# Nebraska LB36: Adopt the Safe Battery Collection and Recycling Act, provide for the Home Weatherization Clearinghouse and for mitigation of incidental taking of threatened or endangered species habitat, change provisions relating to the Water Recreation Enhancement Act, ground water allocation, and permits and stamps issued by the Game and Parks Commission, and create the Research Excellence Cash Fund Nebraska LB36, Adopt the Safe Battery Collection and Recycling Act, provide for the Home Weatherization Clearinghouse and for mitigation of incidental taking of threatened or endangered species habitat, change provisions relating to the Water Recreation Enhancement Act, ground water allocation, and permits and stamps issued by the Game and Parks Commission, and create the Research Excellence Cash Fund, is a 109th Legislature 1st and 2nd Sessions legislature bill sponsored by Tom Brandt; status signed, last action 2025-06-06 (Provisions/portions of LB595 amended into LB36 by AM930); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NE-LB36-109 - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Nebraska LB36 - State: Nebraska - Session: 109th Legislature 1st and 2nd Sessions - Title: Adopt the Safe Battery Collection and Recycling Act, provide for the Home Weatherization Clearinghouse and for mitigation of incidental taking of threatened or endangered species habitat, change provisions relating to the Water Recreation Enhancement Act, ground water allocation, and permits and stamps issued by the Game and Parks Commission, and create the Research Excellence Cash Fund - Status: signed - Chamber: legislature - Introduced: 2025-01-09 - Last action: 2025-06-06, Provisions/portions of LB595 amended into LB36 by AM930 - Sponsor: Tom Brandt - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Natural Resources Committee - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 8 (309 yes, 6 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 14 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Help finding home weatherization funds: benefit, low. The Department of Environment and Energy runs a Home Weatherization Clearinghouse. It helps you find grants, loans, and programs to weatherize your home. It explains eligibility and how to apply. The Department also coordinates with local agencies to deliver projects, using existing staff. - More projects at lakes and parks: benefit, low. The Game and Parks Commission may build marinas and other access projects at Lake McConaughy and at the Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area. It may approve projects at Niobrara State Park, including an event center or lodge. The commission can use contracts and public-private partnerships and mus… - Battery plans, targets, and public reports: benefit, low. Stewardship groups must file a plan by January 1, 2027 and renew at least every five years. Plans must target at least 60% recycling for rechargeable batteries and 70% for nonrechargeable batteries. By June 1, 2029, and every year after, they must report finances, collection and recycling data, and… - New Research Excellence Cash Fund: benefit, low. The University of Nebraska runs a new fund for research and data projects, including the Nebraska Mesonet. The fund takes gifts, grants, bequests, and legislative transfers. It cannot buy certain electronics from listed foreign adversaries for data gear within 10 miles of a military base. - Higher park vehicle permit caps: cost, low. The annual resident motor vehicle permit fee can be set up to $50. The nonresident annual fee is twice the resident fee. A temporary resident permit can be set up to $10 and lasts until noon the next day. A nonresident temporary permit costs twice the resident temporary fee. The commission sets exa… - Boaters pay registration and invasive species fees: cost, low. You must register your motorboat every three years with the county treasurer and include owner ID and the year made. The fees are $28 for Class 1, $51 for Class 2, $72.50 for Class 3, and $120 for Class 4. Up to $10 of each fee can fund the Aquatic Invasive Species Program. If your boat is not regi… - Mitigation bank and highway authority changes: mixed, medium. The Transportation Department can run a mitigation bank or in-lieu-fee program to offset habitat and wetland impacts from transportation projects. State agencies should give priority to using this bank. The department can buy land and use eminent domain; owners of mitigation bank land acquired afte… - New water-use rules for big users: mixed, medium. Starting January 1, 2026, a new or expanded commercial or industrial user on municipal water that exceeds 25,000,000 gallons a year must file a mitigation report, get approval from the natural resources district and the Department of Natural Resources, and follow integrated management controls. Bef… - Free battery drop-off, trash ban 2028: mixed, medium. The law gives you free, ongoing battery drop-off across the state. Plans must place sites so 95% of people live within 15 miles and have at least one site, service, or event per 30,000 county residents within three years. The state and stewardship groups must run outreach, safety training, and a we… - Hunting permits and landowner rules: mixed, low. The commission may auction up to two additional mountain sheep permits. Auctions are open to residents and nonresidents. Limited elk permits have set acreage rules: residents qualify with 320+ owned acres, 640+ leased acres, or 640+ combined acres; nonresidents must own 1,280+ acres. Land must be i… - How permit agents get paid: mixed, low. Commission offices, county offices, and private permit agents now keep an issuing fee as set under section 37-406. This replaces a fixed reimbursement method. Actual amounts depend on commission rules. - Producer membership and battery labels 2028–2029: mixed, low. Starting January 1, 2028, producers must join an approved battery stewardship group to sell covered batteries or