This bill allocates state funding to support the implementation of Legislative Bill 759, which addresses environmental management issues. It directs $830,000 from the Department of Water, Energy, and Environment Cash Fund for two fiscal years to fund Program 334, and an additional $600,000 from livestock and solid waste management funds for Program 513. The money is restricted from being used for employee salaries and per diems, ensuring it supports program operations rather than personnel costs. These appropriations enable the Department of Water, Energy, and Environment to carry out the specific provisions established in the related environmental legislation.
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.
Nebraska's LB 36 establishes the Safe Battery Collection and Recycling Act, requiring producers of covered batteries (excluding medical devices, vehicle batteries, and certain electronics) to join designated battery stewardship organizations by January 1, 2028. These organizations must meet recycling efficiency targets for collected batteries, with penalties for noncompliance. The bill also creates a Home Weatherization Clearinghouse to support energy efficiency programs and includes provisions for mitigating habitat impacts on threatened or endangered species. It modifies water recreation, groundwater allocation, and Game and Parks Commission permit rules but focuses primarily on battery recycling requirements for producers and retailers.
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 bill proposes merging Nebraska's Department of Natural Resources and Department of Environment and Energy into a single Department of Water, Energy, and Environment. It creates a new Chief Water Officer position and updates agency powers related to water management, conservation, state game refuges, and low-level radioactive waste disposal. The bill directly affects state agencies and officials responsible for environmental and natural resource management by restructuring their oversight framework. Key changes include consolidating departmental functions under one name and clarifying responsibilities for specific resource areas. The bill focuses on organizational structure rather than new funding or regulatory policies.
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.
This bill requires Nebraska electric utilities to provide service to customers who own small on-farm renewable energy systems (≤100 kilowatts) used for agricultural purposes, such as solar or wind installations. It specifically applies to systems that don’t connect to the grid for net metering and must be located on the same property as the farm’s electric account. Utilities must serve these customers but can still require compliance with safety standards, interconnection rules, and standard rates. The bill ensures grid access for qualifying farm systems without altering utility rate structures or creating new financial incentives.
Nebraska Legislative Bill 167 extends the termination date of the Nebraska Litter Reduction and Recycling Act from September 30, 2025, to September 30, 2030. This change directly affects the state's litter reduction program and the requirements established under the Act, allowing it to continue operating for five additional years. The bill amends the existing law to require the department to complete a review of the program's effectiveness at least six months before the new termination date, ensuring continued evaluation of its impact. This procedural adjustment maintains the Act's framework without altering its core requirements or creating new obligations.
