I want to begin my article this week by providing a fuller explanation of the water flows discussed in last week’s article regarding the Perkins County Canal project.

I had two constituents reach out to note that most of the water flowing to the Gerald Gentlemen Station over the last several years has come from the North Platte River flows out of Lake McConaughy. This has always been one source of water since the plant was built. However, there are many demands on the North Platte River flows into Lake McConaughy, including irrigation, recreation, and environmental needs. In dry years, the lake can and has been dangerously low. The Korty Canal was constructed to divert water from the South Platte River to the Gerald Gentlemen plant. The two rivers and the dam all contribute to keeping the cooling pond full.

Many have witnessed that there has been very little, if any, flow from the South Platte River during the summer months. This is due to Colorado not honoring their obligation to allow a minimum of 120 cubic feet per second (cfs) to flow into Nebraska. It is only a matter of time before the winter flows will be gone as well. That is why the Compact is so important today. If the Perkins County Canal is completed as planned, the project will include building a canal from near Julesburg, Colorado, into Keith County, Nebraska. The project will include a reservoir approximately the size of the Calamus Reservoir and a smaller holding pond like Lake Ogallala. The canal would then extend back to the South Platte River.

If full, the new reservoir would hold enough water to serve the Gerald Gentlemen Station’s needs and provide much of the irrigation needs served by Lake McConaughy today. At the rate Colorado is building on the Front Range, it will soon consume all the water year-round entering the South Platte River. Failure to force Colorado to honor the Compact would be a mistake in many ways.

The U.S. Supreme Court will likely rule on Nebraska’s lawsuit that could confirm the ultimate outcome of the legal disputes. I would hate to surrender without a fight and look back 20 years from now and regret that decision.

I would be remiss if I failed to acknowledge that on Thursday this week, we will celebrate the birth of Christ. Of all the holidays, Christmas is my favorite, not just because of its significance, but because it brings back some of my special childhood memories. As many of you know, I was raised with four brothers and three sisters (one additional sister died in infancy). We were raised on a farm in a three-bedroom house. My brother Myron and I shared a twin bed, and my two older brothers shared a full-sized bed. The house was heated by a centrally located propane stove. This ensured that all the bedrooms were cold in the wintertime, but it was the only way to provide heat.

Despite having limited funds, my parents loved all of us kids and made every effort to provide for all of our “needs.” There was no health or dental insurance, but we had food on the table, mainly from the chickens we raised and the garden. We also bought day-old bread from the bakery in Hastings and froze it in the deep freeze. You could toast it, add milk gravy, and have a meal; if you were getting really fancy, we’d add a cut-up hot dog. We also used milk and eggs with the bread to make French Toast.

Christmas was special because mom and dad made certain that we participated in the church Christmas program, complete with learning whatever our part was that year. At the program, we each got an apple, some mixed nuts, and candy. But the real treat was going to bed on Christmas Eve with the excitement of waking up on Christmas morning. There were always gifts under the tree, regardless of the year we had on the farm. Many gifts were basic clothing, but they were wrapped and appreciated. My only regret today is how much we took for granted my parents’ sacrifice to provide a fun Christmas. With both my parents gone, I only wish I could have thanked them again for loving us and doing their best to provide for us.

I have always said that “I would not trade my childhood for anything, but I would not want to raise my children that way.” In the end, they taught me the value of a work ethic, appreciating what you have, and caring about those around you. And most of all, knowing that God has a plan for you.

Merry Christmas!

It is 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 mjacobson@leg.ne.gov or 402-471-2729.

It is a busy time of the year for the Jacobson household. Julie and I both celebrated another birthday on November 26, and we had a great Thanksgiving meal the next day with both our children, their spouses, and Julie’s 96-year-old mother. Of course, we look forward to celebrating the birth of our savior on December 25, and we will also celebrate our 50^th wedding anniversary on December 29 as the year comes to a close.

The next session of the Legislature begins on January 7 for a 60-day session, adjourning in mid-April. As I mentioned last week, balancing the state’s budget will be a big focus of the 2026 Legislative Session. At this point, the Economic Forecasting Board is predicting a $471 million budget shortfall. Unlike some states that can take on debt, Nebraska has a balanced budget requirement, so addressing the deficit is not optional. My hope is that state spending cuts will be the main component of the solution.

