearings this week. Thursday morning, the Urban Affairs Committee will hold hearings at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, looking at a wide variety of issues, including municipal land banks, poverty elimination, nutritious food access, and housing access for the formerly incarcerated. In the afternoon, the Health and Human Services Committee will hold hearings in Lincoln regarding health-related social needs, strengthening our medical workforce, the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and more. I look forward to discussing the results of these interim studies with my colleagues and seeing what legislation might be proposed as a result.

The interim is an important time for Senators, as we brainstorm our bills and priorities for the coming session. It is also an opportunity to deep-dive into issues with stakeholders and learn more about complex issues in our various committees.

It is also a great time for constituents to reach out about issues important to them; please continue to contact me at 402-471-2729 or by emailing me at mjacobson@leg.ne.gov. It is a pleasure serving as your State Senator and serving the interests of District 42.

One of the greatest pleasures of being a state senator is having the privilege to go to work each session day on the floor of one of the most iconic buildings in the country. Although I had been to the Capitol prior to becoming a Senator, I never really appreciated the intricate details of the architecture and the stories it told. It is also amazing how this magnificent building was built. Construction began in 1922 and was fully completed in 1932. Given what was going on in this country near the end of construction, it must have taken great fortitude to see it through completion.

When the Legislature first approved in 1919 the construction of the new Capitol, it also created the Capitol Commission to oversee not only construction but ultimately maintenance of the building and grounds. One of the biggest priorities of the Commission has been to protect the original design and furnishings of the original building. It is for this reason that the walls have the original paint colors and why no pictures or other items can be hung from the walls, but rather must be suspended from the ceiling. The lighting in the Capitol also remains original. This is one of the most challenging issues because the building does not have good lighting in the hallways or on the legislative floor. Late-night sessions are challenging, and anyone can see from the TV coverage that the floor looks dark. As items need to be fixed, the basement of the Capitol has a repair shop to do its own maintenance and repairs.

I will always remember sitting next to Speaker Mike Hilgers right after I was appointed to the Legislature. One day, we were in the middle of a filibuster when Mike looked at me and said, “On days like this, when I question why I am here, I sit back in my chair and look up at the ceiling in the Chamber and am reminded what a privilege it is to be here.”

Because of the focus on keeping the building as “Capitol original” as possible, the security for occupants in the building is minimal. Multiple cameras located throughout the building to provide the primary security. But given the current political environment, is it enough?

I met with several Senators last week to discuss this issue and determine if now is the time to limit entry points to the public and install metal detectors at public entrances. This may seem like a radical approach, but when you consider that the Capitol houses not only the Legislature, but also the Nebraska Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, the Governor, and other state officers, you can appreciate that there is some vulnerability in the current system. There are also countless fourth-grade students who tour the Capitol annually.

We only need to look at the behavior of many who sit in the balcony to view the Legislature in person over the past three years. The behavior has involved everything from verbal outbursts to throwing feminine hygiene products from the balcony. After the assassination of Minnesota House of Representatives Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, John, in their home in June 2025 and the more recent assassination of Charlie Kirk, it has become clear that some think political violence is an appropriate way to express criticism or disagreement. I don’t know where it will end, but I think it’s important we think it’s worth discussing whether we should take some steps to better identify potential risks at the state capitol.

I want to clear that I do not support restricting the Second Amendment rights of citizens, but it may be beneficial to identify those bringing deadly weapons into the Capitol and what their intentions may be. In far too many cases, those committing gun crimes are not the legal owners of the gun or do not possess the proper permits. Our goal would not be to stop law-abiding citizens from carrying certain potentially deadly weapons into the Capitol, but to know they legally possess these items and know who has them. Politically motivated gun crimes are growing and need to stop. Unfortunately, Nebraska is no different. I would be interested in knowing your thoughts on this issue.

It has been a pleasure serving as your State Senator. I have enjoyed the challenge and will continue to do my best to serve the interests of District 42. Please continue to reach out to me about issues important to you at 402-471-2729 or by emailing me at mjacobson@leg.ne.gov.

Lately, there have been a lot of rumblings about changes made to the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program and what they mean for connecting all Nebraskans to high-speed Internet. I’d like to first give a little history about where we’ve been with communications access in the state and then talk about what BEAD will do for Nebraska.

