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NE·Bill·109th Legislature (2025-2026)

LB 317

Signed into Law

Merge the Department of Natural Resources with the Department of Environment and Energy and change the name to the Department of Water, Energy, and Environment, create the position of Chief Water Officer, and provide, change, and eliminate powers and duties relating to water, conservation, state game refuges, and low-level radioactive waste disposal

Introduced 2025-01-16Last action 2025-05-06 — Approved by Governor on May 6, 2025Committee Natural Resources

Sponsor

BrandtN

Cosponsors

None
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Signed into Law

Legislative Progress

✓
Introduced
✓
In Committee
✓
Passed Chamber
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Enacted / Signed

Votes

Floor2025-05-01PassedSee how each member voted →
Passed on Final Reading with Emergency Clause 34-12-3
Yea 34 · 34 otherNay 12 · 12 otherNV 0 · Absent 3
Floor2025-04-22FailedSee how each member voted →
Cavanaugh, J. AM1133 lost
Yea 13 · 13 otherNay 33 · 33 otherNV 3 · Absent 0
Floor2025-04-22FailedSee how each member voted →
Cavanaugh, J. FA117 lost
Yea 12 · 12 otherNay 29 · 29 otherNV 8 · Absent 0
Floor2025-04-22PassedSee how each member voted →
Storer FA116 adopted
Yea 46 · 46 otherNay 0NV 2 · Absent 1
Floor2025-04-22PassedSee how each member voted →
Conrad AM1124 adopted
Yea 34 · 34 otherNay 8 · 8 otherNV 6 · Absent 1
Floor2025-04-22PassedSee how each member voted →
Brandt AM1084 adopted
Yea 36 · 36 otherNay 0NV 11 · Absent 2
Floor2025-04-22FailedSee how each member voted →
Cavanaugh, M. MO183 failed
Yea 1 · 1 otherNay 29 · 29 otherNV 15 · Absent 4
Floor2025-04-02PassedSee how each member voted →
Advanced to Enrollment and Review Initial
Yea 31 · 31 otherNay 2 · 2 otherNV 13 · Absent 3
Floor2025-04-02PassedSee how each member voted →
Natural Resources AM711 adopted
Yea 30 · 30 otherNay 4 · 4 otherNV 12 · Absent 3

Summary

This bill reorganizes Nebraska's state government by merging the Department of Natural Resources with the Department of Environment and Energy to create a new Department of Water, Energy, and Environment, headed by a Director. The legislation establishes a new position of Chief Water Officer, who must be either a professional engineer licensed under the Engineers and Architects Regulation Act or a professional geologist under the Geologists Regulation Act. The amendments shown make technical corrections throughout existing statutes to reflect this departmental reorganization, updating references from the old department names to the new consolidated department and specifying the qualifications and appointment process for the Chief Water Officer position.

Bill history

  1. 2025-01-16 · House
    Date of introduction
  2. 2025-01-21 · House
    Referred to Natural Resources Committee
  3. 2025-02-06 · House
    Notice of hearing for February 13, 2025
  4. 2025-03-12 · House
    Natural Resources priority bill
  5. 2025-03-27 · House
    Placed on General File with AM711
  6. 2025-03-27 · House
    Natural Resources AM711 filed
  7. 2025-04-02 · House
    Natural Resources AM711 adopted
  8. 2025-04-02 · House
    Advanced to Enrollment and Review Initial
  9. 2025-04-10 · House
    Placed on Select File with ER36
  10. 2025-04-10 · House
    Enrollment and Review ER36 filed
  11. 2025-04-14 · House
    Brandt AM1035 to ER36 filed
  12. 2025-04-17 · House
    Brandt AM1084 to ER36 filed
  13. 2025-04-17 · House
    Cavanaugh, M. MO183 Bracket until May 5, 2025 filed
  14. 2025-04-22 · House
    Enrollment and Review ER36 adopted
  15. 2025-04-22 · House
    Cavanaugh, M. MO183 pending
  16. 2025-04-22 · House
    Cavanaugh, M. MO183 failed
  17. 2025-04-22 · House
    Brandt AM1035 withdrawn
  18. 2025-04-22 · House
    Brandt AM1084 adopted
  19. 2025-04-22 · House
    Conrad AM1124 filed
  20. 2025-04-22 · House
    Conrad AM1124 adopted
  21. 2025-04-22 · House
    Storer FA116 filed
  22. 2025-04-22 · House
    Storer FA116 adopted
  23. 2025-04-22 · House
    Cavanaugh, J. AM1133 filed
  24. 2025-04-22 · House
    Cavanaugh, J. FA117 to AM1133 filed
  25. 2025-04-22 · House
    Cavanaugh, J. FA117 lost
  26. 2025-04-22 · House
    Cavanaugh, J. AM1133 lost
  27. 2025-04-22 · House
    Advanced to Enrollment and Review for Engrossment
  28. 2025-04-29 · House
    Placed on Final Reading with ST29
  29. 2025-04-29 · House
    Enrollment and Review ST29 filed
  30. 2025-04-29 · House
    Enrollment and Review ST29 recorded
  31. 2025-05-01 · House
    Dispensing of reading at large approved
  32. 2025-05-01 · House
    Passed on Final Reading with Emergency Clause 34-12*-3
  33. 2025-05-01 · House
    President/Speaker signed
  34. 2025-05-01 · House
    Presented to Governor on May 1, 2025
  35. 2025-05-06 · House
    Approved by Governor on May 6, 2025

Note

Historical import. Session: 109

Full Bill Text
https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/AM/AM1084.pdf
View full text →