There is already talk of dipping into the funds set aside for the Perkins County Canal to balance the budget. Regular followers of the Legislature will know that I’ve been a staunch supporter of the Canal and believe it’s vital to protect Nebraska’s water rights under the compact with Colorado.

I recently spoke with representatives from the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment to get an update on the Perkins County Canal Project. They told me they are nearing completion of the project’s comprehensive plan and will be ready to file the application very soon. At that time, they will hold a meeting in the area to allow the public to see the plan. It will likely take two years to get final approval. Meanwhile, the courts should issue a ruling on the compact’s validity.

I have had some question why the project is so vital to Nebraska. I first focus on the Gerald Gentleman Station, the state’s largest energy plant and a significant regional employer with many high-paying jobs with great benefits. This plant, like other power plants, uses large quantities of water to cool the turbines. This is achieved through a large cooling pond fed by water diverted from the South Platte River. Without the Perkins County Canal, Colorado has shown it will cut off all flows from the South Platte River, leaving the plant without sufficient water.

Also at risk are irrigation resources for row crop farmers and drinking water resources for municipalities along the Platte River, including Lincoln. The South Platte and Platte River waterways are not only used by surface water users, but also recharge the groundwater sources along their paths. Walking away from this project would be a colossal mistake, one that we would regret for years to come. Colorado’s water needs continue to grow as development continues in the Front Range. I have no doubt that they will suck up every bit of water they can get access to, even to the detriment of those in far eastern Colorado. I will continue to fight for this project and protect the funding to build it.

Just as I believe in the value of the Perkins County Canal, everyone believes that their spending is necessary and must be preserved. Every Senator is receiving emails from constituents urging us to renew certain programs that they support or rely on. I am sympathetic to these individuals and know that the program would never have been approved to begin with if it did not serve an important need. In the end, we need to decide what we can afford and determine what our highest priorities are.

We also need to consider how new revenue plays a role. I would say most believe our revenue (tax) sources are out of balance today, but that any changes to tax policy need to achieve at least a net-neutral tax result. Every taxing authority needs to rely on growth in the tax base and the revenues it produces to offset inflationary costs. Raising tax rates or broadening the tax base without reducing other taxes is unsustainable.

It is a pleasure to serve as your District 42 State Senator, and I will do all I can to address the issues important to you. If you want to reach out to me, you can email me at mjacobson@leg.ne.gov or call my office at 402-471-2729.

Many constituents have been asking about the upcoming session and how the legislature will balance the budget with an over $400 million projected budget deficit at the beginning of the session. There are as many answers to this question as there are state senators. The two that are mentioned the most are (1) delaying the final reduction in the state income tax rate, and (2) transferring the funds currently allocated to the Perkins County Canal project to the General Fund. Both are nonstarters for me.

The challenge ahead is to determine what combination of revenue generators and spending cuts can be agreed to by at least 33 of 49 Senators to balance the budget. So far, efforts to expand the sales tax base by increasing existing excise taxes and removing certain exemptions have fallen short of the necessary votes. If we are not willing to expand the sales tax base, Senators will have to make some tough decisions about spending, which includes not only agency operations, but also funds dedicated to income and property tax relief.

Like our property taxes, income taxes are too high compared to those in surrounding states. Two of our neighboring states have no income tax, and the others are below us today. Our goal is to be no higher than Iowa, which is right next to our largest city in Nebraska. We do not want people moving to Iowa and paying taxes in Iowa while working in Nebraska. We must be competitive if we want to attract people to the state and retain those already here. One of my greatest frustrations is seeing residents about to sell their business and retire, buy a home in Florida or Texas to establish residency there two years prior to the business sale to avoid paying tax on the sale to Nebraska, and using the savings to buy a new home elsewhere. When I hear people say “Tax the rich,” they seem not to realize that “rich” people know how to avoid taxes. This is just one way to do that. Why do we incentivize people to leave the state when they have lived here most of their lives?

The same can be said about property taxes. Our property taxes are forcing retirees out of their homes by rising at unsustainable rates. The state has taken steps over the years to reduce local political subdivisions’ reliance on property taxes to fund their operations. We have tried subsidizing schools directly, expecting the savings to be passed along to taxpayers, only to find that only part of the savings resulted in tax relief. We have provided taxpayer credits that appear disconnected from tax relief. We have also removed certain political subdivisions from assessing property taxes and replaced the revenue with state revenue from other tax sources.

