This legislative bill proposes the establishment of the Department of Water, Energy, and Environment by merging the existing Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Environment and Energy, effective July 1, 2025. The bill introduces the position of Chief Water Officer, who will oversee water management and retain the authorities previously held by the Director of Natural Resources. It outlines the appointment procedures for the Chief Water Officer and ensures that employees from the former departments transition to the new department while maintaining their rights under the state personnel system. The bill also includes various amendments to existing statutes, changing references from the Department of Natural Resources to the newly formed department and repealing obsolete provisions.
Additionally, the bill establishes a comprehensive framework for managing water resources, including the creation of the Water Sustainability Fund and the Critical Infrastructure Facilities Cash Fund, which will support specific water-related projects. It emphasizes the importance of public participation in decision-making processes and mandates the development of integrated management plans to address water availability issues. The bill also addresses environmental concerns, such as groundwater contamination and solid waste management, by enhancing regulatory oversight and establishing funds for remediation efforts. Overall, the legislation aims to streamline operations, improve accountability, and enhance the management of Nebraska's water, energy, 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