Change and eliminate provisions relating to the Healthy Soils Task Force, require the Department of Agriculture to submit related documentation, and provide powers to natural resources districts regarding soil and water practices
Nebraska Legislative Bill 794 reorganizes the Nebraska Department of Agriculture's responsibilities by amending key statutes. It eliminates the Healthy Soils Task Force and outdated funding mechanisms related to the Fertilizers and Soil Conditioners Administrative Fund, while clarifying the Department's existing duties. The bill specifically repeals outdated sections (2-401 through 2-404) and streamlines provisions in Sections 2-406 and 81-201 of Nebraska law. These changes directly affect the Department of Agriculture, removing specific advisory structures and administrative requirements without creating new programs or funding. The bill focuses on administrative efficiency rather than new policy initiatives.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Jan 2026
Legislature Passage
Feb 2026
Legislature Passage
Feb 2026
Signed into Law
Feb 2026
Introduced Jan 7, 2026
Signed Feb 25, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced
→
Final Reading
·
5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to shift its primary focus from the Department of Agriculture to Natural Resources Districts, establishing new authority for these districts to conduct soil and water research and demonstration projects. The scope of the bill was expanded to include natural resources alongside soil management, and the specific duties of the Department of Agriculture were altered to remove references to the Healthy Soils Task Force and the Fertilizers and Soil Conditioners Administrative Fund.
Scope change
The bill's scope shifted from a state-level Department of Agriculture initiative to a district-level program under Natural Resources Districts, with added emphasis on natural resources and water management.
SCOPE
The bill's subject matter was changed from 'soil' to 'natural resources' to broaden its applicability beyond just soil management.
REQUIREMENT
New statutory language was added to grant Natural Resources Districts specific powers to conduct studies, investigations, and research regarding soil and water.
Provisions related to the Department of Agriculture's specific duties regarding the Healthy Soils Task Force were eliminated.
FISCAL
References to the Healthy Soils Task Force and the Fertilizers and Soil Conditioners Administrative Fund were removed, indicating a change in how the program is funded or administered.
ELIGIBILITY
Authority to conduct demonstration projects was transferred from the Department of Agriculture to Natural Resources Districts.
Floor votes · Legislature Feb 9, 2026
How they voted
35–0
Passed · 14 other
Total votes 49
Feb 9, 2026
N
Nonpartisan49
71% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
22
Key actions
6
Committee
2
Amendments
1
Apr 17, 2026
Introduced
Provisions/portions of LB827 amended into LB794 by AM2019
legislature
Feb 25, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor on February 24, 2026
executive
Feb 20, 2026
Legislature · Passed
President/Speaker signed
legislature
Feb 20, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Passed on Final Reading 48-0-1
legislature
Feb 9, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Storer FA966 adopted
legislature
Feb 9, 2026
Legislature · Passed
DeKay AM2019 adopted
legislature
Jan 21, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Placed on General File
legislature
Jan 9, 2026
Committee
Referred to Agriculture Committee
legislature
Jan 7, 2026
Introduced
Date of introduction
legislature
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Barry DeKay
NNonpartisan
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