This legislative bill amends various sections of the Nebraska Revised Statutes to enhance environmental management and regulation. Notable changes include the establishment of the Integrated Solid Waste Management Cash Fund and the new Water Quality and Quantity Cash Fund, which will collect fees to support regulatory activities. The bill increases the water well registration fee from forty dollars to two hundred dollars and modifies the membership of the Water Well Standards and Contractors' Licensing Board to include a Chief Water Officer. Local governments are mandated to regulate swimming pools, recreation camps, and mobile home parks, while certain obsolete provisions and the Environmental Safety Cash Fund are eliminated. Additionally, the bill introduces civil penalties for violations under the Nebraska Geologic Storage of Carbon Dioxide Act, which can range from two thousand five hundred to ten thousand dollars per day, and specifies that violations can result in a Class I misdemeanor if committed knowingly and willfully.

The bill also updates the responsibilities of the Department of Water, Energy, and Environment, including its authority over the Perkins County Canal Project and the management of environmental regulations. It establishes a comprehensive permit and registration system for underground storage tanks, mandates local governments to enforce health and safety standards for swimming pools and recreation camps, and allows them to impose their own penalties for non-compliance. Furthermore, the bill creates the Home Weatherization Clearinghouse to improve access to weatherization programs and introduces regulations for battery stewardship, including the establishment of a battery stewardship organization. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance environmental protection and public health through stricter regulations, improved oversight, and better coordination between state and local authorities.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 46-1217, 58-712, 61-303, 73-813, 81-1561, 81-1586, 81-1587
Final Reading: 13-2041, 46-606, 46-1217, 54-2428, 57-1601, 57-1620, 58-712, 61-303, 73-813, 81-502, 81-1505, 81-1532, 81-1561, 81-1586, 81-1587
Slip Law: 13-2041, 46-606, 46-1217, 54-2428, 57-1601, 57-1620, 58-712, 61-303, 73-813, 81-502, 81-1505, 81-1532, 81-1561, 81-1586, 81-1587