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Minutes for HB2686 - Committee on Water
Short Title
Creating the Kansas department of water and environment within the executive branch and transferring the duties of certain offices to such department, establishing the water and environment maintenance fund and the water and environment maintenance board, modifying election procedures for groundwater management districts, establishing a water rights fee on owners of water rights and permits to appropriate water for beneficial use, authorizing the chief engineer to issue certain orders without review by the secretary of water and environment, increasing water protection fees, establishing a civil penalty for obstructions in streams violations and establishing the water structures emergency fund.
Minutes Content for Wed, Feb 16, 2022
Chairperson Highland opening the hearing on HB2686.
Representative Blex testified in support of bill (Attachment1)
Mark Dugan, Friends of the Kaw, testified in support of the bill (Attachment 2) Mr. Dugan responded to questions about the impact of a cabinet level position.
Darcie Meese, Manager Legal Services, Water One, testified in support of bill (Attachment 3) Ms. Meese responded to questions from committee about organizational structure and its potential for increased influence.
Kimberly Svaty, Kansas Municipal Utilities, testified in support of bill (Attachment 4)
Alan King, City of Wichita, testified in support of bill (Attachment 5) Mr. King responded to questions regarding Municipalities and their participation on water boards.
Zach Pistora, Kansas Sierra Club, testified in support of bill (Attachment 6) Mr. Pistora pointed out the importance of this bill as a legacy bill.
Josh Svaty, Regional Economic Area Partnership, testified in support of bill (Attachment 7)
Burk Griggs, Associate Professor of Law, Washburn University, testified in support of bill (Attachment 8)
Professor Griggs discussed constitutional issues regarding property rights and representation on elected boards following the one person one vote rules.
Kay Heley, RN, testified in support of bill,(Attachment 9)
Lucas Bessire, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, Oklahoma University, testified by remote in support of bill (Attachment 10)
Dorthy Barnett, Climate and Energy Project, testified in support of bill (Attachment 11)
Allyn Lockner, submitted written testimony in support of bill (Attachment 12)
Rob Manes, State Director, Nature Conservancy, submitted written testimony in support of bill (Attachment 13)
William Bradley, submitted written testimony in support of bill (Attachment 14)
Don Teske, President, Kansas Farm Union, submitted written testimony in support of bill (Attachment 15)
Jade Piros de Carvalho, Mayor of Hutchinson, submitted written testimony in support of bill (Attachment 16)
Sara Hill-Nelson, submitted written testimony in support of bill (Attachment 17)
Craig Zwick, Ground Water District 5 testified as an opponent to the bill (Attachment 18) Mr. Zwick responded to question about the water board and its structure and make up of district water board.
The Chairperson recognized Orrin Feril, Water District 5, Mr. Feril respond to questions on water resource planning, makeup of the board, and how to get municipalities involved in boards.
Chairperson recognized Burk Griggs. Professor Griggs responded to questions regarding, water districts and how they create sustainable water plans. He responded to how other states handle representation and their structure works regarding inclusiveness.
The meeting closed the proponent hearing on HB2686. The Committee was adjourned at 10:20 am
