This legislative bill proposes the merger of the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Environment and Energy into a new entity called the Department of Water, Energy, and Environment, effective July 1, 2025. The bill introduces the position of Chief Water Officer, who will assume the responsibilities previously held by the Director of Natural Resources. It ensures that employees from the former departments transition to the new department while retaining their rights under the state personnel system. The bill also reallocates appropriations from the Department of Natural Resources to the newly formed department and amends various sections of the Revised Statutes to reflect the changes in department names and responsibilities.
Additionally, the bill emphasizes the importance of efficient water and environmental management by streamlining functions and updating terminology throughout the statutes. It establishes new funding mechanisms, such as the Water Resources Cash Fund and the Water Sustainability Fund, and outlines the criteria for grant applications and project funding. The bill also mandates collaboration with state agencies and institutions to enhance water program planning and funding, while ensuring accountability and oversight in the management of Nebraska's water resources. Overall, the amendments aim to improve the governance and operational efficiency of water management in the state.
Statutes affected: Introduced: 2-408, 2-414, 2-415, 2-416, 2-969, 2-1501, 2-1504, 2-1507, 2-1508, 2-1509, 2-1510, 2-1511, 2-1588, 2-1592, 2-1593, 2-1594, 2-1595, 2-2626, 2-3202, 2-3225, 2-3241, 2-3254, 2-3279, 2-3280, 2-4602, 2-4603, 2-4604, 2-4901, 13-1701, 13-2008, 13-2009, 13-2042.01, 19-1201, 19-1202, 19-1203, 19-1204, 19-5706, 25-1062.01, 25-1064, 25-1920, 25-2159, 25-2160, 31-415, 31-508, 31-509, 31-515, 31-516, 31-1003, 31-1015, 37-707, 37-708.01, 37-806, 37-814, 46-106, 46-122, 46-190, 46-192, 46-193, 46-205, 46-226.02, 46-226.03, 46-229, 46-229.02, 46-229.04, 46-229.06, 46-230, 46-233, 46-233.01, 46-235, 46-250, 46-252, 46-254, 46-256, 46-258, 46-261, 46-263.02, 46-273, 46-286, 46-288, 46-289, 46-290, 46-291, 46-292, 46-293, 46-294, 46-294.01, 46-294.02, 46-294.05, 46-296, 46-302, 46-303, 46-304, 46-305, 46-312, 46-315, 46-514, 46-583, 46-601.01, 46-602, 46-604, 46-606, 46-609, 46-610, 46-613.01, 46-613.02, 46-637, 46-638, 46-639, 46-640, 46-641, 46-642, 46-644, 46-645, 46-648, 46-649, 46-653, 46-654, 46-655.01, 46-676, 46-677, 46-678, 46-679, 46-680, 46-682, 46-683, 46-683.01, 46-684, 46-685, 46-686, 46-686.01, 46-688, 46-691, 46-703, 46-704, 46-705, 46-706, 46-707, 46-709, 46-711, 46-712, 46-713, 46-714, 46-715, 46-716, 46-717, 46-718, 46-719, 46-720, 46-721, 46-722, 46-723, 46-724, 46-725, 46-726, 46-728, 46-729, 46-730, 46-731, 46-732, 46-733, 46-736, 46-737, 46-739, 46-740, 46-742, 46-743, 46-745, 46-746, 46-748, 46-749, 46-750, 46-751, 46-753, 46-754, 46-801, 46-802, 46-803, 46-804, 46-1001, 46-1011, 46-1102, 46-1108, 46-1109, 46-1204.01, 46-1207, 46-1217, 46-1222, 46-1224, 46-1235, 46-1301, 46-1304, 46-1403, 46-1404, 46-1502, 46-1613, 46-1614, 46-1641, 46-1642, 46-1669, 49-506, 49-617, 54-2417, 54-2421, 54-2429, 54-2430, 54-2940, 57-1407, 57-1502, 57-1609, 57-1614, 57-1619, 58-202, 58-221, 61-201, 61-202, 61-203, 61-204, 61-205, 61-206, 61-207, 61-208, 61-209, 61-210, 61-211, 61-215, 61-216, 61-218, 61-222, 61-224, 61-226, 61-227, 61-228, 61-303, 61-305, 61-401, 61-403, 61-404, 61-405, 61-502, 61-520, 66-203, 66-204, 66-301, 66-302, 66-303, 66-304, 66-489.02, 66-1004, 66-1009, 66-1105, 66-1344, 66-1504, 66-1518, 66-1529.02, 66-2001, 66-2201, 66-2216, 69-2011, 69-2502, 70-669, 70-1003, 71-2433, 71-3503, 71-3508.04, 71-3524, 71-5301, 71-5316, 71-5328, 71-6406, 72-804, 72-805, 76-2602, 76-2608, 77-3442, 81-101, 81-102, 81-502, 81-829.05, 81-1108.55, 81-1316, 81-1502, 81-1503, 81-1537, 81-1540, 81-1561, 81-1566, 81-1604, 81-1606, 81-1607, 81-1609, 81-1611, 81-1612, 81-1625, 81-1635, 81-1636, 81-1637, 81-1638, 81-1640, 81-3449, 81-3453, 84-166, 84-602.04, 85-162.03, 86-570, 88-550