Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2114

Introduced
1/28/25  
Refer
1/28/25  
Refer
1/29/25  
Report Pass
2/16/26  
Engrossed
2/25/26  
Refer
2/26/26  
Report Pass
3/17/26  
Enrolled
4/9/26  

Caption

Substitute for HB 2114 by Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources - Clarifying which structures shall be considered water obstructions and not a dam, increasing application fees for a permit to construct, modify or add to a dam, requiring post-construction permit fees and requiring any licensed professional engineer who conducts inspections required by the act to be approved by the chief engineer or a certified intern engineer who is under the supervision of a licensed professional engineer.

Impact

The enactment of HB 2114 is expected to have significant implications for state laws relating to water management and environmental protection. By standardizing the regulations around water obstructions and enhancing the penalty framework for violations, the bill seeks to increase accountability among dam owners and operators. The bill includes increased civil penalties for violations, thus promoting adherence to safety regulations. Furthermore, the collection of fees will be redirected towards state funds, ensuring that the resources are available for ongoing water resource management and infrastructure improvements.

Summary

House Bill 2114 focuses on the regulation of water obstructions in the state of Kansas, particularly concerning the construction, modification, and inspection of dams. The bill aims to clarify which structures are considered water obstructions as opposed to dams, establishing a clear framework for regulation before and after construction. It sets out to increase application fees for permits to build or modify dams and introduces post-construction fees. Additionally, it mandates that inspections required under the act must be performed by licensed engineers approved by the chief engineer or by certified interns under supervision. This is intended to enhance the safety and reliability of water management structures throughout the state.

Sentiment

The overall sentiment surrounding HB 2114 appears to be mixed. Proponents argue that the regulations will lead to safer and better-managed water systems, which ultimately protect public safety and environmental interests. Conversely, some critics express concerns that increased fees and regulatory burdens could disproportionately affect small dam owners and operators, potentially hindering their ability to maintain or upgrade important infrastructure. This dichotomy reflects broader debates on regulation versus economic sustainability in water resource management.

Contention

Notable points of contention regarding HB 2114 include discussions on the increased fees and the definition of what constitutes a water obstruction versus a dam. Some stakeholders voice that the new fee structure could financially strain those responsible for smaller projects, while others believe it is a necessary step to ensure rigorous safety standards are met. The debate extends to the effectiveness of civil penalties in driving compliance and whether the legislative focus should primarily be on safety, economic impact, or a balance of both.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS SB7

Authorizing federally licensed firearm dealers, in addition to county sheriffs, to receive applications for concealed carry licenses and forward such applications to the attorney general, prohibiting sheriffs from assessing any fee related to application services and allowing dealers to assess a fee related to application services not to exceed $20.

KS SB4

Requiring all advance voting ballots be returned by 7:00 p.m. on election day.

KS HB2001

Authorizing the secretary of commerce to enter into agreements with major professional sports franchises to establish STAR bond projects for a major professional sports complex, providing for additional revenue sources, expanding the powers and discretion of the secretary and making other changes to the STAR bonds financing act to facilitate such projects, limiting the secretary’s authority to approve such projects to one year unless extended by the legislative coordinating council, authorizing the Kansas development finance authority to issue STAR bonds for such projects, transferring funds under certain circumstances from the state gaming revenues fund to the attracting professional sports to Kansas fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and, if approved by the legislative coordinating council, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.

KS HB2003

Establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing for an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals, modifying the definition of household income and increasing the appraised value threshold for eligibility of seniors and disabled veterans related to increased property tax claims and citing the section as the homeowners' property tax freeze program, providing property tax exemptions for certain personal property including watercraft, marine equipment, off-road vehicles, motorized bicycles and certain trailers, excluding internal revenue code section 1031 exchange transactions as indicators of fair market value, providing for certain exclusions from the prohibition of paying taxes under protest after a valuation notice appeal and providing four prior years' values on the annual valuation notice.

KS SB1

Modifying income tax rates for individuals, exempting all social security benefits from Kansas income tax, increasing the Kansas standard deduction and the Kansas personal exemption, increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses, decreasing the privilege tax normal tax, excluding internal revenue code section 1031 exchange transactions as indicators of fair market value for property tax valuation purposes, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund and abolishing the local ad valorem tax reduction fund and the county and city revenue sharing fund.

KS SB2

Eliminating the income limit to qualify for the subtraction modification exempting social security benefits, increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses, establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing for an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals, citing the increased property tax homestead refund claim section as the homeowners' property tax freeze program, decreasing the normal privilege tax rate, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, decreasing the rate of ad valorem tax imposed by a school district; providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund, reducing the state rate of tax on sales of food and food ingredients and modifying the percent credited to the state highway fund from revenue collected.

KS SB3

Clarifying the procedures and restrictions on accepting a nomination for an elected office.

KS SB6

Providing a sales tax exemption for sales of electricity to residential premises by municipally owned or operated utilities.

KS SB8

Exempting the sale of firearms, firearms accessories, ammunition, firearm safes and firearm safety devices from the retatilers' sales tax.

KS HB2002

Expanding medical assistance eligibility and enacting the cutting healthcare costs for all Kansans act.

Similar Bills

NJ A1545

Concerns parking violations that obstruct NJT bus operations and bicycle lanes in certain circumstances.

NJ S2559

Concerns parking violations that obstruct NJT bus operations and bicycle lanes in certain circumstances.

NJ S344

Clarifies crime of highway and public passage obstruction and increases penalties.

AZ HB2811

obstructing governmental operations; lawful arrest

IA HF2081

A bill for an act establishing standards for obstruction lights on wind energy conversion facilities and providing penalties.

AZ SB1721

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AZ HB2276

technical correction; obstructing governmental operations

TN HB0729

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, relative to obstruction of a passageway.