LINCOLN- Senators gave eight years' worth of advice to their peers, and lots of thanks to family, staff and constituents. Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha, who is leaving after 46 years and two terms in this stretch, did not choose to do a speech.

"So much of public service is choosing your words and choosing your battles," Senator Kate Bolz said, "but today, colleagues, I speak to you from my heart." "I want to leave you with this sincere request," she said. "Don't worship the false god of politics. Don't sacrifice at the altar of leverage. … And don't tell yourself that the ends justify the means and then ask yourself for forgiveness. We've seen too much of this. We've gone too far."

Sen. Sue Crawford of Bellevue said a critical lesson she learned was to build as many personal relationships with as many senators as possible. Sen. Rick Kolowski of Omaha, who spent 41 years in an education career before coming to the Legislature, found joy this session in that former work by spending time with middle school students from Prairie Hill School on their climate change resolution. Senator Howard asked for her fellow senators to be resilient, keep good humor, and to take care of themselves and each other.

Speaker Jim Scheer of Norfolk was the most emotional as he spoke to senators and thanked his wife and family. "It's been a wonderful eight years," he said.

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