Division of the Budget
Landon State Office Building Phone: (785) 296-2436
900 SW Jackson Street, Room 504 adam.c.proffitt@ks.gov
Topeka, KS 66612 http://budget.kansas.gov
Adam C. Proffitt, Director Laura Kelly, Governor
Division of the Budget
January 22, 2025
The Honorable Virgil Peck, Chairperson
Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
300 SW 10th Avenue, Room 144-S
Topeka, Kansas 66612
Dear Senator Peck:
SUBJECT: Fiscal Note for SB 36 by Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural
Resources
In accordance with KSA 75-3715a, the following fiscal note concerning SB 36 is
respectfully submitted to your committee.
SB 36 would amend current law pertaining to conservation districts. The bill would
increase the cap on the amount of funding disbursed by the Division of Conservation in the
Department of Agriculture to conservation districts from $25,000 to $50,000 beginning in FY
2026, subject to appropriations. Additionally, the bill would provide an increased matching basis
for state funding disbursed to conservation districts ($2 state funding to $1 county funding) based
on amounts allocated by the board of county commissioners for districts; however, the total amount
disbursed could not exceed the newly established cap of $50,000 per district.
The Department of Agriculture estimates that the enactment of the bill could increase state
aid to conservation districts in the agency’s Division of Conservation. The Department indicates
that the FY 2025 appropriation from the State Water Plan Fund (SWPF) totaling $3.5 million
provided an average of $33,359 per disbursement to each district. These disbursements to
conservation districts occurred on July 10, 2024 (beginning of FY 2025). For FY 2026, the
Governor recommends a $4.3 million appropriation from the SWPF and a $1.0 million transfer
from the 2024 HB 2302 Projects Fund in the Kansas Water Office for state aid to conservation
districts. The Department notes that the appropriation and transfer could increase state aid to
conservation districts in FY 2026; however, any state aid to conservation districts would be subject
to the ultimately legislative-approved appropriation and the matching county commissions
allocations to conservation districts. As a result, a fiscal effect for FY 2026 cannot be estimated.
The Honorable Virgil Peck, Chairperson
Page 2—SB 36
The Kansas Association of Counties indicates that enactment of the bill could increase
counties allocations to conservation districts to meet the new match amount; however, a fiscal
effect cannot be estimated. Any fiscal effect associated with SB 36 is not reflected in The FY 2026
Governor’s Budget Report.
Sincerely,
Adam C. Proffitt
Director of the Budget
cc: Lita Biggs, Department of Agriculture
Wendi Stark, League of Kansas Municipalities
Jay Hall, Kansas Association of Counties