As of 2-22-13, KFU is opposed to:

SB191 – corporate ag repeal bill. That pretty much sums it up. It was referred to Senate Natural Resources committee, and the hearing is currently in limbo until the weather clears and we know what next week looks like. Chairman Powell may have to borrow time from Senate Ag to have the hearing. (bans county interference)

SB 82 – RPS Bill: would delay certain percentage targets of the RPS requirement which would mean instead of an RPS of 20 percent by 2020, it would be an RPS of 20 percent by 2024. The bill would also give authority to the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) allowing the commission to delay a utility’s RPS requirement if there was a “showing of good cause.”

HB 2241 – RPS Bill: would completely get rid of the 20 percent target by 2020, and change the law to a 15 percent requirement by 2018.

Awarded President Donn Teske’s “stupidity award”:

HB 2188 – non-profits who bring in over $350 in public funds would have to publish receipts and expenditures online. Geared more toward municipalities and chambers of commerce, but unless the wording is changed, it would affect any non-profit that brings in over $350. No update on it as of yet. Likely will die in committee.

Awarded President Donn Teske’s “stupidity award”:

HB 2366 – concerning the use of public funds to promote or implement sustainable development.

HB 2090 – Establishing the Kansas equine education and promotion board. (Funded by up-front assessment fee {tax} on horse feed sold)

Bills KFU is watching:

SB 168 – relates to agricultural activities; protection of farmland, and agricultural activities from certain nuisance. Looks like it’s geared more toward corporate ag folks than to conventional ag. Hearing held on Wed., but no decision made by committee. Lots of questions about what “nuisance” means, and why it’s necessary to even have this law. I look for it to pass out of committee next week.

HB 2292 – AN ACT concerning agriculture; relating to agricultural activities; protection of farmland and agricultural activities from certain nuisance actions;

HB 2362 – written by KLA, in House AG Committee, basically eviscerates the Endangered Species Act. KWF is asking me (Nick) to give negative testimony on this. Hearing was supposed to be today, may be pushed to Monday.

HB 2051 – concerning water, relating to limited transfer permits, exempts certain dams (CAFOs) from jurisdiction; enacts penalties for lack of dam inspection, removes the inspection responsibility from KDA, who will now recommend private inspectors. Passed out of committee on Monday. This bill would allow stockpiling and selling  under a temporary permit 1 to 4 million gallons of water rights. (mostly fracking)

SB 123 & 124 - restraint of trade act. (Extremely complicated)

HB 2224 & 2225 – basically the same bill as SB 123 & 124, restraint of trade act.

HB 2295 – concerning KDHE; relating to water pollution control permit system with a focus on CAFOs.

SB 147 – relates to permits, fees, and liability requirements on anhydrous tanks. Hearing held on Tuesday. No action taken.

SB 120 – enacts the Kansas farmers’ market promotion act under KDA’s “From the Land of Kansas” program, requires all farmers’ markets to register with KDA and also provides some liabilitiy protection for registered FMs, not for individual farmers who sell at the market. This hit a road block in Senate Ag the other day, and doesn’t look like it will pass out of committee. Should act on this early next week.

HB 2365 – relating to conservation easements

HB 2207 – Lock in separation distances for CAFO development.

HB 2171 – Establishing agreed local management areas. (Ground water)

HB 2363 – Exempting certain aggregate mining operations from department of health and environment regulations. (fracking)

HB 2321 – Standards for use of graywater. (fracking)

HR 1711 – A Resolution opposing the black-footed ferret programmatic safe harbor agreement and environmental assessment.