Friends, after my first session in the #NELeg, I wanted to share reflections about the highlights that come to mind for me. It went by in an a flash, with high intensity up to the end. The high points from this session that come to mind are...

1/

Banning revenge porn in Nebraska
Banning the shackling of pregnant inmates
Ending solitary confinement for those who are pregnant, developmentally disabled, or living with severe mental illness

Passing LB405, my nice little bill to update NE's building energy codes. Not splashy, but policy that will have positive long term effects on sustainability & energy efficiency in our state. Thanks to this bill, Nebraska now has the most progressive energy code in the country.

Speaking in the rotunda to hundreds of cheering, fired up, impassioned Nebraskans at the abortion rights rally as more states pass stricter limits on reproductive rights. I cannot describe the strength of the energy that day and how much that sustained me going forward.

Answering questions from so many groups of children from local elementary schools, and speaking to high schoolers and college students about engaging with local government. I wish I could do it every day.

Legalizing the farming of industrialized hemp--seriously so cool for Nebraska. Congratulations to my colleague Senator Justin Wayne who worked SO hard on that.

Both veto overrides - one to help Gage County pay off a federal judgment (which was very fair and hard-fought), and one to allow the formation of a regional transit authority in metropolitan Omaha (which we seriously need!)

Cartwheeling down the aisle after we adjourned one night at 11:40 pm (whatever, nothing matters at 11:41 when you adjourn at 11:40)

Putting up a tireless and well-reasoned fight to protect the doctor-patient relationship and defend access to reproductive healthcare--honestly, it was conditioning for what's to come next year and we know that.

Watch me pop off here:

Getting to speak personally to Nebraskans with real problems, who face real hardships, + finding ways to give them real help at an individual level
Making friends + socializing w my colleagues--especially ones I didn't expect to become close to
My friendship with Ernie

My staff, Deena and Kristina, are stars. They own our success, and the care they take with constituents, research on bills, and preparation for committee, floor debate, and events is what makes me so excited to come to work every day. I am lucky to have them (and so are you!)

Overall, I can say with pride that I didn't leave anything on the table, I picked my battles, and I did as much as I could. I balanced the firmness of my convictions with doing what's best for my district and for Nebraska. And I did this as part of a team of 49 senators + staff.

So, thanks for trusting me to make tough choices on your behalf. I'm know I'm elected for a good time, not a long time, and this is the privilege of my life.

And to those of you who aren't in my beautiful home state of Nebraska, please come visit and be my guest in Omaha! You will fall in love with this wide open space and with the people I have promised my future to. There is no place--and no Legislature--like Nebraska.

~fin~