LB 807 is sponsored by Teresa Ibach.

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Nebraska 109th Legislature (2025-2026) Status: Enacted

LB 807 — Eliminate the Riparian Vegetation Management Task Force and provisions relating to grants and provide for grants relating to weed management from the Water Resources Cash Fund

Last action March 04, 2026 — Approved by Governor on March 4, 2026

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Introduced
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In Committee
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Passed Legislature
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To Executive
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Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 07, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Jim Pillen (Republican) on March 04, 2026.

Prognosis

Advancing 54% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

Enacted

Current position in the legislative process.
1 sponsor

1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
Mixed recorded votes

2 passed, 1 failed in recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

240 added · 273 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendments to LB 807 eliminate the Riparian Vegetation Management Task Force and change how funds in the Water Resources Cash Fund can be used. Instead of focusing on the task force, the bill now allows for grants to support the removal of unwanted riparian vegetation and for purchasing necessary equipment. This shift aims to streamline the management of vegetation along waterways and provide more direct financial support to local authorities, which could lead to more effective environmental management.

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OnBrandt, ~~page~~32. 1, ~~strike~~ ~~beginning~~ ~~with~~ ~~"the"~~ in ~~line~~ 1 ~~through~~ ~~line~~ 14 ~~and~~ ~~insert~~ ~~"noxious~~ ~~weeds;~~

A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to riparian vegetation management;

and to outright repeal section 2-970, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, and section 2-969, Revised Statutes Supplement, ~~2025.".~~2025.

~~-1-~~Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska, Section 1.

Section 2-945.01, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, is amended to read:

2-945.01 Sections 2-945.01 to 2-966 2-970 shall be known and may be cited as the Noxious Weed Control Act.

Sec.

Section 2-958.02, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, is amended to read:

2-958.02 (1) From funds available in the Noxious Weed and Invasive Plant Species Assistance Fund, the director may administer a grant program to assist local control authorities and other weed management entities in the cost of implementing and maintaining noxious weed control programs and in addressing special weed control problems as provided in this section.

(2) The director shall receive applications by local control authorities and weed management entities for assistance under this subsection and, in consultation with the advisory committee created under section 2-965.01, award grants for any of the following eligible purposes:

(a) To conduct applied research to solve locally significant weed management problems;

(b) To demonstrate innovative control methods or land management practices which have the potential to reduce landowner costs to control noxious weeds or improve the effectiveness of noxious weed control;

(d) To respond to introductions or infestations of invasive plants that threaten or potentially threaten the productivity of cropland and rangeland over a wide area;

(e) To respond to introductions and infestations of invasive plant species that threaten or potentially threaten the productivity and biodiversity of wildlife and fishery habitats on public and private lands;

(f) To respond to special weed control problems involving weeds not included in the list of noxious weeds promulgated by rule and regulation of the director if the director has approved a petition to bring such weeds under the county control program;

(g) To conduct monitoring or surveillance activities to detect, map, or determine the distribution of invasive plant species and to determine susceptible locations for the introduction or spread of invasive plant species;

and (h) To conduct educational activities.

(3) The director shall select and prioritize applications for assistance under subsection (2) of this section based on the following considerations:

(a) The seriousness of the noxious weed or invasive plant problem or potential problem addressed by the project;

(b) The ability of the project to provide timely intervention to save current and future costs of control and eradication;

(c) The likelihood that the project will prevent or resolve the problem or increase knowledge about resolving similar problems in the future;

(d) The extent to which the project will leverage federal funds and other nonstate funds;

(e) The extent to which the applicant has made progress in addressing noxious weed or invasive plant problems;

(f) The extent to which the project will provide a comprehensive approach to the control or eradication of noxious weeds or invasive plant species as identified and listed by the Nebraska Invasive Species Council;

(g) The extent to which the project will reduce or prevent the total population or area of infestation of a noxious weed or invasive plant species as identified and listed by the Nebraska Invasive Species Council;

(h) The extent to which the project uses the principles of integrated vegetation management and sound science;

and (i) Such other factors that the director determines to be relevant.

(4) The director shall receive applications for grants under this subsection and shall award grants to recipients and programs eligible under this subsection.

Priority shall be given to grant applicants whose proposed programs are consistent with vegetation management goals and priorities and -1- LB807 LB807 2026 plans and policies of the Riparian Vegetation Management Task Force established under section 2-970.

Beginning in fiscal year 2022-23, it is the intent of the Legislature to appropriate three million dollars annually for the management of vegetation within the banks or flood plain of a natural stream.

Such funds shall only be used to pay for activities and equipment as part of vegetation management programs that have as their primary objective improving conveyance of streamflow in natural streams.

