KS
Kansas House Bill HB2541

Kansas 2023-2024 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2541

Introduced
1/18/24  
Refer
1/18/24  

Caption

Establishing the state conservation fund, the working lands conservation fund, the wildlife conservation fund and the Kansas outdoors fund, providing for the use of moneys from such funds, requiring certain reports to the governor and the legislature and authorizing certain transfers to and from such funds.

Impact

The bill is significant as it sets a structured framework for funding conservation initiatives within the state. The funding mechanisms include transfers from the state general fund and the lottery operating fund into the State Conservation Fund, which will then be allocated to the various conservation programs. This structure aims to enhance the efficiency and impact of state spending on conservation, ultimately benefiting the environment by promoting projects that enhance biodiversity, protect habitats, and improve community access to natural areas.

Summary

House Bill 2541 is a comprehensive piece of legislation aimed at the management and sustainability of Kansas' natural resources. It establishes four key funds: the State Conservation Fund, the Working Lands Conservation Fund, the Wildlife Conservation Fund, and the Kansas Outdoors Fund, each designated for different aspects of environmental conservation and management. The bill proposes that these funds be utilized for various conservation programs and requires that the money allocated remains intact for its intended purposes, preventing it from being used to supplant existing appropriations for agriculture and wildlife management.

Contention

While the bill is largely viewed positively by conservation advocates, it may generate debate concerning the allocation and prioritization of funds. Stakeholders will likely advocate for transparency and accountability regarding how these funds are administered and utilized. Additionally, concerns may arise about the capacity of the Kansas Department of Agriculture and Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks to manage these funds effectively while responding to diverse community needs and environmental challenges.

Latest HB2541 Activity

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS HB2063

Establishing various conservation funds, allocating state moneys for conservation, requiring reports to the governor and legislature, and authorizing fund transfers and providing for the use of such funds by the Kansas department of agriculture and the Kansas department of wildlife and parks.

KS HB2113

Establishing the state conservation fund and transferring $2,500,000 to such fund and providing for the enhanced transfer of moneys from the state general fund to the state water plan fund and from the state water plan fund to the water technical assistance fund and the water project grant fund.

KS SB31

Virginia Land Conservation Foundation and Fund; membership, use of funds.

KS LD1969

An Act to Expand the Use of Funds to Support Land Conservation

KS HCR55

Creates the Outdoor Conservation Study Group to study conservation funding mechanisms and programs

KS H7699

Restructures RI Housing and Conservation Trust Fund, increase its membership to 15 members, 11 of whom are to be from the general public and reallocate the percentage of the funds for housing, conservation and other goals.

KS S2638

Restructures RI Housing and Conservation Trust Fund, increase its membership to 15 members, 11 of whom are to be from the general public and reallocate the percentage of the funds for housing, conservation and other goals.

KS H0843

Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Trust Funds

KS SB1198

Virginia Land Conservation Fund; land conservation goals and needs assessment.

KS SB327

Hunting, Wildlife Conservation, and Outdoor Recreation - Funding, Promotion, Management, Licenses, Permits, and Stamps

Similar Bills

KS HB2012

Substitute for HB 2012 by Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources - Establishing the ethanol grant program fund and transferring an amount of not to exceed $5,000,000 from the state general fund to the ethanol grant program fund each July 1 beginning in 2026.

KS HB2302

Senate Substitute for HB 2302 by Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources - Making appropriations for the state treasurer for fiscal year 2023 and fiscal year 2024, providing for a transfer of moneys from the state general fund to the state water plan fund for fiscal year 2024, establishing the water technical assistance fund and the water projects grant fund for water-related infrastructure projects.

KS HB2346

Substitute for HB 2346 by Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development - Establishing the Kansas sports tourism grant program administered by the secretary of commerce to provide matching grants to communities for developing and continuing sporting events, providing for funding of such grants from the state economic development initiatives fund or from the state general fund if funds are not available therefrom.

KS HB2063

Establishing various conservation funds, allocating state moneys for conservation, requiring reports to the governor and legislature, and authorizing fund transfers and providing for the use of such funds by the Kansas department of agriculture and the Kansas department of wildlife and parks.

CA AB3131

Correctional facilities: service of process.

KS SB94

Discontinuing state property tax levies for the Kansas educational building fund and the state institutions building fund and providing for financing therefor from the state general fund.

KS HB2292

Promoting Kansas workforce development by enacting the Kansas apprenticeship act to expand apprenticeships with businesses, healthcare organizations and nonprofit organizations through tax credits and grants and to develop teaching apprenticeships with public schools through scholarships for professional teaching degrees and by establishing a program to provide matching grants to public and private professional engineering schools for engineering scholarships and program development costs.

KS SB91

Enacting the Kansas film and digital media industry production development act, providing a tax credit, sales tax exemption and loans and grants to incentivize film, video and digital media production in Kansas, establishing a program to be administered by the secretary of commerce for the purpose of developing such production in Kansas and requiring the secretary of commerce to issue reports on the economic impact of the act.