Like most states, Nebraska has established a state universal service fund, in addition to the federal universal service fund (USF). The Nebraska Universal Service Fund (NUSF) was established in 1997 and is funded by a fee on your telephone bill. The NUSF is administered by the Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC).

The original purpose was to ensure all Nebraskans had access to telecommunications services by subsidizing the cost of reaching citizens living in “high-cost” areas, i.e., areas expensive to build telephone lines to. Only the incumbent carriers – ones tasked with the obligation to provide service to everyone within their exchange territory – are eligible to receive disbursements from the NUSF. At the time, copper phone lines were still the preferred technology by many telephone providers, but DSL and cable Internet were also emerging.

Since the inception of the NUSF, what it means to be connected has evolved. For a time, the goal was to connect Nebraskans to Internet speeds of 10/1 Mbps. That was eventually increased to 25/3 Mbps, and is now 100/20 Mbps or 100/100 Mbps. These thresholds have changed with the development of new technologies or the improvement of old technologies, including cable, fixed wireless, satellite, and fiber. Once focused on both capital construction and maintenance of these communications networks, the PSC is now considering a transition of the NUSF dollars to provide only ongoing support to telecommunications carriers.

The ability to move the NUSF from a capital construction fund to a maintenance fund is a significant milestone. More Nebraskans are connected today than ever before, thanks to a variety of public and private investments. Not only are telecommunications and broadband carriers making significant capital investments in expanding connectivity, but connectivity has also been a priority at the state and federal levels. In addition to supporting the NUSF, the Nebraska Legislature also funded several construction-based grants, including five cycles of the Nebraska Bridge Program, two cycles of Capital Projects Fund Grants, and the Precision Agriculture Infrastructure Grant Program.

The federal government has also established several programs to improve connectivity, including the original and enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model (ACAM and E-ACAM), the Connect America Fund (CAF) Phases 1 and 2, the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF), and subsidizing the expenses of smaller rural carriers with USF dollars.

The BEAD Program is also a federal initiative passed under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021 (the second phase of the federal COVID subsidies) and provided almost $42.5 billion to expand high-speed (100/20 Mbps) Internet access across the U.S. The program only funds build-out to unserved or underserved locations, and the original intent was that the program be “fiber-first,” with alternative technologies like fixed wireless and satellite only being used in extremely high-cost areas. Unfortunately, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the federal agency handling BEAD implementation, was very slow to roll out the program. Just as states were receiving and evaluating project applications, the NTIA changed the rules in June 2025 through the issuance of a Policy Notice. Although the Policy Notice made several changes, the most concerning to many Nebraskans was the elimination of the fiber preference in favor of a technology-neutral approach and directed states to select project applications with the lowest cost to deploy.

Although many are disappointed that the investment in fiber-to-the-home will be much reduced under the new BEAD rules, there are still positive outcomes for Nebraskans. First, those unserved and underserved locations will still receive access to high-speed, 100/20 Mbps service, and they may receive it more quickly with alternative technologies than a fiber build-out. Second, companies expanding fixed wireless networks will still be building fiber to towers, which increases the amount of middle-mile network in our state and could reduce the cost for fiber expansion in the future. And finally, fiber is not the best solution for every need. Although unmatched in speed and reliability, fiber can only take Internet access so far. It is also essential for precision agriculture and public safety that we have strong wireless and cellular networks in our state, particularly in rural areas.

In the end, I understand the frustration with the NTIA’s changes to the BEAD Program, and I know many were excited to see an influx of fiber build-out in Nebraska. I hope our broadband providers will continue to make capital investments and use other resources out there to expand fiber access. At the same time, the BEAD Program is still a significant investment in connectivity. I am grateful that all Nebraskans will soon have some access to high-speed Internet.

Please continue to reach out to me about issues important to you at 402-471-2729 or by emailing me at mjacobson@leg.ne.gov. It is a pleasure serving as your State Senator and working for the interests of District 42.

