Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB173

Introduced
2/3/25  

Caption

Providing that any lease or easement involving commercial wind or solar electric generation resources shall not be in force and effect until the board of county commissioners of the affected county approves the commercial wind or solar electric generation project.

Impact

The implications of SB173 are significant for state energy policy and local governance. By requiring county approval before any commercial wind or solar energy project can proceed, the bill reinforces the role of local authorities in the renewable energy sector. This measure is expected to encourage collaboration between energy developers and local governments, likely leading to agreements that take into account community concerns and land use issues. Furthermore, the bill addresses the legal enforceability of easements and leases by establishing clear criteria for their validity based on local governance actions.

Summary

SB173 focuses on the development of commercial wind and solar electric generation resources in Kansas. A key provision of the bill is that no lease or easement involving these energy resources can take effect without prior approval from the relevant county board of commissioners. This aims to ensure that local governments have a say in the construction and operation of energy facilities, which could potentially impact the local environment and community dynamics. The bill mandates comprehensive descriptions of the land and frameworks under which the wind or solar facilities can operate, aiming to clarify and formalize the legal parameters surrounding energy development projects.

Contention

Despite the positive intentions, there are points of contention surrounding SB173. Opponents may argue that the requirement for county approval could lead to delays and complications in the development of renewable energy facilities, ultimately hindering progress towards cleaner energy goals. Critics may contend that local governments could impose overly stringent conditions that stifle innovation and deter investment in solar and wind projects that are essential for meeting future energy needs. Therefore, while the bill aims to enhance local control, it raises concerns about balancing local interests with broader state and national energy objectives.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS SB6

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

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 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 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 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 SCR1602

Approving the creation of a port authority in Wyandotte County Kansas.

KS SB5

Authorizing counties to impose an earnings tax.

KS HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

KS SB4

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

KS SB8

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

Similar Bills

UT HB0363

Water Easement Amendments

VA HB1721

Condemnation of conservation or open-space easement; compensation, Uniform Easement Relocation Act.

TX SB1009

Relating to the adoption of the Uniform Easement Relocation Act.

OK HB1060

Easements; the Oklahoma Uniform Easement Relocation Act of 2025; easement relocation; court orders; effective date.

OK HB1060

Easements; the Oklahoma Uniform Easement Relocation Act of 2025; easement relocation; court orders; effective date.

VA HB252

Servient estate; establishes relocation or modification of easement by owner.

VA HB252

An Act to amend and reenact § 55.1-304 of the Code of Virginia, relating to relocation or modification of easement by owner of servient estate.

NV AB192

Makes various changes relating to real property. (BDR 10-971)