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Minutes for SB263 - Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
Short Title
Creating a program to research the use of industrial hemp.
Minutes Content for Tue, Jan 16, 2018
Chairperson Kerschen opened the hearing on SB263.
Tamera Lawrence of the Office of Revisor of Statutes explained the bill.
Representative Steven Johnson testified in support of the bill. He believes that allowing the Kansas Department of Agriculture and state regent institutions to conduct research on growing industrial hemp is important to the economic development of our state. Industrial hemp could provide opportunities in agriculture, food, building, textiles, paper, and many other areas.(Attachment 1)
Susan Metzger testified in support of the bill. The Kansas Department of Agriculture is ready to to develop a licensing and testing program to comply with all federal laws if a regents institution desires to cultivate industrial hemp for research purposes.(Attachment 2)
Zack Pistora testified in support of the bill. he believes that the bill paves the way for expanded agriculture in Kansas as well as providing added environmental benefits to agricultural production. (Attachment 3)
Representative Willie Dove testified in support of the bill. He believes that growing industrial hemp in Kansas will have far reaching benefits to Kansas farmers and will bring more farmers into a global economy.(Attachment 4)
Written testimony in support of the bill was submitted by Ryan Flickner of Kansas Farm Bureau.(Attachment 5)
Ed Klumpp spoke with a neutral position on the bill. He said his organization is withholding opposition to the bill, but have concerns with several points in the bill. These concerns deal with unintended consequences in the area of enforcement.(Attachment 6)
Janae Talbott provided neutral testimony of the bill. She stated the research in this field is vital to progress in this area and impeding the process does not serve well to the potential economic growth this initiative could provide.(Attachment 7)
Katie Whisman provided neutral testimony on the bill. She asked that the committee consider some amendments that do not change the intent of the bill but make compliance practical while ensuring certain measures be addressed in rules and regulations.(Attachment 8)
Chairperson Kerschen announced that the hearing on SB263 would continue Wednesday, January 17 and adjourned the meeting.