After reading the account of the Lincoln County Commissioners’ discussions and joint public hearing regarding its budget, I felt it necessary to address the impact of LB34 on county budgets. Passed during the 2024 special session, LB34 (Property Tax Limitation Act) was designed to limit annual property tax increases for cities, counties, and certain other taxing entities. The goal was to limit spending tied to property taxes, as opposed to limiting either property value growth or mill levy increases individually, while also allowing increases from other revenue generators. This provision became effective on July 1, 2025.

Under LB34, the annual property tax revenue increases are limited to the greater of 0% or the rate of inflation percentage based on the state and local consumption expenditures and gross investment (SLCE), which has averaged 3.9% over the past 20 years compared to the Consumer Price Index’s 2.6%, plus actual growth. The cap applies to property taxes collected from existing properties, excluding revenue from new construction, improvements, annexations, or changes in use.

“Exceptions” to the cap for allowable increases relate to voter-approved overrides, public safety services, emergencies (as declared by the Emergency Management Act), bond repayments, and costs related to county attorneys and public defenders. However, some of these exceptions require an equal deduction in the budget for the subsequent year.

The key exception to the cap deals with the “carryover authority” provision that allows up to 5% of unused taxing authority from the prior year, providing flexibility for frugal entities that did not use their maximum authority. However, it was never intended to encourage taxing authorities to view it as a “use it or lose it” proposition since political subdivisions can always ask the voters to approve a bond issue if they have needs above the cap. At that point, of course, you need to make your case to the voters, i.e., property taxpayers.

In the case of Lincoln County, the commissioners are proposing a sizable one-year property tax increase for road improvements and other projects, along with additional bonding authority for road projects. I normally don’t weigh in on local issues, but when the Legislature is getting blamed for the excessive property tax increase, I felt it was necessary to explain the bill. The timing of this increase is especially troublesome, considering current grain prices and the stress currently being felt in the agricultural economy.

In the end, your local taxing authorities determine your property taxes. There have been several opportunities for taxpayers to voice their concerns regarding proposed property tax increases and the local projects funded with them. You must decide what is most important to you.

In fairness to the Lincoln County Commissioners, they historically bring forward very conservative budgets and have held their tax increases in check. That is what made them eligible for the carryover provision. I know they have many items to consider when setting their budget, including a long-term plan for road improvements that will improve public safety. Being an elected official is not easy, and the commissioners must look at their budget from all viewpoints.

As Senators, we face similar challenges when considering our votes on complex legislation, particularly when it comes to changes to Nebraska’s tax structure. Part of the beauty of our state is the diversity in types of communities and industries, but it can also make it challenging to adopt fair policies that don’t either favor or disfavor some. Despite not collecting property taxes at the state level, rapidly rising property taxes are a problem that Senators are often asked to solve by their constituents. In the end, this Legislature felt capping property tax increases, while allowing the local political subdivisions to determine their budgeting priorities within that amount and targeted exceptions, was the fairest way to address local spending of property tax dollars. This is in addition to our efforts to send more state tax dollars back into local communities through increased school funding and taking over community college funding entirely.

It has been a pleasure serving as your State Senator. I have enjoyed the challenge and will continue to do my best to serve the interests of District 42. Please continue to reach out to me about issues important to you at 402-471-2729 or by emailing me at mjacobson@leg.ne.gov.

This past week has included political subdivisions holding budget planning meetings that will determine their tax requests. This is perhaps a good time to review how the system works and how your taxes are determined. Each year, your County Assessor determines the market value of your property as of January 1 of the current year. Once all the valuations are set, the collective values of the properties in each political subdivision become what is known as the property “tax base.” The property tax base is the first half of the equation when determining your individual property tax. The second half of the equation is the “mill levy,” which is set once the collective budget requests are set by the various political subdivisions with tax collection authority. Budgets or net spending requests ultimately determine property taxes.

To illustrate this point, the City of North Platte recently held its budget planning meeting. During the meeting, the proposed tax ask was $41.6 million, an increase of $189,275 or 2.49% from the previous year. However, because of the rate at which valuations increased, the City can reach that number by reducing the mill levy by 1.23%. If this budget is approved, it will be the third year in a row that the City has reduced its mill levy.

Keep in mind that the City of North Platte also collects a “local option sales tax,” which reduces the amount of its budget that has to come from property tax needs. Although sales tax growth is beginning to level off, it has grown significantly during the past three years. This is a direct result of our ability to recruit and retain retailers, including three TIF beneficiaries: the Mall renovations, Menards, and Hobby Lobby. The sales tax collections, personal property tax collections, and the effect these projects have had on growing our population all help reduce property tax askings.