battery products in Nebraska. Covered batteries must show who made them beginning January 1, 2028. On January 1, 2029, covered batteries must also show their chemistry and say they are n… - Who pays to run battery program: mixed, low. Stewardship groups pay a state fee when their plan is approved or on January 1, 2027, and every year after. These fees go to the new Battery Stewardship Cash Fund, which the state uses only to run the program. Through June 30, 2027, the state may use the Waste Reduction and Recycling Incentive Fund… - Battery program enforcement and legal tools: mixed, low. Businesses that violate the battery law can be fined $10,000 per violation. Knowingly making a false material statement about a plan is a Class IV felony. Producers, retailers, and stewardship groups get antitrust protection for actions that follow an approved plan. Stewardship groups can sue nonpa… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Tom Brandt, Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-05-14 | legislature | Final Reading | pass | 43 | 6 | | | 2025-04-23 | legislature | Vote | fail | 36 | 0 | 13 | | 2025-04-09 | legislature | Vote | fail | 38 | 0 | 11 | | 2025-04-09 | legislature | Vote | fail | 37 | 0 | 12 | | 2025-04-09 | legislature | Vote | fail | 41 | 0 | 8 | | | legislature | Vote | fail | 37 | 0 | 12 | | | legislature | Vote | fail | 41 | 0 | 8 | | | legislature | Vote | fail | 36 | 0 | 13 | ## Actions (31) - 2025-06-06: Provisions/portions of LB595 amended into LB36 by AM930 (legislature) - 2025-06-06: Provisions/portions of LB590 amended into LB36 by AM635 (legislature) - 2025-06-06: Provisions/portions of LB562 amended into LB36 by AM635 (legislature) - 2025-06-06: Provisions/portions of LB480 amended into LB36 by AM635 (legislature) - 2025-06-06: Provisions/portions of LB459 amended into LB36 by AM635 (legislature) - 2025-06-06: Provisions/portions of LB344 amended into LB36 by AM635 (legislature) - 2025-06-06: Provisions/portions of LB309 amended into LB36 by AM635 (legislature) - 2025-05-20: Approved by Governor on May 20, 2025 (legislature) - 2025-05-14: Presented to Governor on May 14, 2025 (legislature) - 2025-05-14: President/Speaker signed (legislature) - 2025-05-14: Passed on Final Reading 43-6*-0 (legislature) - 2025-05-14: Dispensing of reading at large approved (legislature) - 2025-04-29: Placed on Final Reading (legislature) - 2025-04-23: Advanced to Enrollment and Review for Engrossment (legislature) - 2025-04-23: Brandt AM998 adopted (legislature) - 2025-04-23: Brandt AM998 to AM635 filed (legislature) - 2025-04-23: Enrollment and Review ER54 adopted (legislature) - 2025-04-22: Enrollment and Review ER54 filed (legislature) - 2025-04-22: Placed on Select File with ER54 (legislature) - 2025-04-09: Advanced to Enrollment and Review Initial (legislature) - 2025-04-09: Brandt FA88 withdrawn (legislature) - 2025-04-09: Natural Resources AM635 adopted (legislature) - 2025-04-09: Prokop AM930 adopted (legislature) - 2025-04-08: Brandt FA88 filed (legislature) - 2025-04-08: Prokop AM930 to AM635 filed (legislature) - 2025-04-01: Natural Resources AM635 filed (legislature) - 2025-04-01: Placed on General File with AM635 (legislature) - 2025-03-12: Natural Resources priority bill (legislature) - 2025-01-22: Notice of hearing for January 29, 2025 (legislature) - 2025-01-13: Referred to Natural Resources Committee (legislature) - 2025-01-09: Date of introduction (legislature) ## Bill text - Introduced, 2025-01-09: [PDF](https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/Intro/LB36.pdf) - Enrolled / Slip Law: [PDF](https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/Slip/LB36.pdf) - Final / Enacted: [PDF](https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/Final/LB36.pdf) ## Related bills - LB468: Change provisions relating to inheritance taxes, change certain fee and tax provisions, and eliminate a sales tax exemption relating to data centers (failed) - LB13: Require the Department of Health and Human Services to file a state plan amendment relating to child care (failed) - LB677: Change provisions of the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Regulation Act and provide for regulation of medical cannabis (failed) - LB170: Eliminate the sales tax exemptions for candy and soft drinks (failed) - LB646: Provide an exemption from brand inspections and change fees under the Livestock Brand Act (failed) - LB714: Change provisions relating to motor vehicle taxes and fees (failed) ## Sources - [Introduced (PDF)](https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/Intro/LB36.pdf) - [Enrolled / Slip Law (PDF)](https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/Slip/LB36.pdf) - [Final / Enacted (PDF)](https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/Final/LB36.pdf) ## Related - [LB468: Change provisions relating to inheritance taxes, change certain fee and tax pro…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NE-LB468-109) - [LB13: Require the Department of Health and Human Services to file a state plan amendm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NE-LB13-109) - [LB677: Change provisions of the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Regulation Act and provide f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NE-LB677-109) - [LB170: Eliminate the sales tax exemptions for candy and soft drinks](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NE-LB170-109) - [LB646: Provide an exemption from brand inspections and change fees under the Livestock…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NE-LB646-109) - [LB714: Change provisions relating to motor vehicle taxes and fees](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NE-LB714-109) - [Nebraska bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/nebraska/bills) - [Nebraska state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/nebraska) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NE-LB36-109 (as of 2026-10-17).