SESSION OF 2025
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON SENATE BILL NO. 211
As Amended by Senate Committee of the Whole
Brief*
SB 211, as amended, would modify the appointment of
members to the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission
(Commission) and modify how proposed rules and
regulations are acted upon by the Commission.
Appointment of Commission Members
The bill would change the appointment process to the
Commission to allow for the appointment of:
●Four members appointed by the Governor who
represent:
○Fish and Wildlife Administration Region
(Region) One (currently, at-large);
○Region Two (currently, Region One);
○Region Three (currently, Region Two); and
○Region Four (currently, Region Five);
●One at-large member appointed by the Speaker of
the House (Speaker); and
●One at-large member appointed by the President
of the Senate (President).
The bill would also allow for continuing law regarding
one at-large member appointed by the Attorney General.
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*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
https://klrd.gov/ [Note: While the Kansas Department of Wildlife and
Parks (KDWP) has consisted of five regions in the past, the
current KDWP consists of four regions.]
Appointment Prohibition
The bill would not allow more than two at-large
appointments to be made from the same region.
Terms of Commission Members
The bill would allow on July 1, 2026, each appointing
authority to appoint a new member to replace the incumbent
Commission member; otherwise, the incumbent member
would continue to serve for the remainder of their term.
The bill would authorize the Commission members
appointed by the Speaker and President to serve at the will of
the Speaker and the President, respectively. The bill would
clarify the Governor and Attorney General could remove a
Commission member after an opportunity for a hearing in
accordance with the Kansas Administrative Procedure Act.
Rules and Regulations
The bill would authorize the development of proposed
rules and regulations by the Secretary, a member of the
Commission, or through approval of the Commission directing
the Secretary to develop a specific proposed rule and
regulation.
Technical Amendments
The bill would make technical amendments to continuing
law.
2- 211 Background
The bill was introduced by the Senate Committee on
Federal and State Affairs at the request of Senator Tyson.
Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
In the Senate Committee hearing, the Kansas Attorney
General and a Commission member provided proponent
testimony, advocating that an increased amount of decision-
making authority regarding rules and regulations be given to
the Commission to ensure informed decision-making and
modify the Secretary’s rules and regulations authority.
Written-only proponent testimony was provided by a
Commission member and a representative of the Kansas
Outfitters and Landowners Association.
Neutral testimony was provided by a representative of
KDWP, who expressed concerns over the removal of
longstanding practices and procedure conducted by the
department and disruptions that may occur should
commissioners be able to propose their own regulations.
Opponent testimony was provided by a former
Commission member and a representative of The Nature
Conservancy, who expressed a desire to maintain the current
structure that allows for checks and balances on the
Secretary’s rules and regulations.
The Senate Committee amended the bill to:
●Adjust the appointment, term expiration, number of
appointees from the same Region, and removal of
Commission members;
●Prohibit appointment to the Commission if a person
has had a certain license or employment within five
years prior to appointment;
3- 211 ●Allow members of the Commission to directly
submit potential rules and regulations, and by
majority vote, direct the Secretary to draft a report
on or develop any proposed rules and regulations;
and
●Make technical amendments.
Senate Committee of the Whole
The Senate Committee of the Whole amended the bill
to:
●Remove language that prohibits a member from
being appointed if the person has been a controlled
shooting area licensee, an employee of a licensee,
or a person who provides hunting outfitting
services on hunting guide services;
●Clarify that not more than two at-large members
would be from the same fish and wildlife
administration region;
●Remove language providing that each member of
the Commission appointed by the Attorney
General, Speaker, and President would hold office
for a term of two years and until a successor is
appointed and qualified;
●Clarify that proposed rules and regulations could
be developed by the Secretary, a member of the
Commission, or through approval of the
Commission directing the Secretary to develop a
specific proposed rule and regulations.
Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, as introduced, KDWP would require
4- 211 $85,000 from its fee funds to hire 1.0 Legal Assistant position
starting in FY 2026. Any fiscal effect associated with
enactment of the bill is not reflected in The FY 2026
Governor’s Budget Report.
Wildlife and Parks; rules and regulations; Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission;
fish and wildlife
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