environmental issues ge stage time in 2018 session; sec ond … · 2018. 3. 14. · welcome to...
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Kansas Legislative News | Halftime Report March 9, 2018
ZACK PISTORA State Lobbyist
Kansas Chapter of Sierra Club
website
785-865-6503 [email protected]
ZACK PISTORA'S HALFTIME REPORT Environmental Issues Get Plenty of
Stage Time in 2018 Session; SecondHalf Underway!
Welcome to March Madness, Kansas Legislature style.The session is hea�ng up, as this week marked the firstfull week of ac�on since February 22nd, when statelawmakers concluded the first half of the 2018legisla�ve session. We are now beyond “Turnaround”, akey deadline in which most legisla�on (minus billsintroduced in commi�ees on budget, taxes, and federaland state affairs) must pass at least one chamber, andare now deba�ng the bills again on the other side of theLegislature.
This year, in what felt like a rollercoaster ride, as anexcep�onally large number of bills – covering manytopics – were considered in the final weeks beforeTurnaround, the Kansas Legislature will now besolidifying the fate of much legisla�on in the next fewfast and furious weeks. To date, I have iden�fied roughly40 environmentally-related bills, and am currentlytracking about a dozen ‘hot topic’ issues, concerningchickens, earthquake-causing oil and gas injec�on wells,pes�cide dri�, water policy, and more. Overall, in myseven year experience, this session has arguably beenthe busiest session for me yet. In diving into theenvironmental issues discussed, see headlines and mybill tracker below.
Top Environmental Headlines
Mega Chicken Farms, “SuperCoops,” Closer to Your FrontDoor?’
Kansas Senate says yes. But, will theKansas House “Chicken Out” on standingup for Kansas communities too? Senate Bill 405, which changes the ra�o of volume of chickens allowed within a given acreage, passed 29-10 with a majority of the Republican-controlled Senate vo�ng against an amendment allowing local control (i.e. the right of a county to be off-limits to these mega farms). The House Agriculture Commi�ee recommended the bill 18-4, a�er two failed amendments.
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House Commi�ee VotesDown Bill that AddressesManmade Earthquakes
House Bill 2641 showcased the first �me that Kansas vic�ms of the manmade earthquakes had a chance to voice their problems to the Kansas legislature. These “induced seismic” earthquakes come from oil and gas wastewater injec�on disposal. HB 2641, which a�empted to expand (somewhat) successful regula�ons statewide, was voted down by commi�ee members, largely on party lines.
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Kansas Lawmakers HalfwayHome to Adding Two NewState Parks
Kansas WEALTH DAY, theEnvironmental Lobby Day
Senate Bill 331, which adds the Flint HillsTrail and Li�le Jerusalem area as two newState Parks, passed 26-14, and had ahearing in House Agriculture on March8th. We expect the bill to pass.
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Come join us Thursday, March 15th at theStatehouse and lobby your legislators onWEALTH issues. RSVP before March 12th for a complimentary, local-food catered lunch! Click below to RSVP, see the day's schedule and more.
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Major Legisla�on For a more in-depth explana�on of the following bills, click here.
SB 263 Creating an Industrial Hemp research program –Passed Senate 36-3, Hearing in House 3/14 Read more
SB 322 Improving the Net Metering Law for Kansas Solar–Died in Senate Committee
SB 331 Designating the Flint Hills Trail and Little JerusalemState Parks – Passed Senate 26-14 Read more
SB 347 Creating a state Energy Efficiency Savings Goal –Died in Senate Committee Read more
SB 405Changing the Animal Conversion Unit Formula forPoultry – Passed Senate 29-10 & HouseCommittee 18-4
Read more
HB2583
Amending the Noxious Weed Law – Passed theHouse 101-16, now in Senate Committee Read more
HB2641
Providing a statewide limit on injection fluid disposalto limit earthquakes – Voted Down in Committee Read more
HB2668
Sales Tax exemption for farm products sold atFarmers’ Markets – Hearing in House Tax 3/8
HB2669
Requiring Liability Insurance for oil and gas injectionwell operators – Didn’t get a hearing
HB Reforming the KCC to better serve Kansans on
2672 earthquakes and injection wells – Didn’t get ahearing
Your membership and support for the Kansas SierraClub is needed now more than ever!
As always, thank you for being part of our Kansas Chapter of Sierra Club, for caringabout our environment, and for reading my update. We especially appreciate yoursupport right now as we face cri�cal environmental issues ahead of our November2018 elec�on. Thank you for contribu�ng to Kansas Sierra Club and a be�er world!Please contact me if I can be of any help.
Your proud Kansas Lobbyist,
Zack Pistora
Legisla�ve Director [email protected]
785-865-6503
Don’t forget to mark your calendar and register for our Lobby Day…
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This email was sent by the Sierra Club Kansas Chapter PO Box 8186 Topeka, KS 66608
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