All Roll Calls
Yes: 83 • No: 1
NebraskaLB36A109th Legislature 1st and 2nd SessionslegislatureWALLET
Appropriation Bill
Sponsored By: Tom Brandt
Signed by Governor
Your PRIA Score
Score Hidden
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
12 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 3 costs, 4 mixed.
Grants for new scrap tire projects
The state offers up to $1.5 million a year in grants through June 30, 2029. Only new scrap tire projects qualify, and your application must be accepted. You can get up to 50% of crumb rubber costs if it is generated and used in Nebraska. You can get up to 25% of the retail cost for tire‑derived products with at least 25% recycled tire content. Total yearly payments across all projects cannot exceed $1.5 million.
DOT habitat mitigation bank and land rules
The Department of Transportation can run a mitigation bank or in‑lieu‑fee program to offset species, wetland, or habitat impacts from projects. The department may partner with public or private parties and acquire land, including by eminent domain, and can buy up to 150% of expected mitigation needs within its six‑year plan. State agencies must in good faith prioritize the department’s mitigation bank when reviewing mitigation plans. Owners of mitigation bank property acquired after July 1, 2026 must make payments in lieu of lost county property taxes. The department may issue rules, highway designation references are updated, and listed prior sections are repealed to conform.
Lower fees for parks and boats
The law lowers resident state park permit caps. Annual permits can be no more than $35. Temporary permits can be no more than $7. The commission sets the exact fees by rule. Owners of motorboats not registered in Nebraska must buy an aquatic invasive species stamp before launching. The stamp is between $10 and $15 plus an issuance fee.
New hub for home weatherization help
The law creates the Home Weatherization Clearinghouse at the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy. It gives one place to learn about grants, loans, and how to apply. It helps agencies work together to get projects done. The department uses existing staff to run it.
More water access projects at parks
The program can now fund marinas and other access projects at Lake McConaughy and Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area. It also adds projects at Niobrara State Park such as an event center or lodge to increase recreation access.
New university research fund with safeguards
The University of Nebraska runs the new Research Excellence Cash Fund to support research and data work, including the Nebraska Mesonet. The state investment officer manages investments. Money from this fund cannot buy electronic equipment or parts from listed foreign adversaries if the equipment is or will be within ten miles of a military installation, using the February 7, 2025 federal list.
Fewer wildlife permits sold at auction
The number of additional permits that may be sold by auction drops from two to one. Auctioned permits still cannot exceed the number awarded in the resident‑only random drawing. Auction proceeds continue to support wildlife management.
Small fees on park and hunting permits
Permit sellers and the commission may keep up to $1 per state park permit to cover clerical work, including $1 on website sales. The Game and Parks Commission also charges residents a nonrefundable application fee up to $34 for mountain sheep permits.
Producers must join and pay for recycling
By January 1, 2027, each stewardship group files a plan, and plans run no more than five years with required performance content. Beginning January 1, 2028, producers may sell covered batteries in Nebraska only if they join an approved stewardship group. Producers must fund all program costs, reimburse local collection sites, and provide containers at no cost to sites. The department charges an annual fee set to cover its costs, with money going to the Battery Stewardship Cash Fund. Producers and retailers cannot add a point‑of‑sale surcharge to consumers for these costs. The department may issue rules to run the program.
Free battery drop-off and safer handling
You can drop off covered batteries for free at approved sites statewide. Groups must place permanent sites so 95% of people live within 15 miles, and offer at least one site, service, or event for every 30,000 county residents. Medium-format batteries are accepted at least ten permanent sites statewide and by events at least once every three years in counties without a site. Medium-format batteries must go to staffed sites that meet safety rules. Damaged or defective batteries are accepted at collection sites and at all household hazardous waste facilities and events, handled by trained staff. Outreach and safety education are required.
No trashing batteries and new labels
Beginning January 1, 2028, you may not throw covered batteries in the trash, burn them, or mix them with recyclables. You must take them to an approved collection site or event. Also starting January 1, 2028, batteries must show who made them. Beginning January 1, 2029, batteries must also show their chemistry and say not to throw them out as household waste. Very small batteries under 1/2 inch may be exempt from labeling.
Battery program oversight, penalties, and protections
Starting June 1, 2029, stewardship groups file detailed annual reports; after five years, they submit an independent audit. The department posts approved plans, covered producers and brands, and annual reports online, while protecting proprietary information. Violations carry civil penalties of $10,000 per violation, and knowingly false material statements are a Class IV felony. Groups have an antitrust safe harbor for actions under an approved plan and may sue to recover costs for noncompliance or recalled batteries after they incur more than $1,000 in Nebraska costs. Private fee‑based collectors and mail‑back services are allowed if they meet legal and data‑reporting rules. The Waste Reduction and Recycling Incentive Fund may cover department administrative costs in fiscal years 2025‑26 and 2026‑27.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Tom Brandt
legislature
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
legislature vote • 5/14/2025
Final Reading
Yes: 48 • No: 1
legislature vote • 4/28/2025
Vote
Yes: 35 • No: 0 • Other: 14
Actions Timeline
Approved by Governor on May 20, 2025
5/21/2025legislaturePassed on Final Reading 48-1*-0
5/14/2025legislaturePresident/Speaker signed
5/14/2025legislaturePresented to Governor on May 14, 2025
5/14/2025legislaturePlaced on Final Reading
5/12/2025legislatureAdvanced to Enrollment and Review for Engrossment
5/8/2025legislaturePlaced on Select File
4/30/2025legislatureAdvanced to Enrollment and Review Initial
4/28/2025legislatureDate of introduction
4/24/2025legislaturePlaced on General File
4/24/2025legislature
Bill Text
Introduced
5/21/2025
Enrolled / Slip Law
Final / Enacted