With major issues on the table, the 105th Nebraska legislatives session began on Wednesday.
Lawmakers will have to deal with a roughly $900 million dollar budget shortfall, spending money on the prison system to expand some buildings and add staffing and funding to public education.
17 new state senators were sworn in and 14 committee heads were elected; in the officially non-partisian legislature 13 of the 14 committee are now lead by Republicans.
The new speaker of the legislature is now Sen. Jim Sheer from Norfolk.
Committee Chairs:
Agriculture: Sen. Lydia Brasch
Appropriations: Sen. John Stinner
Banking, Commerce and Insurance: Sen. Joni Albrecht
Education: Sen. Mike Groene
General Affairs: Sen. Tyson Larson
Government, Military and Veterans Affairs: Sen. John Murante
Health and Human Services: Sen. Merv Riepe
Judiciary: Sen. Laura Ebke
Natural Resources: Sen. Dan Hughes
Nebraska Retirement Systems: Sen. Mark Kolterman
Revenue: Sen. Jim Smith
Transportation and Telecommunications: Sen. Curt Friesen
Urban Affairs: Sen. Justin Wayne
The session lasts 90 days.
