This bill amends section 46-740 of the Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska to update provisions related to groundwater allocation and the use of integrated management plans, rules, or orders. It establishes that if groundwater allocation for irrigation is adopted in a management area, it must be distributed equally per irrigated acre, with the possibility for users to average their allocation over time. The bill also clarifies that allocations made to municipalities before November 1, 2005, will remain effective but can be amended by the relevant natural resources district. New provisions specify that starting January 1, 2026, any new or expanded commercial or industrial user that exceeds a water use of twenty-five million gallons annually will be subject to the controls of an integrated management plan and must provide a mitigation report to the natural resources district.

Additionally, the bill introduces a requirement for annual water use and consumption reporting from municipalities in areas deemed fully appropriated or overappropriated. It modifies the conditions under which nonmunicipal commercial or industrial users can utilize groundwater, ensuring that any increases in consumptive use that lead to decreased streamflow are managed according to the integrated management plan. The bill repeals the original section 46-740, thereby consolidating and updating the legal framework governing groundwater use in Nebraska.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 46-740