LINCOLN - In her latest legislative column, State Sen. Julie Slama says she expects carry-over legislation to take up a ‘significant portion’ of the upcoming legislative session.

She said there has been an upswing in activity prior to the 60-day legislation session.

The first 10 days of the 108^th Legislature are allocated for new bills.

Slama is a new mother and will be chairman of the Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee.

Here is the senator's column:

As the festive season draws to an end, I wanted to take the time in this newsletter to update you on the upcoming 60-day “short session” of the 108th Legislature, beginning January 3, 2024. A shorter session, held in even-numbered years, consists of 60 working days and often runs until mid-April. In contrast, long sessions in odd-numbered years usually extend until mid-June.

During these past few months, we have seen an upswing of activity in the final quarter of the year, a period which is often referred to as the “interim” or the “pre-session.” This time is critical in laying the groundwork for the next legislative session. This includes extensive preparations, including interim hearings, and meetings with constituents, organizations, and any stakeholders. These activities, while not usually visible to the public, are essential for developing a well-rounded and responsive agenda for the upcoming legislative session.

During the upcoming 60-day “short session,” the initial ten days are allocated for the introduction of new legislation, which is a vital stage in setting our agenda and priorities. This time not only establishes the conditions for the introduction of new bills but also involves the balance of carry-over legislation from the previous session. It is typical (and expected) to have legislative discussions during these early days that revolve around procedural rules and revisiting legislation carried over from the previous year.

After the bill introduction phase, our focus will turn to a series of public committee hearings. These hearings are essential for enabling Nebraskans to express their views and actively interact with each new bill introduced in this short session.

As mentioned, a significant portion of our agenda will be devoted to addressing carry-over legislation. To recap, these are bills and resolutions that were introduced in the last session but have not yet been passed out of their retrospective committees or have not yet been finalized through the legislative body. As Chairman of the Banking, Commerce, and Insurance Committee, I will be addressing bills that carried over from the first session as well as any incoming bills that directly relate to my committee and its main concerns.

And finally, on a personal and joyful note, I wanted to take a moment to announce the birth of Andrew and I’s newborn son! His arrival fills our lives with an abundance of joy and optimism and serves as a beautiful reminder of the bright future we are striving for all the families in our state.

As always, I welcome your input on issues important to you. Follow along on my Facebook and Twitter pages, both entitled “Senator Julie Slama” for more updates, or contact me directly at Senator Julie Slama, District 1 State Capitol, PO Box 94604, Lincoln NE 68509-4604; telephone: 402-471-2733; email: jslama@leg.ne.gov.