[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6339326,"mediaKeyId","2262169-95c3c6f33894ec0a952e16caa251eb9e","parentId",2262169,"title","Committee hears House Bill 2,095 to license pump‑installation contractors; KDHE and industry back measure","audioSeconds",2772,"startMs",1738000,"endMs",4510000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2262169-95c3c6f33894ec0a952e16caa251eb9e&start=1738&end=4510","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2262169-95c3c6f33894ec0a952e16caa251eb9e/thumbnail_1738000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6339326/Kansas/Committee-hears-House-Bill-2095-to-license-pumpinstallation-contractors-KDHE-and-industry-back-measure","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339326-7f3a56508f4844ee4bcd1818762e2bbe/orig.mp4?Expires=1775968545&Signature=bsqCOjH56KERvL7AXb6nehfLDu9WM7DDTl7XdR2SFMSlBBX9BoF1zW5FgVEbtJ7o9iTeOKqhWSI0F1L0hGaaYhP5pMoo91lJnylCBs5cQmH1KCiUfayMNcVIcrB-8uNtv8lrh3kkpU47ubC5Y7ple9ytiMQRDGwb4GtWI5LTxLNM-Bp18Fbi~Mjxyl8UAn5PXe4xD1zO29-iVlQQBjQRteaXSeVEocDs1yHpggrwnZBuu0dkgyjoOpO3Fxk-3KGREJWJ7G24xe4YOYAaf~2DBa~fmWUY0bwn43ymWRFGkI4UK-elGdCv3HQnMTkVrAmCENFhR8wCxHdQBYySAw8jrw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","KS Legislature","date","2025-02-11T00:00:00Z","article","Topeka — The Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources heard House Bill 2,095 on Thursday, a measure that would create a state license for pump‑installation contractors, require reporting of pump installations and extend regulatory oversight tied to the Kansas Groundwater Exploration and Protection Act.

The bill would add a new license category for pump installation contractors and set qualifications for applicants, require licensed pump installers to maintain accurate records and submit those records to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) within 30 days of installation, and allow KDHE to set fees and adjust them biennially to fund administration of the program. The bill also would move penalties recovered under the groundwater act to the water program fund.

Kyle Hamilton, reviser, summarized the bill and the new definitions, including a homeowner exemption written into the text: a person who installs a pump on land they own and use as a residence would be exempt when the work complies with minimum installation standards in the act. Hamilton said the bill would make the pump‑installer definition and exclusions explicit in statute.

Tom Stiles, director of the Bureau of Water at KDHE, said the department supports the bill. Stiles told the committee KDHE has regulated water well contractors since 1974 but currently lacks authority to license stand‑alone pump installers. He said that gap has allowed some follow‑up work to modify wells in ways that can \"undermine\" the sanitary seal that protects groundwater. Stiles said roughly \"40 to 50% of the states across the country\" license pump installers and that several surrounding states already do so.

KDHE and industry witnesses described examples they said show the risk. Jared Stroup, a licensed water well contractor from Premier Pump and Well Service, gave a specific example in which an unlicensed installer had cut a well casing flush with a basement floor and failed to install a proper sanitary seal. Stroup said that created \"a pipe in the basement flush with the floor that gives you direct access to the ground water,\" and warned such defects can create long‑term, irreversible contamination risks. Tony Wedel of Hydro Resources said licensing and continuing education would ensure people \"know what they are doing\" and provide recourse when standards are not followed.

A fiscal note presented by Heather O'Hara said KDHE estimates enactment would increase fee fund revenue by $40,000 beginning in fiscal year 2027 if rules and fees are implemented by that time; KDHE told the committee the agency expects to absorb administration within current staffing. KDHE staff also said the bill would allow the agency to require submission of water quality data and well logs and that water well contractors now are responsible for plugging wells, a topic the bill clarifies.

Committee members asked how licensing works and what training contractors receive; witnesses described training courses and continuing education used by licensed contractors and said the requirement is not an onerous multi‑semester barrier but a focused certification and exam process tied to KDHE rules.

