Environment (Conservation)

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.

This bill creates a property tax exemption for Nebraska landowners who place perpetual recreational trail easements on their land. The exemption provides $0.10 per square foot annually for qualifying easements that grant public nonmotorized access (such as walking, hiking, or biking) and connect to existing or planned trails. To qualify, easements must be held by eligible entities like municipalities, accredited land trusts, or specific nonprofits focused on public access and conservation, and landowners must apply through the Department of Revenue with proof of the recorded easement. The bill also updates filing procedures for easement documentation to support this tax program.

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment for Nebraska voters in 2026 to guarantee all people a right to a clean and healthy environment, including clean water, air, and protected ecosystems. It would require the state and local governments to act as trustees, legally responsible for conserving Nebraska's natural resources for current and future generations. If approved, these rights would be directly enforceable without needing new laws. The amendment is currently pending review by the Natural Resources Committee and will go to voters in November 2026.

LB 590 creates a program allowing Nebraska's Department of Transportation to establish mitigation banks or in-lieu fee programs to offset habitat loss from transportation projects that unintentionally impact threatened or endangered species. It requires the DOT to use this program for compensatory habitat restoration, creation, or preservation when permitted projects affect protected species, and mandates that counties receive tax payments in lieu of lost property taxes for land used in these mitigation efforts. The bill prioritizes this DOT program for state transportation projects and aims to streamline permitting, reduce delays, and ensure habitat gains exceed losses through standardized mitigation ratios. It directly affects the DOT, counties managing land, and developers needing environmental permits for transportation projects.

This bill proposes merging Nebraska's Department of Natural Resources and Department of Environment and Energy into a single Department of Water, Energy, and Environment. It creates a new Chief Water Officer position and updates agency powers related to water management, conservation, state game refuges, and low-level radioactive waste disposal. The bill directly affects state agencies and officials responsible for environmental and natural resource management by restructuring their oversight framework. Key changes include consolidating departmental functions under one name and clarifying responsibilities for specific resource areas. The bill focuses on organizational structure rather than new funding or regulatory policies.