Nebraska Budget Moves: The Legislature approved LB1071, a sweeping biennial appropriations bill that reshapes funding across courts, education, health and human services, corrections, economic development, public safety, and environmental programs, while also creating a K-12 education savings account scholarship and tightening how state resources can be used for diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Public Finance Reshuffle: Lawmakers also passed LB1072, restructuring Nebraska’s finances by moving money from dozens of cash, trust and revolving funds into the General Fund and redirecting investment earnings and balances tied to housing, environmental, education, transportation and criminal justice programs. Emergency Management Updates: A separate bill, LB1256, would update Nebraska’s Emergency Management Act definitions, including clarifying “civil defense emergency,” “disaster” vs. “emergency,” and who counts as an emergency management worker. Lead Cleanup Equity: An Omaha investigation found some yards exceeded the EPA’s lead-soil cleanup standard, but residents reported inconsistent offers for additional sampling or cleanup. Water Safety: Nebraska guidance warns that harmful algal blooms can form when nutrients and warm weather combine—look for unusual color, foul odors, or foamy surfaces, and keep people and pets out. Tourism Funding Tweaks: Scotts Bluff Area Visitors Bureau updated its sports and incentive grant rules, including a cap that limits incentive requests to 10% of an event’s budget (minus marketing). Local Health Oversight: The Panhandle Public Health District adopted rules to take over routine public swimming pool inspections after state authority shifted to local governments.