We have officially begun the annual area celebrations and parades. It begins each year with the Nebraskaland Days parade, followed by the annual Sutherland celebration and parade. This past weekend was the Perkins County Fair (and parade). Julie and I drove our ‘68 Camaro through all three parades and had the opportunity to greet many constituents along the way.

In the coming weeks, we will participate in Brady Days, Maxwell Old Settlers, the Lincoln, Logan, Hooker, and Thomas County Fairs, and the Wallace, Wellfleet, and Hershey Fall Festivals. After the parade season ends, we plan to once again attend the annual Turkey Dinner in Seneca. Every one of these events is unique, and each has something special we look forward to enjoying in addition to participating in the parade.

Julie and I also attended the 50th anniversary celebration of the Lincoln County Historical Museum last weekend. I cannot say enough about the great leadership that Director Jim Griffin has provided in keeping our history alive. There is currently a $6 million fundraising effort underway for the North Platte Canteen Expansion project, which includes a new addition, new exhibits, and creation of an endowment to assist with ongoing maintenance. The Canteen involved all of District 42 and even volunteers in Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming. What a truly unbelievable act of patriotism by everyone involved; it is certainly something we should continue to teach future generations about.

Talking with constituents is one of the best parts of spending more time in the District during the interim. Sometimes the issues constituents ask me to weigh in on or take action on are outside the scope of a state Senator. I remember early on in my legislative service, when I attended a Chamber ribbon-cutting in North Platte. At the time, the mayor made his usual remarks, and afterward I was also asked to speak. I declined to do so because I did not want to encroach on the mayor’s role. In that setting, I was a resident showing my support for the project.

I also regularly get asked to take steps to change federal policies such as the SAVE America Act, immigration policy, or the One Big Beautiful Bill. Decisions on these issues, of course, are the responsibility of our federal delegation. I certainly can discuss these issues with them, but in the end, they cast the votes.

Legal issues and other local disputes are also among the reasons for many calls and emails. This, again, is not something that I should get involved in. Instead, I try to help connect constituents with professionals who can help them. Many times, we refer to the Ombudsman’s office, which is generally very helpful. In the end, I try to stay in my lane by focusing on issues that fall within the Legislature’s authority.

Another benefit of traveling through the District is the reminder of how special Nebraska and its communities are. Governor Pillen always says our greatest asset is our people, and I couldn’t agree more. As we talk about our budget, one of the best ways we can grow Nebraska is by recruiting more people to our state, especially to our rural communities.

During the 2026 session, a bill was brought that would have merged the Nebraska Tourism Commission with the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED). The bill was brought primarily due to those in the Legislature who were frustrated with a former tourism campaign that said “Nebraska. Honestly, it’s not for everyone.” Although the campaign had some success, it was not at all popular with many throughout the state. The Tourism Commission’s leadership has changed, but several senators wanted to merge the two agencies.

I opposed the bill to merge the agencies and offered to hold an interim study this summer to gather public input prior to making any further changes. I intend to hold that public hearing in a round table format in North Platte to allow more western Nebraska residents to participate. It is important to keep in mind that tourism promotion was part of the DED, but the Tourism Commission was created in 2012 because many believed tourism efforts were too focused on the metro area rather than a statewide effort. I remain concerned that rural Nebraska loses if the two agencies are combined. Having a board with statewide representation that continues to be funded by hotel occupation taxes seems to be a good model.

The Legislature did pass a bill a year ago to add the DED Director to the Tourism Commission board, along with a member of the state Chamber board to help coordinate efforts. At this time, I’d prefer to look for additional synergies and cooperation instead of combining the two entities. However, I remain open-minded and look forward to hearing input from stakeholders as part of the interim study.

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 mike.jacobson@leg.ne.gov.