But property taxes are still rising. The Governor appointed a group two years ago to help find recommendations for a solution, but we could not reach a consensus. The discussion leaned toward adding several new goods and services to the sales tax rolls to raise funds for property tax relief. In the end, we cannot compete with our tax rates if we are not willing to look at all tax sources and examine if they are fair and don’t overburden any one group of taxpayers. In the end, reducing taxes can only be achieved if expenditures are reduced or the tax that is lowered is offset by raising or broadening the base of other taxes. It is simple math.

There are ballot initiatives proposed to eliminate property and income taxes. This would leave sales taxes as the only source of revenue to replace the lost dollars. How much that would be is not clear. I prefer to have a clear understanding of how this move would impact individual taxpayers, in addition to understanding how these tax revenues would be distributed. That work has yet to be shown. I continue to be concerned that removing local tax authority and centralizing everything with the state would result in real funding challenges for rural Nebraska.

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.

The Flatwater Free Press printed an article on November 16, 2025, stating that Nebraska may return $350 million in federal funding meant to boost Nebraskans’ broadband. Although this headline is technically correct, there is much more to the story than the headline suggests.

During the Biden administration, when the federal government was shoveling money out of Washington, a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill was passed into law in 2021. The law included the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. The State of Nebraska was allocated $405 million to get broadband access of at least 100/20 Mbps to unserved and underserved locations in the state – largely in low-populated, rural areas – with a preference for fiber to the home expansion. U.S. Senator Deb Fischer characterized the funding as a once-in-a-generation investment to bring Nebraskans the connectivity they deserve.

Letters of intent (LOI) regarding a state’s desire to participate in BEAD were due to the federal Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in July 2022, and Nebraska’s LOI was timely filed by then-Governor Ricketts and the Nebraska Public Service Commission. It took several months for the NTIA to release Initial Planning Funds so that states could begin developing their Five Year Plan in conformance with the BEAD program rules at the time. Meanwhile, Nebraskans were voting to elect Jim Pillen as our 41st Governor.

In anticipation of the BEAD funding, and given the importance of the rollout, Governor Pillen announced the creation of the Nebraska Broadband Office (NBO) on his second day in office in January 2023. This office would report directly to him to ensure BEAD would get the priority it needed. The Legislature formally approved a bill to transition BEAD oversight to the NBO, which was approved in May 2023. Patrick Haggerty was hired the following month to oversee the program as its director. Patrick has a strong background in broadband and was the perfect person to serve in that position.

The final state allocations were announced in June 2023, with Nebraska eligible to receive $405 million. States were then asked to develop Initial Proposals, in two volumes, in late 2023 as part of a collaborative process with the NTIA, which included opportunities for public comment.

It was not until 2024 that the state challenge process regarding mapped locations was undertaken. Only once finalized locations were released mid-year could broadband carriers submit their own LOIs to participate in a state’s program. LOIs were submitted in the midst of the 2024 Presidential election, in which Donald Trump unseated Joe Biden.

BEAD grant rounds began in early 2025, but on June 6, 2025, the NTIA announced it was voiding all previously approved Final Proposals and restructuring key elements of the BEAD program. Although several changes were made, the most important for a state like Nebraska was the change from a fiber-preferred program to a technology-neutral program. States were given only 30 days to submit revised Initial Proposals and complete a new selection process within 90 days. This selection process required all applicants to compete on an equal basis, regardless of technology type or prior participation, with the primary scoring criterion being which proposal was the lowest total BEAD program cost per location.

Naturally, more sparsely populated areas can be served by satellite or wireless technology at a lower price tag. Without the ability to prioritize fiber expansion, the new rule drove the dollars required to meet the goal down significantly. The question then became whether Nebraska would be allowed to use the funding for other purposes. So far, that answer has been “NO.” Thus, Nebraska will be required to return any unused funds. There were no missteps by the Broadband Office; it was simply a change in the rules that cost us the funding.

