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 includes significant changes such as renaming the director positions, with the Director of Environment and Energy becoming the Director of Water, Energy, and Environment, and the Director of Natural Resources being renamed the Chief Water Officer. It ensures that employees from the Department of Natural Resources transition to the new department while retaining their rights under the state personnel system. The bill also nullifies appropriations and salary limits for the Department of Natural Resources, transferring those funds to the new department, and amends various statutes to reflect this restructuring.
Additionally, the bill outlines the responsibilities of the Chief Water Officer, who will oversee water management, including the administration of programs aimed at improving water quality and sustainability. It establishes new provisions for funding applications from the Water Sustainability Fund, prioritizing projects that address drinking water quality and ensuring equitable distribution of funds. The bill also emphasizes the importance of public involvement in decision-making processes and mandates collaboration with various state agencies to enhance the effectiveness of water-related programs. Overall, the legislation aims to streamline operations, improve accountability, and enhance the management of water resources and environmental initiatives in Nebraska.
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