Environment

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 233: Establishing requirements for decommissioning of commercial solar and wind energy facilities.

SB 233 requires counties in Kansas to secure decommissioning agreements from commercial solar and wind facility owners (1 megawatt or larger) before construction begins. Owners must provide financial guarantees (e.g., bonds or letters of credit) to cover cleanup costs and restore land to its pre-construction condition. If owners fail to decommission facilities or become insolvent, counties may bill affected landowners under lease agreements for cleanup costs. The bill applies specifically to commercial energy projects and mandates county oversight of financial assurance and restoration plans.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires financial guarantees for decommissioning solar/wind facilities to prevent land pollution and ensure environmental restoration, directly protecting natural resources post-construction.95% confidence

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 170: Authorizing the state corporation commission to make recommendations regarding energy efficiency standards for buildings.

SB 170 authorizes Kansas' State Corporation Commission to recommend energy efficiency standards for residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. The bill amends existing law to clarify that while the Commission may make such recommendations, it cannot adopt or enforce these standards itself. It maintains the current requirement that the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) applies to new commercial and industrial structures. Local cities or counties retain the authority to set their own energy efficiency standards within their jurisdictions.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAuthorizes energy efficiency recommendations for buildings, promoting reduced energy consumption and environmental protection through voluntary standards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 167: Prohibiting electric public utilities from recovering from ratepayers the costs associated with electric vehicle charging stations and requiring electric public utilities to establish electric vehicle charging service rate schedules.

SB 167 prohibits Kansas electric utilities from passing EV charging station construction, operation, or maintenance costs to ratepayers (regular electricity customers). Instead, it requires utilities to establish separate rate schedules for private EV charging station operators, based on actual electricity consumption (kilowatt-hours) rather than demand. Utilities must operate EV charging services through a distinct business unit and offer terms equally to private operators as they would to other third parties. This takes effect by October 2025, with utilities required to file new rate schedules with the state commission or publish them publicly. The bill does not affect make-ready infrastructure or utilities' own fleet charging.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyPrevents ratepayer cost recovery for EV infrastructure, enabling separate billing and promoting EV adoption as clean energy infrastructure expansion.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill removes financial barriers for EV infrastructure by preventing ratepayer cost-passing, directly promoting EV adoption and cleaner transportation as a key environmental strategy.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill promotes EV infrastructure by preventing ratepayer cost-shifting and requiring separate EV charging rates, advancing sustainable transportation through dedicated infrastructure funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Electric Vehicles

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 274: Requiring the state corporation commission to engage a consulting firm to conduct a technical and legal feasibility study on new nuclear energy generation.

SB 274 requires Kansas' State Corporation Commission to hire a specialized consulting firm to conduct a feasibility study on developing new nuclear energy facilities in the state, using $375,000 from the state general fund. The study must evaluate economic, environmental, safety, and workforce impacts - including site selection, costs, job creation, and potential coordination with other clean energy technologies - by April 1, 2026. The bill specifies strict criteria for the consulting firm, such as 35+ years in the nuclear industry and 50% revenue from nuclear licensing. This study is intended to inform future legislative and regulatory decisions about nuclear energy policy, not to mandate any specific action.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates environmental impact study for nuclear energy feasibility, a low-carbon energy source, aligning with climate goals and clean energy coordination requirements.85% confidence

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2268: Prohibiting nonresidents from hunting migratory waterfowl during certain times and places and increasing fees for migratory waterfowl habitat stamps.

HB 2268 restricts nonresident hunters from hunting migratory waterfowl (like ducks and geese) on most days during hunting seasons, allowing only Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays. This applies to Kansas state lands, specific federal reservoirs managed by the Army Corps of Engineers or Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife refuges, but excludes walk-in hunting areas, navigable rivers, and light geese conservation seasons. The bill also reduces fees for migratory waterfowl habitat stamps, which nonresidents must purchase to hunt. It directly affects nonresidents who haven’t lived in Kansas for 60 days, excluding certain license holders as defined in the law.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRestricts nonresident hunting days to protect migratory waterfowl populations, aligning with conservation goals through managed hunting seasons and habitat stamp funding.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2097: Providing for approval by the department of wildlife and parks for qualified program or management plans to qualify for the nongame and endangered species habitat credit.

