 Expanded grant program for drinking water gets first round approval A bill that would expand a drinking water grant program to include communities of 10,000 or fewer gained first round approval Jan. 23.
LB 80, introduced by the Natural Resources Committee, would allow public water systems in smaller communities to qualify for funding. The program currently provides up to $2 million annually for drinking water projects and evaluation. “Currently, smaller communities don’t have any system where they can leverage grant funds,” said Ellsworth Sen. LeRoy Louden, the committee’s chairperson. Lincoln Sen. DiAnna Schimek supported the bill, but was concerned about the depletion of the available funds. LB 80 was advanced on a 42-0 vote. |
