"I cannot tell you that every family in our community has clean water to drink and every farmer's field is not contaminated," Saunders County Attorney Joe Dobesh said.

State lawmakers questioned the director of the Department of Environment and Energy on its efforts to bring the troubled AltEn ethanol plant in compliance with state environmental regulations, and questioned why more wasn’t done sooner.

A separate bill would repeal the sales tax on the use and consumption of residential water. "This is for the people," Sen. Justin Wayne said. "You can buy water from the store and not get taxed, but you get taxed for it at home."

Gov. Pete Ricketts holds a news conference Friday about the state's fight against coronavirus.

Ricketts said "Nebraskans should be on the lookout in their communities for attempts by federal agencies and their partners to regulate land and water use."

"We do have an aging demographic in our state," Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha told the Legislature's Revenue Committee in urging action to encourage retirees to remain in Nebraska. 

Gov. Pete Ricketts said all vaccination registrations and appointments will be migrated to the state's vaccine website over the next few weeks.

"This amendment protects the integrity of our nation's highest court and ensures that it remains an independent branch of government," Fischer wrote.

Gun rights advocates supported bills that would ban Nebraska from enforcing any new federal gun laws and would allow counties to authorize permitless concealed carry.