HB 2097 creates a tax credit for Kansas landowners who manage property to support endangered species habitat. It allows credits against income tax for both property taxes paid on qualifying land and costs for habitat improvements, provided the land is designated as critical habitat by the Department of Wildlife and Parks and meets specific conservation standards. The bill requires the department to approve management plans and maintain a public website listing qualified programs. Landowners must submit annual requests by July 1 to qualify for the credit, which applies to properties enrolled in approved habitat conservation plans. The credit is limited to the taxpayer's income tax liability and cannot exceed state tax law limits.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax credit against income tax for landowners managing endangered species habitat, providing direct fiscal relief and aligning with tax relief indicators.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates tax credits for landowners managing critical habitat for endangered species, directly incentivizing conservation and habitat protection under department oversight.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Conservation Wildlife

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2113: Establishing the state conservation fund and transferring $2,500,000 to such fund and providing for the enhanced transfer of moneys from the state general fund to the state water plan fund and from the state water plan fund to the water technical assistance fund and the water project grant fund.

HB 2113 establishes a state conservation fund in the treasury, requiring an annual $5 million transfer from the state general fund starting July 1, 2025. The fund must be used to match private water conservation investments (2:1 state-to-private ratio) and support domestic water quality sampling, with results shared with the state geological survey. It also amends water plan fund transfers, increasing annual allocations to the water technical assistance fund ($7 million) and water project grant fund ($18 million) starting in 2025. The bill directly affects Kansas conservation districts, the Department of Agriculture’s conservation division, and entities adopting new water technology in designated conservation areas.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates $5M annual transfer from state general fund to conservation/water programs, increasing budget allocation for environmental initiatives without tax changes.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes conservation fund with $5M annual transfer to match private water conservation investments and fund water quality sampling, directly advancing environmental protection and resource conservation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

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vetoed · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2111: Senate Substitute for HB 2111 by Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources - Exempting certain registered agritourism operations from local code and regulation enforcement.

HB 2111 increases Kansas' Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) acreage cap from 40,000 to 60,000 acres, directly affecting farmers and landowners seeking to enroll in the program. It clarifies county-level enrollment limits (capping at 25% of total acreage) and allows the "last eligible offer" to exceed these caps. The bill adds exceptions for eligibility based on factors like location in high-priority water areas, bankruptcy, or enrollment in other water conservation programs. Additionally, it modifies reporting requirements to cover the previous five years instead of shorter periods and removes outdated restrictions related to expired federal contracts.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExpands CREP conservation program by increasing acreage cap to 60,000 acres, promoting land conservation and water protection through enhanced enrollment eligibility.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2363: Requiring the board of county commissioners or the city governing body to refer the proposed creation of a conservation easement to the appropriate planning commission for review and recommendation; providing the board of county commissioners or the city shall approve or deny the creation of conservation easements.

HB 2363 requires local governments to involve planning commissions before approving conservation easements. Landowners proposing easements must have their plans reviewed by the city or county planning commission (within 60 days) for consistency with local land-use plans, before the governing body (county commissioners or city council) makes a final approval or denial decision. The bill specifies that approvals can be denied only if an easement conflicts with the local comprehensive plan, conservation programs, or known government land-use proposals. This applies directly to landowners seeking conservation easements and local planning commissions and governing bodies in Kansas.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates planning commission review for conservation easements to align with local land-use plans, promoting environmental protection through structured conservation approval process90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2233: Disqualifying from the carbon dioxide capture and sequestration property tax exemption and the income tax accelerated depreciation deduction if machinery and equipment are used to inject animal manure into the ground.

HB 2233 disqualifies property and equipment from Kansas' carbon capture tax benefits if used to inject animal manure into the ground. Specifically, it removes the property tax exemption and income tax depreciation deduction for machinery or equipment that injects manure, even if the same equipment was originally intended for carbon capture. This applies to businesses claiming these tax breaks under Kansas statutes 79-233 (property tax) and 79-32,256 (income tax). The bill directly affects agricultural operations or businesses repurposing carbon capture infrastructure for manure injection. It does not restrict manure injection practices but eliminates the associated tax incentives.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRemoves property tax exemption and income tax depreciation deduction for manure injection equipment, restricting tax benefits under Kansas tax statutes 79-233 and 79-32,256.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill prevents misuse of carbon capture tax incentives by disqualifying equipment used for manure injection, ensuring tax benefits directly support environmental protection goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Incentives

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