Kansas House Bill HB2085

Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/23/25
• Refer: 1/23/25
• Report Pass: 2/6/25
• Engrossed: 2/11/25
• Refer: 2/13/25
• Report Pass: 3/13/25
• Enrolled: 3/21/25
• Passed: 4/10/25

Caption

Extending the expiration of permits issued under the water pollution control permit system from five to 10 years.

Summary

HB2085 amends Kansas law governing the water pollution control permit system administered by the Department of Health and Environment. The bill extends the standard expiration period for permits from five years to 10 years, while preserving the secretary’s authority to issue shorter permit terms when valid cause exists. It also retains the existing framework for permit fees, annual fee collection, and permit reissuance after expiration or revocation. The bill continues to regulate permits for confined feeding facilities and animal-waste truck washing facilities, including the circumstances under which smaller facilities may be required to obtain permits and the maximum annual fees that may be charged. It directs all fee revenue to the water program management fund and makes conforming changes to the statute to reflect the new 10-year permit term.

Impact

HB2085 changes K.S.A. 65-166a by lengthening the default duration of water pollution control permits from five to 10 years, which reduces how often covered facilities must renew permits and may lessen administrative workload for the department and regulated entities. The bill affects livestock-related confined feeding facilities, animal waste truck washing facilities, and other permit holders under the water pollution control permit system, while leaving fee caps, annual fee collection, and the secretary’s discretion to require shorter terms intact.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It passed the House on emergency final action by a 123-0 vote and the Senate on the consent calendar by a 40-0 vote, indicating unanimous support in both chambers. The lack of committee transcript discussion also suggests the measure was viewed as a routine administrative update rather than a contested policy change.

Contention

No notable opposition is reflected in the available record. The only policy choice evident in the text is whether permits should generally last 10 years instead of five, but the bill preserves agency discretion to shorten terms when valid cause exists. Because the measure does not change fee caps or expand the categories of regulated facilities, there is no apparent dispute over cost, regulatory burden, or environmental enforcement in the materials provided.