Legislation to make changes to surface water appropriation uses in Nebraska to improve water quality has made it past first reading in the Unicameral. Nebraska Farm Bureau Senior Economist Jay Rempe says there are several benefits in the bill, but yet protections were left in for existing surface water users.

He says initially his group had concerns with the legislation. However, language was added to provide protections for irrigators.

Rempe says the changes made to the bill put in irrigator protections at both the state and federal levels.

Rempe says the measure also upholds local control.