Environment (Conservation) in Kansas

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 449: Enacting the clean air preservation act to prohibit solar radiation modification, geoengineering, weather modification, cloud seeding and other polluting atmospheric experiments or interventions and creating a crime for violation thereof.

SB 449, the Clean Air Preservation Act, prohibits conducting polluting atmospheric experiments in Kansas, including solar radiation modification, geoengineering, weather modification, cloud seeding, and other interventions releasing pollutants. It directly affects any entity - such as government agencies, corporations, or research organizations - conducting these activities within the state. The bill creates criminal penalties for violations, repeals prior weather modification laws, and requires law enforcement to enforce the ban through investigation and interdiction of prohibited activities. Key provisions define prohibited "atmospheric activities" as any pollutant-releasing experiments harming health, environment, or agriculture, including methods like chaff dispersal or aerosol injection.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Air Quality Conservation

in committee · Kansas · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 2585: Providing for the delta waterfowl distinctive license plate.

HB 2585 would create a special "delta waterfowl" license plate for Kansas residents who own or lease eligible passenger vehicles or trucks (under 20,000 pounds gross weight). To obtain the plate, owners must pay an annual fee of $25 to $100 (set by Delta Waterfowl) in addition to standard registration fees. The collected fees would support Delta Waterfowl's conservation work, and the plate is non-transferable, requiring annual renewal with the fee payment.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Conservation

signed · Kansas · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SB 403: Providing for the pheasants forever, quail forever and delta waterfowl distinctive license plates, restricting the use of material or objects covering a license plate for motor vehicles and modifying the definition of conviction in the Kansas uniform commercial drivers' license act.

SB 403 creates two new distinctive license plates in Kansas for "Pheasants Forever" and "Quail Forever," supporting conservation groups. Kansas residents with eligible passenger vehicles or light trucks can apply for these plates by paying an extra $25-$100 fee (determined by the organizations) to their county treasurer, in addition to standard registration costs. The plates are non-transferable and require annual renewal with the same fee. This bill directly affects Kansas vehicle owners who choose to support these wildlife conservation initiatives through their license plate selection.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

in committee · Kansas · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 2558: Increasing the amount of moneys transferred 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 2558 increases Kansas' annual funding for water infrastructure by raising transfers from the state general fund to the state water plan fund to $60 million starting in 2025. It then directs $15.5 million annually from the water plan fund to the water technical assistance fund (for planning and engineering support) and $22.5 million to the water projects grant fund (for infrastructure projects). This primarily benefits small municipalities (under 2,000 residents) and water conservation districts by prioritizing their access to grants for water infrastructure planning and construction. The funding mechanism expires on July 1, 2031, after which all remaining funds in the technical assistance and grant funds will revert to the state water plan fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics State Budget Conservation Drinking Water

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 ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Conservation

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 & Taxes ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Conservation Wildlife

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 ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Conservation

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 ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Conservation

in committee · Kansas · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 2063: Establishing various conservation funds, allocating state moneys for conservation, requiring reports to the governor and legislature, and authorizing fund transfers and providing for the use of such funds by the Kansas department of agriculture and the Kansas department of wildlife and parks.

HB 2063 establishes four conservation funds in Kansas: the State Conservation Fund, Working Lands Conservation Fund, Wildlife Conservation Fund, and Kansas Outdoors Fund. It allocates $60 million annually from the state general fund to the State Conservation Fund, with automatic transfers to the other three funds (50% to Working Lands, 25% to Wildlife, and the remainder to Kansas Outdoors) starting July 2025. The Kansas Department of Agriculture and Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks will administer these funds to support conservation projects on working lands, wildlife habitats, and outdoor recreation, including irrigation efficiency, soil health, and native grassland restoration. The bill prohibits using these funds for land acquisition or to replace existing state funding for these agencies.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation Wildlife

signed · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2025

SB 36: Increasing the cap on the amount of moneys disbursed by the division of conservation to conservation districts and providing an increased matching basis for state moneys disbursed to conservation districts based on amounts allocated by the board of county commissioners for such districts.

SB 36 increases the annual state funding cap for Kansas conservation districts from $25,000 to $50,000 per district. It changes the state matching requirement from a 1:1 ratio to a 2:1 ratio (state funds to county funds), meaning the state will match two dollars for every one dollar counties allocate for conservation activities. This applies to districts receiving state funds for operating costs, with the total state disbursement per district capped at $50,000 annually. The bill affects conservation districts and county commissioners, who must allocate funds in their budgets to qualify for the increased state matching.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Conservation

All environment bills