This legislative bill proposes the merger of the Department of Natural Resources with the Department of Environment and Energy, resulting in the establishment of 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 department transition to the new one while retaining their rights under the state personnel system. The bill also nullifies appropriations made to the Department of Natural Resources and reallocates those funds to the newly formed department. Additionally, it amends various statutes to reflect the new department's name and responsibilities, including the establishment of programs aimed at enhancing water and environmental resource management.
Key provisions of the bill include the Chief Water Officer's authority to oversee water rights, manage water appropriations, and ensure compliance with environmental regulations. The bill emphasizes the importance of public interest in water management decisions and establishes guidelines for funding applications, prioritizing projects that improve drinking water, particularly for federally recognized Indian tribes. It also introduces new provisions for programs such as the Nitrogen Reduction Incentive Program and establishes the Water Sustainability Fund to support water management initiatives. Overall, the bill aims to streamline operations, enhance regulatory oversight, and improve the management of Nebraska's water and environmental resources.
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
Final Reading: 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, 46-226.01, 46-226.02, 46-226.03, 46-227, 46-229, 46-229.01, 46-229.02, 46-229.03, 46-229.04, 46-229.05, 46-229.06, 46-230, 46-231, 46-233, 46-233.01, 46-234, 46-235, 46-235.01, 46-235.02, 46-235.03, 46-235.04, 46-236, 46-237, 46-238, 46-240.01, 46-241, 46-242, 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, 46-297, 46-302, 46-303, 46-304, 46-305, 46-312, 46-315, 46-514, 46-515, 46-516, 46-517, 46-518, 46-519, 46-521, 46-522, 46-524, 46-525, 46-526, 46-527, 46-528, 46-529, 46-530, 46-536, 46-541, 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, 46-744, 46-745, 46-746, 46-748, 46-749, 46-750, 46-751, 46-753, 46-754, 46-755, 46-801, 46-802, 46-803, 46-804, 46-1001, 46-1004, 46-1005, 46-1011, 46-1023, 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, 46-1605, 46-1606, 46-1607, 46-1611, 46-1613, 46-1614, 46-1636, 46-1637, 46-1639, 46-1640, 46-1641, 46-1642, 46-1645, 46-1646, 46-1647, 46-1648, 46-1649, 46-1650, 46-1651, 46-1652, 46-1653, 46-1654, 46-1655, 46-1656, 46-1657, 46-1658, 46-1659, 46-1660, 46-1661, 46-1662, 46-1663, 46-1664, 46-1665, 46-1666, 46-1667, 46-1668, 46-1669, 46-1670, 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, 81-1604, 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
Slip Law: 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, 46-226.01, 46-226.02, 46-226.03, 46-227, 46-229, 46-229.01, 46-229.02, 46-229.03, 46-229.04, 46-229.05, 46-229.06, 46-230, 46-231, 46-233, 46-233.01, 46-234, 46-235, 46-235.01, 46-235.02, 46-235.03, 46-235.04, 46-236, 46-237, 46-238, 46-240.01, 46-241, 46-242, 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, 46-297, 46-302, 46-303, 46-304, 46-305, 46-312, 46-315, 46-514, 46-515, 46-516, 46-517, 46-518, 46-519, 46-521, 46-522, 46-524, 46-525, 46-526, 46-527, 46-528, 46-529, 46-530, 46-536, 46-541, 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, 46-744, 46-745, 46-746, 46-748, 46-749, 46-750, 46-751, 46-753, 46-754, 46-755, 46-801, 46-802, 46-803, 46-804, 46-1001, 46-1004, 46-1005, 46-1011, 46-1023, 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, 46-1605, 46-1606, 46-1607, 46-1611, 46-1613, 46-1614, 46-1636, 46-1637, 46-1639, 46-1640, 46-1641, 46-1642, 46-1645, 46-1646, 46-1647, 46-1648, 46-1649, 46-1650, 46-1651, 46-1652, 46-1653, 46-1654, 46-1655, 46-1656, 46-1657, 46-1658, 46-1659, 46-1660, 46-1661, 46-1662, 46-1663, 46-1664, 46-1665, 46-1666, 46-1667, 46-1668, 46-1669, 46-1670, 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, 81-1604, 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