Current Nebraska Legislative bills of interest

LR298CA: Constitutional amendment to create requirements for the use of the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund

LR298CA would amend the Nebraska Constitution to require that all funds generated by the Nebraska Lottery for the Nebraska Environmental Trust be awarded through a competitive grant process. Any funds awarded to state agencies would need a 50 percent match from another entity. LR 298CA is intended to prevent funds from being transferred away from NET for use by other state agencies and is consistent with the intent of the constitutional amendment that led to the creation of the Trust more than 30 years ago.

LB1072: Provide for and change transfers from the Cash Reserve Fund and provide, change, and eliminate provisions relating to fees, funds, fund transfers, agency powers and duties, and various statutory programs.

Although the amount of money being transferred from the Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET) is much less than the $44 million originally proposed, this bill, as written, will take $11 million of NET funds away from voters’ intended purpose. NET funds are supposed to be allocated for conservation projects (not recreation!) as part of a competitive application process that requires matching funds.

The bill also proposes to take millions from the Games and Parks department’s Heritage Program. Nebraskans check a box on their tax forms to make voluntary contributions for the conservation of Nebraska’s native flora and fauna; those contributions fund the Heritage Program. This bill would take a portion of those funds to offset tax breaks that have led to the enormous gap between the state’s revenues and normal expenditures..

LB1027: Eliminate certain exemptions applicable to privately developed renewable energy generation facilities and change requirements for the construction of privately developed renewable energy generation facilities

We are watching LB1027 as currently written because it would give the state final approval over renewable energy projects, allowing it to block county-approved projects. Some groups have suggested loosening these requirements while protecting Nebraska ratepayers, for instance by requiring EITHER a purchase agreement OR power review board approval, and expanding the purchase agreement to be with any public power entity, and allowing other types of agreements.

LB1010: Provide for eminent domain of electrical energy storage property, storage of electric energy under the Electric Cooperative Corporation Act, and energy storage resources and change application, notice, filing, exemption, and violation provisions relating to electric suppliers.

LB1010 provides for regulation of battery storage. It provides reasonable restrictions and a better description of battery storage.

Here’s some help:

• For your senator’s name and contact information, click here

• For the actual text and other official information about each bill, enter the bill number on this page

Current climate actions

Check out our most recent email to find out the latest climate actions you can take and happenings in our chapter.  🌎

Upcoming Events

Get involved with Environmental Voter Project

We have had great success working with the Environmental Voter Project (EVP) ahead of elections. Together, we've helped make over 8,000 calls and have talked to several hundred potential voters who care about the environment.

ACTION: Sign up for an upcoming phone bank or send postcards