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Minutes for HB2302 - Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
Short Title
Modifying the distribution of moneys into the state water plan fund, creating the water technical assistance fund and the water projects grant fund for water-related infrastructure projects and distributing a portion of the revenue from the sales and compensating use tax to the state water plan fund.
Minutes Content for Wed, Mar 15, 2023
Chairperson Kerschen opened the hearing on HB2302.
Chris Waggoner with the Revisor of Statutes Office explained the bill.(Attachment 1)
Tim Boese testified in support of the bill. He believes that HB2302 presents a unique opportunity to assist groundwater management districts in protecting and conserving the states groundwater resources and help fund the unfunded mandates found in HB2279. In addition, he recommends that HB2302 be amended to include specific funding for groundwater management districts and projects.(Attachment 2)
Justin Cobb provided proponent testimony on the bill. He told the committee that the bill is the product of hours of expert testimony and broad stakeholder consultations. He believes that there is no overnight solution to the water crisis, but this bill would put tools in the hands of Kansans to make significant progress in solving this crisis. (Attachment 3)
Ellen Parker spoke in favor of the bill. She told the committee that she believes the bill is a great first step in securing a sustainable funding source to support the state's water resources. However, she asked why the bill did not require the newly created water related infrastructure projects grant plan to support the Kansas Water Plan.(Attachment 4)
Aaron Popelka testified in support of the bill. He suggested that the bill set aside stockwater fees for stockwater conservation programs.(Attachment 5)
Josh Svaty spoke in favor of the bill on behalf of Kim Svaty. He believes that bill addresses many of the concerns and challenges that municipalities across Kansas have expressed concerning the delivery of clean, safe drinking water to the people of Kansas. The bill will give these cities technical assistance and a funding program for communities to be able to access federal funding assistance.(Attachment 6)
Joe Newland testified in support of the bill. He explained that the bill would offer a much needed increase to the State Water Plan Fund through a minute carve out of existing sales tax that would provide significantly greater and more reliable revenue to help fund the Kansas Water Plan initiatives. (Attachment 7)
Dawn Buehler spoke in support of the bill. She explained that the Kansas Water Office has consistently urged significantly increased funding for the State Water Plan Fund to make the implementation of the State Water Plan possible. After many years of underfunding, the Legislature and the Governor fully funded two statutory transfers to the State Water Plan Fund in FY2023. However, significantly more funding is necessary to fully implement the projects and programs identified in the Water Plan.(Attachment 8)
Wendi Stark testified as proponent of the bill. She told the committee that quality and quantity of drinking water is a concern for cities across the state. The establishment of the water technical assistance fund and the water projects grant fund would be tools available to any city willing and able to utilize them. These tools could be extremely valuable for those cities who need the most assistance to access safe and clean drinking water.(Attachment 9)
Representative Ken Titus provided proponent testimony on the bill. He explained that the House Water Committee crafted a plan, based on the findings of the 2016 Blue Ribbon Task Force, that would dedicate sales tax funds to the State Water Plan Fund in order to develop a long term plan to deal with Kansas' needs. Along with a five year sunset on dedicated sales tax, the bill identifies key priorities for the Kansas Water Office to consider in funding recommendations. This includes funding for key technical staff positions at state agencies, seeking out non-profit matching funds, and encouraging cooperation and shared use of funds between existing agencies.(Attachment 10)
Written proponent testimony was submitted by:
Mike Bulk- Ducks Unlimited(Attachment 11)
Zack Pistora- Kansas Sierra Club(Attachment 12)
Hardy Howard- City of Wakeeney (Attachment 13)
Travis Lowe-Kansas Society of Professional Engineers and Scott Heidner - American Council of Engineering Companies of Kansas (Attachment 14)
Stacy Barnes-city of Greensburg (Attachment 15)
Josh Roe-Kansas Corn Growers (Attachment 16)
Kim Everley- City of McClouth (Attachment 17)
Randy Frazer-Arkansas City (Attachment 18)
Katie Durham-Groundwater Management District 1(Attachment 19)
Audree Guzman- City of Valley Falls (Attachment 20)
Michael Ross-City of Overland Park (Attachment 21)
Shahira Stafford- Kansas Cooperative Council(Attachment 22)
Micheal White- Kansas Contractors Association(Attachment 23)
Mike Levendofsky- Kansas Farmers Union(Attachment 24)
Josh Svaty- Regional Economic Area Partnership (Attachment 25)
Bill Simshauser- Kansas Association of Conservation Districts(Attachment 26)
Jeffrey Hancock- Kansas Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers(Attachment 27)
Randy Stookey- Kansas Grain and Feed, Kansas Agribusiness, and Renew Kansas Biofuels (Attachment 28)
Kelly Passauer- City of Independence (Attachment 29)
Justin Cobb- Kansans for Conservation(Attachment 30)
Connie Owen presented neutral testimony on the bill. She believes that HB2302 brings the conversation about funding for water to the forefront and further highlights the needs and benefits of additional state investment in Kansas' water resources for current and future generations though a fundamental shift in how the state will fund water priorities over the next five years.(Attachment 31)
Written neutral testimony was provided by:
Jim Butler- Kansas Geological Service (Attachment 32)
Chairperson Kerschen closed the hearing on HB2302 and adjourned the meeting at 9:45.
