Chairman Peck opened the hearing on SB519.

Tamera Lawrence, Senior Assistant Revisor gave an overview of the bill.(Attachment 1)

Ms. Lawrence stood for questions.

Proponents

Senator Mike Thompson spoke in support of the bill.(Attachment 2)  This bill will allow facilities, similar to Walnut Pond, to operate within the bounds of expanding municipalities without fear of costly encumbrances inflicted by the city that expand to absorb formerly rural areas.

Senator Thompson stood for questions.

Shawn Lagemann, Owner/Operator, Walnut Pond Agricultural Discovery Center, spoke in support of the bill. (Attachment 3) This bill is an important step in ensuring that local government does not overreach while preserving the rights and importance of agricultural properties.

Neutral

Mark Engholm, State Fire Marshal presented neutral testimony on the bill. (Attachment 4) While Mr. Engholm provided testimony from a neutral standpoint, based on their experience with agritourism venues, their agency has concerns about how the bill would effect the responsibilities of their agency and how they currently interact with local fire marshals.

Mr. Engholm stood for questions.

Opponents

Rachel Willis, Director of Legislative Affairs, Kansas Department of Commerce spoke in opposition to the bill. (Attachment 5) This bill creates a new type of agritourism which is exempt from certain registered agritourism operations from local code and regulations enforcement. The new type of agritourism is nonpublic registered agritourism.

Ms. Willis stood for questions.

The following Opponents presented written only testimony.

Anne  Marie Yatsula, Staff Attorney, The League o Kansas Municipalities (Attachment 6)

Justin Ducey, President, Fire Marshals Association of Kansas (Attachment 7)

Paul Kramer, City Manager, Shawnee, Ks (Attachment 8)

City of Overland Park (Attachment 9) 

Chairman Peck closed the hearing on SB519 .