LINCOLN- State lawmakers will convene at Nebraska Innovation Campus this week for two days of meetings designed to set the table for the 60-day legislative session scheduled to begin in January. But unlike previous Legislative Councils, where discussions have centered on water infrastructure or Nebraska’s changing demographics, this year’s retreat will focus on the Legislature itself.

As Speaker John Arch of La Vista put it, the focus will be more on process than policy. “We’ve got some opportunities to improve the institution of the Legislature,” Arch said. “The agenda that we’re talking through is a systems agenda, not a policy agenda.” Following the contentious 2023 session, Arch said the Legislature would undergo major changes.

“It’s a short session, so there’s not a lot of time for heavy lifting on major policy issues,” Arch said. “I saw this as an opportunity to address things that need to be addressed.” Following the meeting, senators are expected to begin discussing possible rules changes that could be debated early in the upcoming session. The 108th Legislature is scheduled to convene for its short session on Jan. 3.

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