LB 815 imposes a 9.5-cent-per-gallon tax on diesel fuels, effective January 1, 2019, which must be paid by fuel producers, suppliers, and distributors. It changes the rules for refunding motor fuel taxes and eliminates the Ethanol Production Incentive Cash Fund, which previously provided financial support to ethanol producers. The bill also modifies or removes several provisions from the Ethanol Development Act that governed ethanol-related tax programs. Additionally, it repeals multiple sections of existing law related to fuel taxes and ethanol incentives.
LB 207 creates a tiered registration fee for alternative fuel vehicles under Nebraska's Motor Vehicle Registration Act. It charges a base $150 fee for most alternative fuel vehicles (reduced to $75 for motorcycles and plug-in hybrids), but imposes a three-times higher fee ($450) for commercially registered vehicles over 7,500 lbs gross weight. The revenue from these fees is directed to the Highway Trust Fund. This bill directly affects commercial fleet operators using alternative fuel vehicles weighing more than 7,500 pounds, modifying their registration costs under existing law.
LB 35 amends a regulation governing exemptions for privately developed renewable energy projects in Nebraska. It changes the reference from "7.4" to "791.4" as it existed on January 1, 2025, for facilities like rooftop solar or small wind installations seeking certain regulatory exemptions. This bill directly affects private developers of small-scale renewable energy generation who rely on these exemptions to avoid specific permitting or grid connection requirements. The change is procedural, updating which specific rule applies but not altering the exemption criteria or eligibility itself. The bill remains in the Natural Resources Committee with no further action taken as of the provided date.
LB 36A is an appropriation bill that allocates specific funds from the Waste Reduction and Recycling Incentive Fund to the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy. It provides $51,585 for fiscal year 2025-26 and $109,036 for 2026-27 to support Program 513, directly funding the implementation of Legislative Bill 36. The bill includes spending limits: total salary and per diem costs cannot exceed $30,264 for 2025-26 or $63,554 for 2026-27. This funding mechanism ensures resources are available for the waste reduction program outlined in LB 36, without changing laws or affecting the public directly.
This legislative resolution (LR 17) approves the Game and Parks Commission's intent to incorporate Camp Augustine - a 156-acre campground owned by the city of Grand Island - into Nebraska's state park system, specifically alongside Mormon Island State Recreation Area. It does not create new park facilities but authorizes the Commission to pursue this partnership with Grand Island, subject to cost approval through the normal budget process. The resolution requires that any costs for incorporation be covered by separate legislative budget approvals, not existing funds. This is a procedural step required by state law before the Commission can move forward with the partnership.
LB 247 changes fees for solid waste disposal and adjusts how those fees are distributed. It sets a $1.34 fee per 6 cubic yards of uncompacted waste (or equivalent per ton) paid quarterly by landfill operators and waste processing facilities. Fifty percent of collected fees will fund emergency response and cleanup under the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act, while the other 50% will support local waste reduction grants and reimbursements for cleanup at dump sites. The bill also updates the Petroleum Release Remedial Action Cash Fund to clarify its funding sources and uses for environmental remediation.
