The Kansas Legislature spent the bulk of its time in mid-February taking final action on several bills before the turnaround deadline Feb. 19, signifying the halfway point of the session, when nonexempt bills must pass their chamber of origin. Committees in the opposite chamber began to hear bills the last week of February that passed the chamber of origin.
Agricultural corporations
The Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources passed Senate Bill 465. The bill would amend the Kansas corporate farm statutes to prohibit the use of a limited liability partnership (LLP) to own agricultural land in Kansas. The Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) opposed the bill because it would be an unnecessary government intrusion that would limit the ability of farmers and ranchers to choose the best operating entity for their business.
The committee amended the bill to add a grandfather clause to protect existing LLPs, making the prohibitions prospective. The bill failed to be brought up for consideration by the full Senate and is no longer eligible.
Water
The House approved House Bill (HB) 2114. Originally opposed by KLA, the bill was amended in committee to resolve the association’s concerns. The bill amends numerous statutes pertaining to regulation of dams and other water structures. The bill, as amended, passed the House 103-13.
KDWP
The House approved HB 2505, a bill originally opposed by KLA, that was amended in committee to resolve the association’s concerns. HB 2505 would create an exception for Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) records regarding the location of any species that is threatened, endangered or in need of conservation from the disclosure requirements of the Kansas Open Records Act.
It was amended to create an exception to allow landowners to request this information about their own property. The bill passed 124-0.
The House also approved HB 2511, a bill that would permit monies received from agricultural production on state-owned property by KDWP to be used for the management of all such properties. KLA originally opposed the bill. However, it was amended in committee to specify that funds must be used for “habitat management,” which resolved KLA’s concerns. HB 2511, as amended, passed 122-2.
Rural veterinarians
The House failed to consider HB 2582, which would create the Developing Veterinary Medicine for Rural Kansas Program, and it is not eligible for further consideration this session. HB 2582 proposed a loan repayment program for licensed veterinarians in rural communities or those whose practice is made up of at least 50% food animal patients.
Applicants would be eligible to receive up to $100,000 or the balance of their educational debt load, whichever is less. The program would sunset after six years. The bill was not advanced over concerns about how much it could increase annual expenditures from the state general fund. — KLA
