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Bill would merge Nebraska natural-resources and environment agencies; would change appointments and statutory powers
Summary
Legislative Bill 317, introduced at the governor's request, would merge the Department of Natural Resources with the Department of Environment and Energy, rename the consolidated department, create a new director appointment process and position, transfer and eliminate statutory powers across many sections of the Revised Statutes of Nebraska, and exempt certain positions from the state personnel system.
Legislative Bill 317 was introduced on the floor as a governor-requested measure to reorganize state environmental and water governance. The bill would merge the Department of Natural Resources with the Department of Environment and Energy, rename the resulting agency, change procedures for appointment of the director, create at least one new position, transfer and remove specified powers and duties across multiple statutory sections, and provide exemptions from parts of the state personnel system.
On the floor the clerk read a long list of affected statutory sections and described a broad scope of changes, including elimination of obsolete provisions and harmonization across chapters in the Revised Statutes of Nebraska. The bill text as introduced covers extensive cross-references and would amend numerous sections affecting irrigation districts, natural resource districts, water planning, and related governance structures.
The measure was introduced by Sen. Brandt at the request of the governor; the introduction places the bill on the record and refers it to the appropriate referencing and standing committees for public hearing and further consideration. No committee action, amendment, or floor debate on the bill was recorded during the introduction.
Next steps: the bill will proceed to committee assignment for hearings and any amendments. As introduced, the bill outlines structural changes that would require subsequent statutory drafting and committee review before any enactment or implementation actions could occur.
