This bill introduces two new taxes on large wind farms and solar facilities in Kansas, targeting those with a capacity of at least 5,000 kilowatts. The first tax is a $4 annual fee per kilowatt of capacity, while the second is a $0.001 per kilowatt-hour tax on electricity produced, both payable by the year 2027. Revenue from these taxes will be placed in a new state fund designated for property tax relief, which will then be transferred to support school district financing. The legislation also amends existing school tax laws to allow for a reduction in the statewide property tax levy for schools using these funds.
HB 2669 prevents homeowner associations (HOAs) in Kansas from banning rooftop solar panels on individual units. It directly affects unit owners who want to install solar systems, ensuring associations cannot restrict or prohibit such installations. Associations may set reasonable placement rules, but these cannot block installation, harm system function, limit usage, or increase costs or reduce efficiency. The law does not apply to shared common areas like hallways or pools. This bill updates Kansas’ housing laws to support solar adoption while allowing limited, non-discriminatory HOA oversight.
HB 2728 establishes statewide uniform standards for siting and permitting energy facilities (like wind, solar, and storage projects) by requiring the State Corporation Commission to set clear rules. It directly affects energy developers seeking permits and local governments (counties/cities) that previously managed approvals, by limiting local moratoriums to 30 days without commission approval (max 120 days total) and mandating decisions within 120 days of a complete application. The bill requires facilities to submit decommissioning plans with financial assurance to cover future removal costs and prohibits local rules that unreasonably delay projects. It aims to streamline approvals while preserving legitimate local health/safety protections, without overriding federal energy regulations.
SB 173 requires county commissioners to approve commercial wind or solar energy projects before any related lease or easement agreement becomes binding. It directly affects facility owners (those developing projects with at least one megawatt capacity for sale) and landowners, as these agreements cannot take effect until county approval is secured. The bill mandates that counties with zoning regulations must issue a building or development permit, while counties without such regulations must enter a development agreement. This requirement applies to all new agreements filed on or after July 1, 2025, and does not affect leases recorded before July 1, 2011.
SB 131 requires Kansas' State Corporation Commission to create and enforce a code of conduct and agricultural protection rules for large energy projects (like commercial solar, battery storage, wind, or transmission lines) in rural areas. It directly affects landowners in rural zones by mandating that facility owners must be truthful, transparent, and fair during land negotiations - prohibiting coercion, requiring clear communication, and offering compensation above market value with options for lump-sum or annual payments. The bill also requires facility owners to involve landowners early in planning, provide accessible project maps, and accept reasonable siting modifications. These rules aim to protect farmland and landowner rights during energy development.
SB 144 invalidates neighborhood agreements (like HOA rules) that block rooftop solar panel installations on residential homes, effective July 1, 2025. Homeowners in communities with such agreements will no longer be restricted from installing solar panels. Homeowners associations may still create reasonable rules about solar panels, but these rules cannot prohibit rooftop installations. The law takes effect after its publication in state statutes.
HB 2149 requires solar and renewable energy retailers to provide clear, standardized disclosures to residential customers before selling financed systems (like home solar panels). This includes details on system specifications, guaranteed energy output, total lifetime costs, tax credits, and installer credentials, all in plain language. The bill also mandates the attorney general to create a standard disclosure form and updates rules for connecting these systems to the grid, increasing utility capacity limits for parallel generation services. These changes directly affect homeowners purchasing financed renewable energy systems and aim to improve transparency in the sales process.