At this point in time, sales taxes fund 28% of the city budget and are projected to bring over $11 million in revenue to the city this coming year.

The state is also doing its part to reduce property taxes, including by taking over the operating expenses of the community colleges. This has directly reduced property tax collections statewide by nearly $300 million annually.

The North Platte Public Schools Board also met last week and decided to forgo an additional budget increase of 5%. I applaud the Board for taking this action and focusing its spending on the growth of inflation and student body growth, rather than building a cushion by raising taxes at a higher rate.

In the end, the Legislature chose not to impose additional spending caps on school districts because, unlike their city and county counterparts, school districts are funded only by state and federal funds, along with property taxes. Yet, school districts have different student body demographics, varying tax bases, and varying geographic areas. This makes it challenging to use a one-size-fits-all formula for school districts. The TEEOSA formula has attempted to do this, but has fallen short, especially for rural school districts. More work is being done to resolve this challenge. However, for now, we must rely on local school boards to distinguish between “wants” and “needs” and take steps to protect taxpayers, all while providing a quality education for students. More work will be done in the Legislature to address this challenge.

It has been a pleasure serving as your State Senator. I have enjoyed the challenge and will continue to do my best to serve the interests of District 42. Please continue to reach out to me about issues important to you at 402-471-2729 or by emailing me at mjacobson@leg.ne.gov.

We have spent much time over the past year discussing property taxes and their impact on home affordability. Clearly, property taxes will continue to have my full attention, but there are other factors that also impact home affordability costs. One in particular is the cost of homeowner’s insurance and the rate at which premiums are increasing.

In most cases, homeowners who carry a mortgage have their property taxes and their homeowner’s insurance premiums escrowed, so they are included in the monthly mortgage payment. In many cases, these premiums are out of sight, out of mind, and may get overlooked. Many assume increases in their escrow payment are due to increased property tax payments. However, homeowner’s insurance premiums can be comparable to your property tax costs in many cases. As a result, I have initiated two interim studies to investigate the factors contributing to these costs and identify steps that can be taken to mitigate them.

Nebraska has some of the highest homeowner’s premiums in the nation. One of the leading reasons for this is a large number of wind and hail claims. Over the past two years, Omaha has had large areas impacted by wind. Western Nebraska has long been affected by hail losses, often accompanied by wind damage. Our insurance costs are also affected by disasters in other states that increase claims for national and regional insurers.

Another factor is increases or decreases in the costs of performing repairs for which claims are filed. A significant increase in premiums began during the pandemic when labor and material costs skyrocketed, driving replacement costs literally through the roof. Insurance companies (and reinsurers) were taken aback by these claims. As a result, their reserves were depleted, and the need to rebuild them contributed to premium increases.

The interim study workshops will also focus on several other issues that many believe contribute to cost increases. For example, one contributor raised by insurers is the practice of out-of-area roofers convincing homeowners to assign their claim to the roofer to complete the repairs and deal with the insurer. In these circumstances, many out-of-area roofers push the limits on the damages they claim and employ aggressive tactics to displace local contractors available to do work and establish long-term relationships with local customers. In many cases, this includes suing the insurer in the name of the homeowner, even though the homeowner may not be aware that a lawsuit has been filed after the assignment. Litigation costs, such as internal administrative work, attorney fees, and court costs, are expended by the insurer on top of the claim reimbursements, all of which impact premiums.

I look forward to the workshops and the viewpoints of the various interested parties that have been willing to participate. Any constructive ideas offered may result in a bill being introduced next session.

In closing, I thought I would share an update on my health. I am happy to report that I am now walking with a cane and should soon be able to walk completely on my own. I am so grateful for all the prayers and the caregivers who assisted in my recovery. I will be eternally grateful.

I want you to know that I remain focused on how best to serve you and the issues important to you. I am currently splitting my time between my legislative office, attending hearings, and various meetings. The rest of my time involves attending activities in the District.

As always, I want my constituents to know your input is important to me and I will do all I can to make a difference. Please continue to reach out to me at 402-471-2729 or by emailing me at mjacobson@leg.ne.gov.

