Erdman Edition: 100th Legislature, Second Session Convenes

The 100th Legislature, Second Session, convened on Wednesday, January 9th. This is the "short session" as set by the Nebraska Constitution. The Constitution requires sixty day sessions in even-numbered years and ninety day sessions in odd-numbered years. Legislative days are working days and not calendar days.

As of the end of the first week 194 bills have been introduced to go along with the 307 carryover bills from last year. Debate will begin on carryover legislation on Monday, January 14th.

I am honored to continue serving as the Chair of the Agriculture Committee. I will also continue to be a member of the General Affairs, Health and Human Services, and Nebraska Retirement Systems committees. In addition to these standing committees, I also serve on the Executive Board of the Legislature, which is also the Reference Committee, and the Rules Committee.

To begin this year's Erdman Editions, I thought I would remind you of some key points regarding our legislative process. Nebraska is the only state with a one house legislative system called a Unicameral. The Unicameral has 49 members, called senators, who are elected on a nonpartisan basis. Currently, each district has approximately 34,000 residents. Half of the senators are up for election every two years. Senators must be registered voters, at least 21 years old and have lived in the district they seek to represent for at least one year prior to the general election. Senators are limited to two consecutive four year terms, which were enacted in 2000. Twenty current senators replaced state senators that were term limited in 2006, and an additional fifteen state senators will be replaced in 2008 due to term limits, of which I am one.

Nebraska's Constitution sets the current salaries of the senators, which is $1000 a month or $12,000 per year. Senators receive no benefits, such as health insurance or retirement, other than a per diem for living expenses during session. The last increase in senators' salaries was 1988. Prior to that, salaries were $400 a month or $4800 per year.

Finally, here is a quick overview of how a bill becomes a law. After a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee, which is a group of senators who conduct public hearings on bills. In Nebraska, every bill that is introduced has a public hearing. If a bill is advanced from committee it is placed on General File where the bill is debated, amendments offered, and if a majority of senators approve, it advances to the next round. If it does not advance, it remains on General File. Between General and Select File, the bill is reviewed for technical changes and placed on Select File, or the second reading of the bill. Select File follows the same process as General File but the bill is advanced by voice vote. Between Select File and Final Reading it is again reviewed and printed in its final form for final reading. If the bill passes on final reading, it goes to the Governor. The Governor has the power to veto or sign the bill into law. If the Governor vetoes the bill, the Legislature may override or uphold the veto. If the Governor chooses to neither sign nor veto the bill, it will become law within five days.

As we begin this new legislative session, your input and involvement is essential. Please contact me, toll free at 1-866-800-7445, by mail at: State Capitol, District 47, PO Box 94604, Lincoln, NE 68509, or by email at perdman@leg.ne.gov.