Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB170

Introduced
2/3/25  

Caption

Authorizing the state corporation commission to make recommendations regarding energy efficiency standards for buildings.

Impact

The bill could significantly influence state laws governing building energy efficiency by clearly delineating the roles of state and local authorities. While the state corporation commission can make recommendations, the authority remains with local governments to enforce or set stricter energy efficiency standards. This aspect of SB170 suggests a partnership model between state and local governments, allowing for tailored approaches to energy efficiency based on locality-specific needs and contexts.

Summary

Senate Bill 170 addresses energy efficiency standards in Kansas by amending K.S.A. 66-1227. The bill adopts the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) as the applicable standard for new commercial and industrial structures within the state. Importantly, while the bill establishes a framework for energy efficiency, it explicitly states that the state corporation commission will not have the authority to adopt or enforce these standards. Instead, it is empowered to recommend energy efficiency standards across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.

Contention

Potential points of contention surrounding SB170 could involve the balance of authority between state and local jurisdictions. Opponents may argue that the bill's structure still allows for variability and confusion if different municipalities adopt disparate standards. Proponents, however, may argue that the local control aspect enables cities and counties to adapt regulations that best suit their communities. There might also be discussions regarding the effectiveness of the adopted IECC 2006 standard in addressing current energy efficiency challenges, especially in light of advances in technology and building practices since then.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS HB2597

Extending the timelines for the state corporation commission to make a determination regarding rate-making treatment for electric generating or transmission facilities.

KS HB2154

Providing for the statewide election of commissioners of the state corporation commission, establishing the utilities regulation division in the office of the attorney general, requiring such division to represent and protect the collective interests of utility customers in utility rate-related proceedings and exempting the state corporation commission from the open meetings act.

KS SB88

Providing for the statewide election of commissioners of the state corporation commission, establishing the utilities regulation division in the office of the attorney general, requiring such division to represent and protect the collective interests of utility customers in utility rate-related proceedings and exempting the state corporation commission from the open meetings act.

KS HB2620

Establishing a rebuttable presumption against retirement of fossil fuel-fired electric generating units, requiring the state corporation commission to report on such retirements and extending the timelines for the commission to make a determination regarding rate-making treatment for generating or transmission facilities.

KS SB530

Providing that residential housing constructed through loans or grants from the state housing trust fund shall meet certain energy conservation standards.

KS SB456

Establishing a rebuttable presumption against retirement of fossil fuel-fired electric generating units, requiring the state corporation commission to report on such retirements and extending the timelines for the commission to make a determination regarding rate-making treatment for generating or transmission facilities.

KS HB2156

Authorizing public utilities subject to the jurisdiction of the state corporation commission to establish rates that benefit low-income residential customers.

KS HB2527

Authorizing electric public utilities to recover certain depreciation and construction work in progress expenses and limiting the time that such recovery may be implemented, authorizing the provision of economic development electric rates for certain large electric customers and limiting the time that such rates may be implemented, extending the timeline for the state corporation commission to issue an order in ratemaking treatment proceedings, authorizing electric public utilities to retain certain generating facilities in the utilty's rate base, prohibiting the commission from authorizing the retirement of certain generating facilities unless certain requirements are met, increasing the capacity limitation for the total amount of net metering facilities that may operate in the service territory of an investor-owned electric public utility, requiring net metering facilities to be appropriately sized based on the customer's average load and establishing requirements for exporting power from a net metering system to a utility.

KS HB2418

Abolishing the study commission for the consolidation of Kansas City, Kansas, and Wyandotte county, consolidation commission of Topeka, Kansas, and Shawnee county, study commission for the consolidation in Greeley county, state emergency response commission, transportation vision task force, Persian Gulf war veterans health initiative act, Kansas export finance act, community strategic planning assistance act, natural and scientific areas advisory board, public finance transparency board, Kansas film services commission, Kansas bioscience authority, KAN-ED act and department of health and environment advisory committees.

KS SB51

Authorizing the state bank commissioner to accept state and national criminal history record checks from private entities.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.