I have received many questions this week regarding LB1087 (The Hospital Quality Assurance and Access Assessment Act), which I introduced in 2024. Although I have gotten the credit for passing this bill by the Governor and the Nebraska Hospital Association (NHA), I always remind people that it takes 25 votes to pass any bill, and there are countless hours spent behind the scenes developing the language to pass any comprehensive bill. This federal program has been in place for many years, but it has never had good traction in the Nebraska Legislature. First, the hospitals needed to all agree to collectively support the bill, since they are all required to contribute a portion of their net Medicaid revenues. These revenues are then matched 2.19 times by the federal government once the state program is approved by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The second obstacle was getting past prior hesitations from Governors and Legislatures to accept more federal funds.

The NHA came to me late in the summer of 2023 to ask me to carry the bill. They knew that I served on the Great Plains Health Board and had a good understanding of healthcare. They also felt that I could better explain the bill on the floor and get it through the process. By accessing these funds, we take pressure off the state to fund additional Medicaid provider rates. Some of the 41 states already using this program are using it to totally fund their Medicaid needs. In our case, we project receiving up to $1 billion in federal funding to augment the hospitals’ contributions. The state would also keep up to $150 million in fees from these proceeds.

Passing the bill meant getting the Governor, the hospitals, and the Legislature on board to support the bill. After discussions with the Governor, he was solidly in support. The NHA rallied its members, and 31 Senators agreed to co-sponsor the bill, with Senator Armendariz agreeing to designate the bill as her personal priority. In the end, the bill passed 45-0-1.

Following the passage, the state submitted a State Plan Amendment outlining implementation and waited for approval by CMS. That plan was developed and submitted to CMS last year prior to the election, but due to changes in the agency after the election, the process virtually stopped prior to the appointment and confirmation of a new HHS Secretary. We were very fortunate to get final approval just prior to passage of the Big Beautiful Bill, so we were grandfathered into the program. I want to thank Congressman Mike Flood for his work in making this happen. Also, the steadfast commitment of Governor Pillen to supporting the bill from beginning to end!

The first round of payments was made to Nebraska hospitals in late August. Several rural hospitals will remain open because of this bill. I am glad I could play a role in getting it done.

This year, I was asked by the Nebraska Medical Association (NMA) to introduce LB527 (Medicaid Assess and Quality Act). This bill is similar to LB1087, but increases federal Medicaid funding for doctors and non-hospital and non-behavioral health providers. The program matches Managed Care Organization (MCO) health insurance premiums that are paid into the program. This involves fewer dollars but brings federal funds to Nebraska to better compensate providers for providing medical services to Medicaid recipients.

Access to affordable healthcare, whether primary care providers, hospitals, or specialty services, must be a priority for Nebraska, particularly if we want to attract and retain residents in rural Nebraska.

It has been a pleasure serving as your State Senator. I enjoy the challenge and will continue to do my best to serve the interests of District 42. Please continue to reach out to me about issues that are important to you at 402-471-2729 or by emailing me at mjacobson@leg.ne.gov.

Julie and I enjoyed driving our 1968 Camaro in the annual Hershey Fall Festival parade. It was great seeing so many friends who attended the parade and the delicious prime rib feed following. I continue to be impressed with the organizers as to how they come together each year as they organize multi-day events to bring people to the village to gather and celebrate Hershey’s heritage. The same can be said for all the small villages in the District that do the same. Well done!

Since the announcement of the merger between the Union Pacific and the Norfolk Southern Railroad, there have been many rumors regarding the workforce here in North Platte. I did have the opportunity to hear from UP this past week regarding the accuracy of the news coverage and what it means for the North Platte area. As union negotiations continue, these issues will become clearer, but nothing has been agreed to at this time and may not be soon. I appreciate the efforts to keep these jobs in North Platte and hope that will be the outcome of the negotiations. In the meantime, it is important we support efforts to make North Platte a more attractive place for people to live, which will pay dividends in the future. If those living in larger cities are to choose to live here, they want to have modern housing to choose from, good retail opportunities, recreational opportunities, and competitive taxes.

