LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have kicked off a new session with 17 new members and a looming budget gap.
The projected $900 million shortfall is expected to dominate the 90-day legislative session that began Wednesday. Gov. Pete Ricketts will present his proposed budget and other priorities to lawmakers later in the month.
Lawmakers will also elect new leaders on Wednesday, including a speaker and committee chairmen. Sens. Jim Scheer of Norfolk and Matt Williams of Gothenburg are looking to replace outgoing Speaker Galen Hadley, of Kearney, who is leaving office because of term limits.
Seventeen new senators will be sworn into office, comprising more than one-third of the Legislature. They are replacing senators who were defeated or forced from office by term limits.
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