Grants from funds appropriated as provided in this subsection shall be disbursed only to weed management entities, local weed control authorities, and natural resources districts whose territory includes river basins, with priority given to river basins that are the subject of an interstate compact or decree.

The Game and Parks Commission shall assist grant recipients in implementing grant projects under this subsection, and interlocal agreements under the Interlocal Cooperation Act or the Joint Public Agency Act shall be utilized whenever possible in carrying out the grant projects.

(4) (5) Nothing in this section shall be construed to relieve control authorities of their duties and responsibilities under the Noxious Weed Control Act or the duty of a person to control the spread of noxious weeds on lands owned and controlled by him or her.

(5) (6) The Department of Agriculture may adopt and promulgate necessary rules and regulations to carry out this section.

(6) (7) The director may annually apply for conservation funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture.

Sec.

Show all 101 changed lines (61 more)

Section 61-218, Revised Statutes Supplement, 2025, is amended to read:

61-218 (1) The Water Resources Cash Fund is created.

The fund shall be administered by the Department of Water, Energy, and Environment.

Any money in the fund available for investment shall be invested by the state investment officer pursuant to the Nebraska Capital Expansion Act and the Nebraska State Funds Investment Act.

(2) The State Treasurer shall credit to the fund such money as is (a) transferred to the fund by the Legislature, (b) paid to the state as fees, deposits, payments, and repayments relating to the fund, both principal and interest, (c) donated as gifts, bequests, or other contributions to such fund from public or private entities, (d) made available by any department or agency of the United States if so directed by such department or agency, (e) transferred pursuant to section 81-15,175, and (f) received by the state for settlement of claims relating to interstate river compacts or decrees.

(3)(a) The fund shall be expended by the department in any area that has adopted an integrated management plan as provided in section 46-715.

(b) The fund shall be used in any such area:

(i) To aid management actions taken to reduce consumptive uses of water;

(ii) To enhance streamflows or ground water recharge;

(iii) For any other activity deemed necessary by the department in the development and implementation of an integrated management plan;

(iv) For purposes of the Resilient Soils and Water Quality Act;

or (v) For purposes of projects or proposals described in the grant application as set forth in subdivision (2)(h) of section 81-15,175;

or .

(vi) For purposes of providing grants to weed management entities as provided in section 4 of this act.

(c) To the extent funds are not expended pursuant to subdivision (b) of this subsection, the department may conduct a statewide assessment of short- term and long-term water management activities and funding needs to meet statutory requirements in sections 46-713 to 46-718 and 46-739 and any requirements of an interstate compact or decree or formal state contract or agreement.

(d) The fund shall not be used to pay for administrative expenses or any salaries for any political subdivision.

(4) It is the intent of the Legislature that three million three hundred thousand dollars be transferred each fiscal year from the General Fund to the Water Resources Cash Fund for FY2011-12 through FY2022-23, except that for FY2012-13 it is the intent of the Legislature that four million seven hundred thousand dollars be transferred from the General Fund to the Water Resources Cash Fund.

It is the intent of the Legislature that the State Treasurer credit any money received from any Republican River Compact settlement to the Water Resources Cash Fund in the fiscal year in which it is received.

(5)(a) Expenditures from the Water Resources Cash Fund may be made to natural resources districts eligible under subsection (3) of this section for activities to either achieve a sustainable balance of consumptive water uses or assure compliance with an interstate compact or decree or a formal state contract or agreement and shall require a match of local funding in an amount equal to or greater than forty percent of the total cost of carrying out the eligible activity.

The department shall, no later than August 1 of each year, beginning in 2007, determine the amount of funding that will be made available to natural resources districts from the Water Resources Cash Fund and notify natural resources districts of this determination.

The department shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations governing application for and use of the Water Resources Cash Fund by natural resources districts.

Such rules and regulations shall, at a minimum, include the following components:

(i) Require an explanation of how the planned activity will achieve a sustainable balance of consumptive water uses or will assure compliance with an interstate compact or decree or a formal state contract or agreement as required by section 46-715 and the controls, rules, and regulations designed to -2- LB807 LB807 2026 carry out the activity;

and (ii) A schedule of implementation of the activity or its components, including the local match as set forth in subdivision (5)(a) of this section.

(b) Any natural resources district that fails to implement and enforce its controls, rules, and regulations as required by section 46-715 shall not be eligible for funding from the Water Resources Cash Fund until it is determined by the department that compliance with the provisions required by section 46-715 has been established.

(6) The Department of Water, Energy, and Environment shall submit electronically an annual report to the Legislature no later than October 1 of each year that shall detail the use of the Water Resources Cash Fund in the previous year.