North Platte is in a different place than it used to be just a few years ago. We are growing our housing stock, have a new recreational facility under construction without raising property taxes. We are also growing our population as Sustainable Beef opens its doors and begins processing. Improvements at the District 177 mall are continuing, and sales tax revenues are growing. Since the City charges a Local Option Sales Tax, the city sales tax revenues are growing, which has contributed to a direct reduction in their property tax ask three years in a row. That’s how it is supposed to work!

Taking pressure off property taxes involves growing our tax base so we can collect fewer taxes from more taxpayers. Shifting tax collections from property taxes to sales and income taxes is huge. Growing our population brings more shoppers and more retail sales. More retail sales bring more retailers and more jobs. Economic development efforts are important, and they don’t happen by accident. That is why I am so proud of all our political subdivisions who are working hard to make the right investments and right focus to create a climate that encourages growth.

The State is also doing its part to lower local property taxes. I hope that many of you have noticed that the Legislature’s decision to take over funding of Community College operating expenses has kicked in, and are no longer listed on your property tax statement. This seems to be one of the best-kept secrets at a time when many are told we are doing nothing to reduce property taxes. This is in addition to property tax credit programs that reduce the overall tax burden, as well as foundation aid and other state funding that now make up more of school budgets. We are not done, but we are continuing to look for ways to find relief at a time when resources are limited.

It is a privilege to represent you in the Nebraska Legislature, and I look forward to hearing from you regarding issues that are important to you. I can be reached at 402-471-2729 or by emailing me at mjacobson@leg.ne.gov.

This past week, Julie and I were able to attend the Governor’s Ag and Economic Development Summit in Kearney. It had record attendance, and lots of valuable information was shared. Included in the program was a panel discussion with the Governor and several of his cabinet members discussing how they intend to cut spending and improve service delivery. This is a subject, of course, that defies logic, but can be done. The underlying focus falls on technology improvements and better systems.

When I was knocking on doors back in 2022, I stopped to talk to a gentleman who invited me in to sit down and hear his story. He had a developmentally disabled child who was living at the former Beatrice home run by DHHS. His son later passed away as his care was inconsistent at best. This man then made it his mission to fix the system. At the time, there was a long waiting list to get into the system. The list never seemed to get shorter. Today, under the leadership of DHHS Director Corsi and Governor Pillen, the waiting list no longer exists. Everyone on it has been placed. Focusing on better communications and outcomes helped this to occur.

During my time as Vice Chair of the Legislature’s Performance Audit Committee, we asked why the wait time was so long to get background checks back for those wishing to become daycare employees. The delays were preventing daycare centers from hiring qualified people because the background check was too time-consuming. Many found other jobs in the meantime. The time from start to finish was up to 45 days. We found that if you applied through the State Patrol web site, the check was completed within a day, but their computer system did not communicate with the DHHS system, so they had to email or fax results to DHHS who then printed out the information, put it in an inbox for someone to later reinput the information into another system. With process improvements, the system is now well under 10 days start to finish.

Technology improvements are essential to improving efficiency. Within DHHS alone there are various computer programs written in several computer languages that don’t talk to each other. Many agency platforms also run from servers that need people to maintain them, including third-party contractors who are not afraid to charge for their services. Some of these contracts were not even necessary but were still maintained. Getting on a common software and using a cloud-based platform will greatly improve cost and efficiency. It will also improve outcomes.

We learned that 37% of DHHS employees already qualify for retirement. Many will need to be replaced with new employees who have the necessary technology background and can learn from the seasoned employees who remain. Hopefully, efficiencies will lead to fewer employees who can meet the demand with the right tools.

Like in business, we need to change with the times if we want to lower costs while improving outcomes.

We are also building a new state penitentiary, which I believe will be safer and more efficient than the old one. Lincoln County found efficiencies when it built the state-of-the-art jail, and I expect the state experience will be the same. Our goal is to house more prisoners in a safer environment with fewer staff at a lower cost. We need to find savings in all levels of Government while providing essential services that the public expects. We are on that path.

It has been a pleasure serving as your State Senator. I have enjoyed the challenge and will continue to do my best to serve the interests of District 42. Please continue to reach out to me at 402-471-2729 or by emailing me at mjacobson@leg.ne.gov about issues that are important to you.