LINCOLN- The previous Legislative session of 2020 will not be forgotten by the senator's or constituents alike. It was marked by many contentious bills and debates, but also the pandemic. The virus halted progress in the legislature for months. Once the senators reconvened in late July, there had been many changes both socially and financially. However, through all of the hardships of the pandemic, over 280 bills passed into law before adjournment last Thursday.

What will certainly be remembered through history is that two sessions of the Nebraska Legislature took place in 2020.One happened in what some call the "Beforetime," beginning in January with fairly normal half-day debates, hearings and committee sessions.Then the world changed, literally. On March 16, Speaker Jim Scheer announced the Legislature was taking a break because of the COVID-19 pandemic, triggered by one confirmed case in Lincoln determined to be community-spread. Senators weren't coming back, he said, until further notice, eventually stretching for 4 months.

The Legislature adjourned at the end of the 17-day session extension Thursday afternoon, the last session for 46-year veteran Ernie Chambers, and five others: Sens. Kate Bolz of Lincoln, Sara Howard of Omaha, Sue Crawford of Bellevue, Rick Kolowski of Omaha and Scheer of Norfolk.

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