On the final day of the legislature—in what is possibly his last speech to lawmakers before leaving office at the end of the year—Gov. Pete Ricketts today saluted state senators for passing what he called a series of "historic" and generation changing laws.

That list includes start-up work for a $500 million canal in the western part of the state which is aimed at stopping the State of Colorado from keeping water in the South Platte River from reaching Nebraska.

Also, plans for a 4,000 acre lake between Omaha and Lincoln and the financial groundwork for a new and highly controversial $300 million state prison.

Ricketts also applauded lawmakers for approving nearly $350 million for housing and economic growth in several underdeveloped areas of the state, most significantly north and south Omaha which are targeted to receive well over half the money, $255 million.

The one issue that might bring lawmakers back to Lincoln before the end of the year is abortion.

There is plenty of talk about a special session to ban abortions in Nebraska, should the US Supreme Court overturn Roe v Wade, a ruling that could come in the next few months.