DeKay will serve on new committees

Wednesday, Jan. 8 marked the first day of the 109th legislature, First Session. This session also marks the beginning of the third year that I am serving as the representative of the 40th Legislative District. The 40th District covers Antelope, Cedar, Holt and Knox counties, as well as the northern portions of both Dixon and Pierce counties.

This legislature has sixteen new faces. Also returning to the Unicameral is Senator Dan Quick who previously served from 2017-2021. Almost a third of the 49 senators in the body will have little to no prior legislative experience. Having met most of the incoming freshman senators, however, I feel fairly confident that we will have a fairly good group of new senators ready to learn the ropes.

Following brief ceremonial activities, senators got right to work deciding the leadership of the legislature and its committees. Sen. John Arch was reelected speaker while Sen. Ben Hansen was elected chair of the executive board. Six committee chairmanship races were contested between two senators. Notably, Sen. Dave Murman secured reelection as chair of the Education Committee against Senator Jana Hughes while Sen. Brian Hardin beat out Sen. Merv Riepe to serve as chair of the Health and Human Services Committee. I was the sole declared candidate for the position of chair of the Agriculture Committee and was elected via a unanimous vote by acclamation. I appreciate my colleagues for allowing me to work to address policy issues impacting farms and ranches in this state.

The speaker provided a brief outline of the tentative 2025 session schedule. The legislature will meet as a body in the mornings beginning Jan. 22 to debate potential changes to the permanent rules. Committee hearings will also begin January 22 in the afternoons and continue through the end of March. In the Nebraska Unicameral, every bill is referenced to a committee based on the subject matter and is guaranteed a hearing, allowing the public to testify in support or opposition to the legislation. Debate on legislation is tentatively set to start on Jan. 29 as bills get reported out from committee. Full day floor debate will begin March 31 and will continue until the legislature adjourns for the year, with is tentatively scheduled for June 9.

I would also like to address some housekeeping matters. First, my office has moved to Room 1022 on the first floor of the northwest side of the Capitol.

Second, I will now have a third person in my office: longtime research analyst to the Agriculture Committee Rick Leonard. Rick has served in his role for multiple previous senators, including former District 40 Senator “Cap” Dierks of Ewing. Leonard will be responsible for reviewing legislation referenced to the Agriculture Committee and serving as a resource to the legislature for policy matters relating to agriculture. My existing staff, Drake Jones as my administrative aide and Turner Adams as my legislative aide; both will continue to serve in their current respective capacities. Drake will answer the phone and is responsible for my schedule while Turner will work on my legislation.

Third and finally, the Committee on Committees has slated me to move to entirely new committees these next two years. In my first two years, I served on the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee and the Judiciary Committee. This year, in addition to serving on the Agriculture Committee, I am set to serve on the General Affairs Committee and the Natural Resources Committee. I am looking forward to my new committee assignments since they better align with my experiences as a farmer/rancher and prior service in the public power industry.

Contacting my office and hearing insights from you is always appreciated. Call my Capitol office telephone number at 402-471-2801 or send email to [email protected]. My mailing address is: Senator Barry DeKay, District #40, P.O. Box 94604, State Capitol, Lincoln, NE 68509.