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Government News -
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Thursday, 22 March 2012 14:16 |
Legislative update: Remaining water bills making progress
The past two weeks have seen continued progress on this legislature’s action on water legislation.
  Senate Bill 310,
providing for the establishment of local enhanced management areas
(LEMAs), was passed by the Senate on March 15 and then by the House on
March 20. The bill will go directly to the Governor for his
consideration.
House Bill 2516,
allowing additional water banks and allowing a charter to become
“permanent” was amended by the Senate Agriculture committee and passed
favorably by the full Senate on March 20.
House Bill 2517
originally proposed to make the water transition assistance program
(WTAP) permanent. The Senate Agricultural Committee amended the bill to
provide for a sunset of the program in 10 years. It was passed by the
Senate on March 20.
House Substitute for Substitute Senate Bill 148,
providing for the division of water rights, was passed by the House on
March 21. The bill also contains language that amends water right
provisions for sand and gravel operators.
The three bills above – HB 2516 and HB 2517, and SB 148 – will be considered by conference committees next week.
As mentioned last week, House Bill 2451 eliminating water right abandonment for groundwater rights in areas closed to new water right development and Senate Bill 272
revising the multi-year flex account program was signed by Governor
Brownback on March 5. Senate Bill 272 was published in the Kansas
Register on March 15 ,
making it immediately effective pursuant to its provisions. Additional
information about MYFA, including a revised application form, will be
made available on the DWR website in the coming weeks. |
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