LB 815 imposes a 9.5-cent-per-gallon tax on diesel fuels, effective January 1, 2019, which must be paid by fuel producers, suppliers, and distributors. It changes the rules for refunding motor fuel taxes and eliminates the Ethanol Production Incentive Cash Fund, which previously provided financial support to ethanol producers. The bill also modifies or removes several provisions from the Ethanol Development Act that governed ethanol-related tax programs. Additionally, it repeals multiple sections of existing law related to fuel taxes and ethanol incentives.
LB 1027 eliminates specific exemptions that previously allowed privately developed renewable energy facilities to avoid certain construction approvals under Nebraska law. The bill removes exemptions for facilities replacing older plants (under 25,000 kW), those within municipal service areas, and military-proximity rules. As a result, private renewable energy developers will now need standard board approval for new facilities, aligning their requirements with other electric generation projects. This change applies directly to companies building solar, wind, or other privately owned renewable energy facilities in Nebraska.
LB 1109 eliminates specific sales and use tax exemptions (including those for energy-related items and certain nonprofit purchases) and removes a renewable energy tax credit. It modifies provisions under the Nebraska Advantage Research and Development Act regarding tax credits and updates the ImagiNE Nebraska Act. The bill repeals several existing tax sections (77-2701.54, 77-2704.57, etc.) and requires a revised tax expenditure report detailing revenue losses from exemptions. These changes directly affect businesses and organizations currently benefiting from the eliminated exemptions and credits.
LB 1134 establishes Nebraska's baseline building, electrical, and energy codes by adopting specific editions of international codes (like the 2018 International Building Code) as the state standard. It limits local governments from creating stricter codes than the state version, prohibiting updates to local codes that exceed the state code's requirements until 2031. The bill requires local governments to provide independent third-party evidence verifying that any code change is necessary for public safety or compliance with state/federal law, rather than for cost reduction. This directly affects counties, cities, and villages that enforce building codes, as well as construction businesses and property owners subject to these regulations.
LB 1172 requires Nebraska's electric suppliers (including public power districts, cooperatives, and municipalities with power systems) to maintain at least 75% of their electricity capacity from "dispatchable" sources - electricity that can be quickly supplied on demand, like gas plants, rather than weather-dependent sources. Suppliers must annually certify compliance with this rule to the Nebraska Power Review Board and submit a compliance plan within 60 days if they fall short. The bill defines key terms like "dispatchable electricity" and "capacity" to clarify the requirement, while protecting related communications as confidential until a facility closure decision is publicly announced. It does not apply to closures decided before April 2024.
LB 471 prohibits state agencies, counties, cities, and villages from restricting the use, purchase, or sale of motor vehicles based on their energy source (e.g., electric, gasoline, or hybrid power). It also prevents the Department of Environment and Energy from seeking federal waivers to set stricter vehicle emission standards than those required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The bill directly affects vehicle buyers, dealers, and local governments by ensuring they cannot impose rules targeting specific vehicle energy types. Key provisions eliminate barriers to all vehicle types and maintain alignment with federal emission standards.
LB 531 exempts certain affordable housing projects from requiring compliance with the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code. Specifically, it prohibits the Department of Economic Development from mandating that new construction or rental conversion projects receiving funding from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund meet the energy efficiency standards in the code. The bill amends existing law to clarify this exception while maintaining the code's requirement for all other state-funded buildings. It does not change energy standards for non-affordable housing projects or other state construction.