We are all disappointed that the federal change will stymie fiber expansion in Nebraska. Although the unserved and underserved locations in Nebraska will still get access to high-speed Internet at speeds of at least 100/20 Mbps, fixed wireless and satellite service are not equal in performance to fiber. There is a role for all technologies – and undoubtedly fixed wireless and satellite would have played some role in the prior BEAD rollout – but the amount shifted significantly with the new program requirements. There are clear cost differences and limitations for each technology, and we have to play by the federal rules for these funds.

State Senator Jana Hughes invited several other rural senators and me to join Director Haggerty in her office a couple of months ago to hear directly from him the status of the funding and program administration. He was very open and honest about the challenges presented by the rule changes. He earned my respect that day, and I am confident his office did its best to maximize Nebraska’s use of the funds.

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.

Last Friday, the City of Lexington received the devastating news that Tyson Foods, the largest employer in the area, will close its plant on January 20, 2026. When a town of just over 10,000 loses over 3,200 jobs, it is a big deal.

This, of course, is not the first time Lexington has experienced an impact like this. When the New Holland combine plant decided to close its doors at the same location, it took a lot of hard work, but the local leaders – with the help of state incentives – successfully recruited IBP to buy and convert the plant to a beef packing plant. Along with the new plant came odor problems and the need to hire workers who were willing to work hard in difficult conditions. This was a difficult challenge for a community the size of Lexington (at the time) to deal with. Not only was housing a challenge, but the school system was ill-equipped to deal with language and cultural barriers presented by new families moving to the community. Many long-time residents moved out of town, and there was resistance from some to the new employer.

Lexington showed a lot of resilience after the New Holland closure. I have always been impressed by the commitment of local leaders to face the new challenge head-on and convert problems into opportunities. Today, the Lexington Public School system is one of the best in the state. The growth of the town has been phenomenal. Lexington was firing on all cylinders until the Tyson announcement.

As hard as it is to absorb the news, I am confident that Lexington will find a way to rebound. Once again, local leaders will need to repeat the prior success of finding a replacement employer (or employers). Unfortunately, they will face the additional hurdle presented by the state of the Tyson plant. The New Holland plant was a clear-span building with many possibilities. Today, the plan is much larger and does not lend itself as easily to a cost-effective conversion. It does, however, have refrigeration capacity that could aid an employer needing this type of space. One challenge will be finding someone who does not directly compete with Tyson. They may prefer to idle the plan, as opposed to helping a competitor. However, paying for taxes, insurance, and security on an idle plant can be very expensive. I hope they will do right by the community.

The closure of this plant will be felt throughout Nebraska’s agricultural community, particularly for cattle producers who will now need to find a new processor. The cost of additional trucking and the associated shrink from longer travel times will have a negative financial impact. Although cattle prices are good right now, our producers need more capital to help increase the domestic cattle supply in future years.

Meanwhile, you cannot help but have sympathy for the families that will be affected by the plant closure, particularly in the midst of the holiday season. They have made Lexington their home. There are also many businesses that have opened their doors to support the plant and its workers. Although Sustainable Beef is still hiring in North Platte, there are fewer openings than potential employees, and the possibility of uprooting your family is never an easy situation to face.

Sidney, NE dealt with similar news when Cabela’s closed its corporate offices. These were high-paying jobs, with many employees who had built or were building expensive homes. The challenge for every town that loses a large employer is to find one or more replacement businesses that can absorb the space and employees at comparable salary ranges.

Julie and I will be keeping the City of Lexington and the Tyson plant employees in our prayers.

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.

As technology continues to improve, agriculture has been a major beneficiary. Auto steer for row crop equipment, which is made possible with satellite technology, has improved the accuracy of row spacings and the ease of operating for producers. This satellite technology also controls seed placement for planters, so point rows are not double-planted. This not only saves on seed costs, but also prevents overplanting end rows.

Tractors are equipped to measure fuel usage on the go and measure wheel slippage in real time. Combines are equipped to measure yield in real-time while creating color-coded yield maps. This technology also measures grain moisture, which is adjusted to dry bushels, thereby reflecting the actual crop yield.

Center pivots are available that can not only speed up and slow down the rate of movement, but also have the ability to turn off or reduce the rate of water output for each sprinkler along the pivot to avoid over-watering wet spots. They can even be controlled remotely from your phone.

These technologies are commonplace among many operators today, but are only the beginning of the potential improvements and innovations for American agriculture.

Livestock producers can use electronic ID (EID) tags to store data for each animal in their herd. Once again, there are limitless amounts of data that can be generated.

