Rep. Tom Brandt

Maddy summaryThis resolution (LR 159) proposes an interim study to examine how Nebraska’s nameplate capacity tax - currently $3,518 per megawatt - affects privately developed renewable energy facilities (like solar or wind farms). The study will analyze the tax’s impact on development, operations, and long-term viability since its 2010 implementation, including revenue collected and comparisons to other states. It will assess whether the tax rate still aligns with Nebraska’s energy goals, renewable development costs, and market changes, and evaluate potential impacts of adjusting the rate. The Natural Resources Committee will conduct the study and recommend whether the tax should stay the same, increase, or decrease.

Maddy summaryLB 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.

Maddy summaryLB 344 updates Nebraska's groundwater allocation rules, primarily affecting municipalities and commercial/industrial users in areas designated as "fully appropriated" or "overappropriated." It sets a January 1, 2026 deadline for new controls: municipal water use above 25 million gallons annually will require mitigation reports detailing water use and return volumes, while existing municipal allocations (as of 2005) remain valid unless amended. The bill also establishes a per capita water allowance (200-250 gallons/person/day, varying by location) for municipalities without prior allocations and mandates conservation plans for larger cities to qualify for exemptions. These changes aim to harmonize groundwater management under integrated plans while addressing future water demand.

Maddy summaryNebraska bill LB 562 revises fees and rules for permits issued by the Game and Parks Commission. It sets annual resident permits at a maximum of $35 (nonresident at $60), provides free disabled veteran permits for eligible Nebraskans (based on VA disability rating), and establishes a $5 fee for active-duty military permits. The bill also updates rules for electronic permit sales, temporary permits, and mountain sheep hunting permits, including auction procedures for limited permits. These changes directly affect hunters, veterans, active-duty military members, and permit sellers across Nebraska.

Maddy summaryNebraska'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.

Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution (LR 252) honors Erwin H. Schopp, a Nebraska resident and U.S. Army soldier who died as a prisoner of war in the Philippines during World War II. It formally thanks Schopp for his service to the United States and directs that a copy of the resolution be sent to his family. The resolution has no policy or financial impact - it is purely commemorative, recognizing Schopp’s sacrifice after he was accounted for by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in January 2025.

Maddy summaryNebraska's LB 246 prohibits the sale of cultivated-protein food products (lab-grown meat made from animal cells grown in labs) under the state's Pure Food Act. The bill amends food safety laws to explicitly classify these products as "adulterated food," making their sale illegal without new regulatory approval. It directly affects manufacturers and sellers of lab-grown meat products within Nebraska. The key mechanism adds "cultivated-protein food products" to the definition of adulterated food under Section 81-2,282, while linking violations to deceptive trade practices under Section 87-302. This creates an immediate legal barrier to selling such products under current food safety standards.

Maddy summaryLB 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.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (LR 223) proposes an interim study for the Natural Resources Committee to examine issues arising during the legislative break. It does not create new laws or directly affect residents, but authorizes the committee to investigate topics within its scope. The study will result in a final report with findings and recommendations for the Legislative Council or Legislature. The resolution is procedural, focused solely on gathering information, not implementing policy changes.

Maddy summaryLB 561 modifies Nebraska's vehicle length regulations to create a specific exception for raw milk transport. It adds Section 2(1)(k) to existing law, allowing "overweight raw-milk vehicles" to exceed standard length limits (typically 40-65 feet) when authorized under Section 4 of the bill. This directly affects dairy producers and transport companies moving raw milk, granting them flexibility for vehicle dimensions that would otherwise violate general length restrictions. The provision ensures raw milk vehicles can operate within legal limits without requiring separate permits for length compliance.