LINCOLN- A Gov. Jim Pillen-pushed proposal to merge two Nebraska state agencies into a unified department in charge of water resources has moved on to its final lawmaking stage. On Tuesday, Nebraska lawmakers advanced Legislative Bill 317 on a voice vote. It calls for combining the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Environment and Energy into the new Department of Water, Energy and Environment.

Introduced by State Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth, LB 317 would rename the current DEE director as the new DWEE director. The current DNR director would be renamed “Chief Water Officer” under the new department. Pillen, earlier this year, named the merger as one of his legislative priorities, saying his changes would help the state be more proactive instead of reactive with water policy. Upon clearing the second round of debate, Pillen praised LB 317 as a “commonsense” piece of legislation that “reduces the scope of state government operations.”

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