The challenge has become how to safeguard the privacy of this data and how to identify who has the right to own or control the data. That was the subject of a legislative round table I hosted last week in Lincoln. The Governor asked me last session if I would sponsor a bill dealing with the privacy of agricultural data. With the limited time we had to draft last year’s bill, my staff worked with the Governor’s staff to develop LB525. In the end, I decided that the bill needed more work, so I held the bill in committee so we could do an interim study on the subject and get input from all interested parties between sessions. I plan to amend the bill with a “white copy” (replacement) amendment and rehear the bill in committee in January.

At the roundtable, we gathered great input from everyone present. There were opinions that ranged from those who felt the producer should control the use of all the resulting information gathered from the technology to those who believed both the producer and the developer of the software should have unlimited use of the data. Since no other state has a privacy law specific to agricultural data, I wanted to walk before we run, but I believe there is a need to start putting some guardrails in place, given the fast rate of technology growth. In doing so, it’s important to balance producer protections with the ability to innovate.

We left the roundtable with a basic framework and will be having more discussions to improve on what we started. We have much to do over the next two months.

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 want to begin my comments this week by taking a moment to honor our veterans as we celebrate Veterans Day.

Veterans Day is a time to honor all those who have served in the United States Armed Forces: the men and women who have worn the uniform to protect freedom, both at home and abroad. Memorial Day honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice, while Veterans Day reminds us to appreciate those who have returned from service and continue to give back to our communities in various ways.

Each year, towns across Nebraska, such as Stapleton, Thedford, McPherson County, Halsey, and Mullen, to name a few, gather to honor our soldiers. Julie and I look forward to participating in the Veterans Day parade in North Platte on November 11 at 4:30 p.m., beginning in the Canteen District. It is a humbling experience to stand among those who have dedicated part of their lives to protecting our nation and safeguarding the freedoms we often take for granted.

The most significant public service anyone can offer is serving in the U.S. military. The bravery, discipline, and sense of duty that veterans bring into civilian life strengthen our communities. They serve as leaders in schools, churches, businesses, and local groups, continuing their legacy of service long after retiring from active duty. It is also important to remember the sacrifice made by the families of veterans, many of whom go long stretches without seeing their service member, spend many nights worrying about their safety, move throughout the U.S. and world, and ultimately provide critical support to our military members – during and after their time of service.

As your State Senator, I am committed to making sure that Nebraska continues to honor the service of our military members and their families, not just in words but through real actions. Our state has made significant progress recently to improve access to education, housing, and healthcare for veterans and their families. However, there is always more we can do to ensure that those who protect our freedoms have every chance to succeed when they come home.

While much of my work this fall has been focused on preparing legislation for the upcoming session, Veterans Day reminds us why public service is important. I hope everyone will take a moment to reflect on how they can serve in their own way, whether running for public office, volunteering time, donating to charitable causes, helping an elderly or disabled neighbor, or any service that aligns with your skills and talents.

The freedoms we enjoy in our democratic system are thanks to generations of veterans ready to defend them. This week, let’s take a moment to thank a veteran and reflect on the huge debt we owe to those who have served.

Thank you to our veterans for your courage, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication to the United States of America.

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.

Last week, I was invited to attend the celebration in Madrid related to the Mid America Agri Products/Wheatland (MAAPW) ethanol plant’s connection to the Tallgrass Trailblazer CO2 pipeline. This was the first ethanol plant to connect to the pipeline, and several more will be connected over the next several months. The late Robert (Bob) Lundeen and his wife, Sandy, were the founders of Mid America. It was always Bob’s vision to become the first customer to deliver CO2 to the pipeline for permanent sequestration in Wyoming. It was a privilege to see his vision unfold.

The Trailblazer pipeline will play a huge role in making locally produced ethanol more competitive in the low-carbon fuels market. Many end users insist on low-carbon fuels when purchasing products. Since the fermentation process used by ethanol plants produces high levels of CO2, finding a way to sequester the CO2 is key to getting the best value for the product. Using a pipeline to deliver the product to Wyoming, where many spent gas wells exist, you can safely store the CO2 below ground in a safe manner. This helps ensure that Nebraska’s ethanol plants will be competitive well into the future.