The report shall provide:

(a) Details regarding the use and cost of activities carried out by the department;

and (b) Details regarding the use and cost of activities carried out by each natural resources district that received funds from the Water Resources Cash Fund.

(7)(a) Prior to the application deadline for fiscal year 2011-12, the Department of Natural Resources shall apply for a grant of nine million nine hundred thousand dollars from the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund, to be paid out in three annual installments of three million three hundred thousand dollars.

The purposes listed in the grant application shall be consistent with the uses of the Water Resources Cash Fund provided in this section and shall be used to aid management actions taken to reduce consumptive uses of water, to enhance streamflows, to recharge ground water, or to support wildlife habitat in any river basin determined to be fully appropriated pursuant to section 46-714 or designated as overappropriated pursuant to section 46-713.

(b) If the application is granted, funds received from such grant shall be remitted to the State Treasurer for credit to the Water Resources Cash Fund for the purpose of supporting the projects set forth in the grant application.

The department shall include in its grant application documentation that the Legislature has authorized a transfer of three million three hundred thousand dollars from the General Fund into the Water Resources Cash Fund for each of fiscal years 2011-12 and 2012-13 and has stated its intent to transfer three million three hundred thousand dollars to the Water Resources Cash Fund for fiscal year 2013-14.

(c) It is the intent of the Legislature that the department apply for an additional three-year grant that would begin in fiscal year 2014-15, an additional three-year grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund that would begin in fiscal year 2017-18, and an additional three-year grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund that would begin in fiscal year 2020-21 if the criteria established in subsection (4) of section 81-15,175 are achieved.

(8) The department shall establish a subaccount within the Water Resources Cash Fund for the accounting of all money received as a grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund as the result of an application made pursuant to subsection (7) of this section.

(9) Any funds transferred from the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund to the Water Resources Cash Fund shall be placed within the subaccount created under subsection (8) of this section and expended in accordance with section 81-15,168.

(10) The State Treasurer shall transfer one million dollars from the Water Resources Cash Fund to the Nitrogen Reduction Incentive Cash Fund as soon as administratively possible after July 19, 2024, but before June 30, 2025, on such dates and in such amounts as directed by the budget administrator of the budget division of the Department of Administrative Services.

Sec.

(1) For purposes of this section:

(a) Eligible purpose means:

(i) The removal of riparian vegetation as part of a vegetation management program, if such vegetation management program is being conducted for the primary objective of improving the conveyance of streamflow in natural streams;

and (ii) The acquisition of equipment that is used for the removal of riparian vegetation described in subdivision (a)(i) of this subsection;

and (b) Qualified applicant means the following entities that provide weed management services in a river basin:

(i) Any weed management entity;

(ii) Any weed control authority;

and (iii) Any natural resources district.

(2) A qualified applicant may apply to the Department of Water, Energy, and Environment for a grant under this section.

No later than January 1, 2027, the department shall prescribe the form for the application.

(3) The department may award a grant to any qualified applicant who applies under this section for an eligible purpose.

If the department receives multiple applications under this section, the department shall prioritize awarding grants to the qualified applicants that provide weed management services within an area that is the subject of an interstate compact or decree.

(4) The department may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to carry out this section.

Sec.

Original sections 2-945.01 and 2-958.02, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, and section 61-218, Revised Statutes Supplement, 2025, are repealed.

Sec.

The following sections are outright repealed:

Section 2-970, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, and section 2-969, Revised Statutes -3- LB807 LB807 2026 Supplement, 2025.

-4-

Latest

~~ER115~~ ~~ER115~~ LB807 LB807 ~~MJP~~ - ~~02/09/2026~~ ~~MJP~~ - ~~02/09/2026~~ E ~~AND~~ R ~~AMENDMENTS~~ TO LB ~~807~~ Introduced by ~~Guereca,~~ 7, ~~Chairman~~ ~~Enrollment~~ ~~and~~ ~~Review~~ 1.

LB807 LB807 2026 LEGISLATIVE BILL 807 Approved by the Governor March 4, 2026 Introduced by Ibach, 44;

On ~~page~~ 1, ~~strike~~ ~~beginning~~ ~~with~~ ~~"the"~~ in ~~line~~ 1 ~~through~~ ~~line~~ 14 ~~and~~ ~~insert~~ ~~"noxious~~ ~~weeds;~~

Brandt, 32.

A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to riparian vegetation management;

and to outright repeal section 2-970, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, and section 2-969, Revised Statutes Supplement, ~~2025.".~~

and to outright repeal section 2-970, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, and section 2-969, Revised Statutes Supplement, 2025.

~~-1-~~

Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska, Section 1.