Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB266

Introduced
2/13/25  

Caption

Requiring legislative approval to construct high-impact electric transmission lines.

Impact

The implementation of SB266 would significantly affect how electric utilities conduct site preparations and construction of high-impact transmission lines. By requiring legislative approval, the bill shifts some regulatory power from the commission to the legislature, creating an additional checkpoint in the permitting process. Supporters of this bill argue that it would provide greater accountability and community input regarding the placement and impact of high-capacity transmission lines. This could lead to better alignment of such projects with local and state priorities.

Summary

Senate Bill 266 relates to the construction and development of electric transmission lines in the state of Kansas. The bill proposes that prior to constructing any high-impact electric transmission line—defined as lines at least 10 miles in length, transmitting over 340 kilovolts—electric utilities must obtain legislative approval after acquiring a siting permit from the state corporation commission. This change aims to enhance oversight on the construction of significant energy infrastructure and ensure that any projects align with state interests.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding SB266 include debates over the balance between regulatory oversight and the need for timely energy infrastructure development. Critics may argue that the additional legislative approval process could delay necessary projects aimed at improving the state's energy transmission capabilities. Conversely, proponents emphasize the importance of legislative involvement to prevent undesirable outcomes associated with new electric transmission lines, including potential environmental impacts and community disruptions. The requirement for public hearings on proposed routes is also a crucial aspect that has generated discussions on transparency and public involvement.

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 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 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 SB8

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

KS SCR1602

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

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 SB5

Authorizing counties to impose an earnings tax.

KS HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

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.

Similar Bills

NJ S1673

Requires electric transmission owners to join transmission entities.

NJ A2757

Requires electric transmission owners to join transmission entities.

KS HB2226

Providing incumbent electric transmission owners a right of first refusal for the construction of certain electric transmission lines.

MI SB0932

Public utilities: electric utilities; guidelines for applications for certificates of public convenience and necessity; provide for. Amends sec. 6 of 1995 PA 30 (MCL 460.566).

IA SSB1113

A bill for an act relating to electric transmission lines approved by federally registered planning authority transmission plans including right of first refusal and land restoration requirements, and including effective date and applicability provisions.

MI SB0930

Public utilities: electric utilities; guidelines for applications for certificates of public convenience and necessity; provide for. Amends sec. 8 of 1995 PA 30 (MCL 460.568).

WI AB25

An incumbent transmission facility owner’s right to construct, own, and maintain certain transmission facilities and Public Service Commission procedures if the transmission facility is a regionally cost-shared transmission line.

WI SB28

An incumbent transmission facility owner’s right to construct, own, and maintain certain transmission facilities and Public Service Commission procedures if the transmission facility is a regionally cost-shared transmission line.