The local economic impact that MAAPW creates for the small village of Madrid and the surrounding agricultural area is significant. The plant directly employs over 40 workers and provides a competitive market into which farmers can sell their corn crop. Across the state, ethanol plants increase the price of corn by approximately 25 cents per bushel. When you combine this corn demand with the needs of area cattle feed yards, the price for corn is very strong. Additionally, the wet distillers’ grains, another byproduct of ethanol plants, are purchased by local cattle feeders to supplement cattle rations with a quality protein. source. A great example of adding value to locally produced corn, which then leaves the area as a biofuel and contributes to the local beef industry. This is how rural Nebraska fosters economic development: by generating taxable income and creating employment opportunities in rural areas.

Governor Pillen has often said that his vision for Nebraska is to export value-added products instead of sending our basic commodities out of the state. We can produce calves on our Sandhills ranches, feed them in our feed yards, use locally grown and produced feedstuffs throughout the state, and then process them in Nebraska packing plants. The Sustainable Beef facility is in North Platte because local feed yards finish cattle grown in the Sandhills. They have access to distillers’ grains and corn produced locally, which reduces shipping costs and ultimately lowers production costs. The local employment base continues to grow, which also increases the demand for housing and basic services for families. Ultimately, our tax base is increased as a result.

As happy as I was to be invited to attend the event, it seemed empty without Bob Lundeen there. He was a true visionary. But his wife, Sandy, and their family remain actively engaged in the business and fully committed to the vision Bob created.

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.

Weekly Article for Week of October 26, 2025

This past week was spent attending interim study public hearings and catching up with my staff.  I must say that I feel I have one of the best staffs in the Legislature.  Joshua Christolear is the legal counsel for the Banking Commerce and Insurance Committee and provides necessary help in review and drafting of committee bills.  He also coordinates communications with parties inquiring about committee issues and does research.  Tori Osborne is my LA and not only assists with constituent communications, but drafts bills I intend to introduce while doing research on all bills coming to the floor.  Her briefing books are incredible and provide me with important facts in each bill.  At one time she wrote floor speeches for me, but quickly learned that I do my own floor speeches by using her notes.  She is great!  Natalie Schunk is the committee clerk and runs the functions of the committee hearings and coordinates with Joshua and Tori to coordinate scheduling of bills to be heard in committee.  They then brief me before finalizing the schedule.  Finally, my AA is Kristina Konecko.  Kristina is involved in all aspects of the operation and is generally the one who answers your calls.  Kristina has been with me from the beginning and knows the district well.  They all work well as a team and do a great job keeping District 42 moving forward.  Their work this summer kept me on track as I went through my rehab.  They are great.

I get letters and emails from high school students asking a multitude of questions regarding serving as a state Senator.  One often asked question is why did you decide to run for the office?  The honest answer is it was not my intent to run, but ultimately, I felt compelled to run because it was a great way to protect the life, we all have built in District 42 and western Nebraska.  I soon found that I could make a difference in protecting that which was important to us and making certain that we don’t get left behind in receiving our share of state resources.

Senator Spivey introduced a legislative hearing LR240 which was designed to seek input on how we can coordinate economic development efforts that to reach all parts of Nebraska.  She represents a district in Northeast Omaha.  She and I have discussed many subjects this past year and look forward to working with the body next year to first lower our tax burden.  That is the best economic tool available. Letting people keep more of their money so they can decide how to spend it.  Given the current budget challenges, I believe any revenue increases will need to go to balance the budget.  Additionally, we must protect the Perkins County Canal funding at least until we get the Supreme court ruling.  Access to the water we have a right to is imperative to protect irrigators and water for the cooling pond at Sutherland.  We also must do all we can to help attract manufacturing and processing companies to locate at the new rail park.  With the Port of the Plains, we now can provide efficient rail service for manufactured or processed goods that need to be sent to the coast.  This combined with truck service down the interstate and air service can be an attraction to bringing companies here.  It can not only improve prices for locally grown grains and livestock products, but also provide producers with higher margins.  The increased tax base will also provide property tax relief.

It all begins with broadening our tax base and our employment base.  We already have the raw materials; we just need to add value.

Not all incentives need dollars, some may need reduced regulation and better access to water, electricity, air service, rail service, and the interstate.  We can provide most of those resources today.

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.

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.