Bill > LB807

This bill transfers the administration of the Noxious Weed Control Act from the Department of Agriculture to the newly named Department of Water, Energy, and Environment, redefining "Director" to refer to the head of this new department. It also modifies provisions related to the Noxious Weed Control Act, including clarifying the purpose of the act, redefining terms like "control authority" and "weed management entity," and making the administration of a grant program for weed control assistance mandatory rather than optional. The bill increases the annual legislative appropriation for riparian vegetation management, which involves managing plants along natural streams to improve water flow, from three million to six million dollars starting in fiscal year 2026-27, and prioritizes grants for projects aligned with the Riparian Vegetation Management Task Force's goals. Additionally, it prohibits the use of the Water Resources Cash Fund for administrative expenses and salaries of state agencies or political subdivisions, and it eliminates obsolete provisions related to the Noxious Weed Cash Fund.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=62945