Key legislators
Who's moving environment in Nebraska
Showing 41–43 of 43
bills
All environment bills
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.
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 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.
