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 all employees from the former department transition to the new one while retaining their rights under the state personnel system. The bill also nullifies any appropriations made to the Department of Natural Resources and reallocates those funds to the newly formed department. Additionally, various sections of the Revised Statutes are amended to reflect the new department's name and responsibilities, including provisions related to water sustainability and environmental management.
Key amendments include the replacement of the title "Director of Natural Resources" with "Chief Water Officer" throughout the statutes, centralizing authority for water management under this new position. The bill outlines the Chief Water Officer's responsibilities, including overseeing water appropriations, managing the Water Sustainability Fund, and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations. It also establishes guidelines for the allocation of funds, prioritizing projects that address federal mandates and improve water quality. The legislation aims to streamline operations, enhance the management of water, energy, and environmental resources, and ensure transparency and accountability in the allocation of resources for water-related projects.
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