No committee action was taken on the bill at the hearing. The meeting later approved committee minutes by voice vote; the vote was taken on a motion by Representative Rosier and seconded by Representative Moseley and the minutes were approved by voice vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources 02/11/2025","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 2,095 would create a pump‑installation contractor license, require recordkeeping and expand KDHE authority. KDHE and the Kansas Groundwater Association testified in favor, citing groundwater protection and contamination risks; fiscal note projects $40,000 in fee revenue beginning FY2027.","taxTitle","Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Standing, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Kansas","taxId",18781,"location","Kansas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6339330,"Railroads tell Kansas committee they move large grain volumes, back safety and biodiesel use",0,2453000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2262169-95c3c6f33894ec0a952e16caa251eb9e&start=2453&end=2453","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2262169-95c3c6f33894ec0a952e16caa251eb9e/thumbnail_2453000.jpg","/articles/6339330/Kansas/Railroads-tell-Kansas-committee-they-move-large-grain-volumes-back-safety-and-biodiesel-use","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339330-f8e5b52be6869d9b53f367a92179e4f7/orig.mp4?Expires=1775968545&Signature=a4pF-VTF-Tng4-MTQdGEE2Y-JvtKgHaW7YhipGA~TKkz0-8GX~Q4jvjyYBK98XIErH48yehH7kmO6VeQPIaoj-0zv~Hrfb3wc9eADxWoWIzPI9ETmeOf5Ksh6slpWCGjN3XXzwOUPXaFwFSYD9hQBkxoFJ1Kzxy0WoHD5GmiOu3LDyL4AnEmryTfdW5CfhwNZLg0o-0DN~-X5BJ9biNsbuotTZ7i4HwRGjFxMRovcM2ctISUj-KgCYQjJqp31YHPRK9fQWhR2cLRKV66RMSKBKHPfJpkmksdMFkFXWc1HLXfTjvLwf~Gg9kUjNYqSEdH-Gl7BLkn1b7KQkWKRNMikQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Topeka — Representatives from BNSF, Union Pacific and the Kansas Railroad Association told the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources on Thursday that rail lines and shuttle services are central to moving Kansas grain to domestic and export markets.

The presentations sketched the scale of rail activity in Kansas and efforts by the companies to expand shuttle service, reduce truck traffic and pursue emissions goals, while providing details on local facilities, volumes and safety investments.

Tom Bruno, representing the Kansas Railroad Association, said, \"We have over 4,700 miles of active rail in the state of Kansas,\" and described rail’s statewide reach into agricultural areas. Bridal Cammie, identified as director of wheat, fertilizer and specialty crops for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, described BNSF’s shuttle network and said the company has 21 shuttle‑qualified elevators in Kansas. Cammie said BNSF’s shuttle program has grown rapidly: from about 10 hundred‑car facilities in early 2020 to \"over 426 facilities in North America\" in 2024, and noted the company had added three Kansas elevators recently, including Sterling and Holcomb.

Haley Warner, Union Pacific’s export grain marketing manager, said UP operates more than 2,100 miles of track in Kansas, employs 875 people in the state and reported more than $506 million in capital investment over the previous five years. Warner told the committee Kansas was a major origin state for grain, saying that \"in 2024, Kansas originated 239,000,000 bushels of grain on Union Pacific Railroad,\" with exports to Mexico and Gulf ports among the primary destination flows.

Committee members and presenters highlighted the highway impacts of unit trains. When Representative Minnix asked how many bushels a unit train holds, Cammie replied \"370\" and said a single 100‑car shuttle can remove roughly \"about 350 to 400 trucks\" from highways. Committee members raised local operational concerns, including emergency vehicle delays at crossings in Winfield; BNSF staff described recent double‑tracking and other capacity work intended to reduce slow zones on busy corridors.

Railroad witnesses emphasized safety investments and emerging technology. Andy Williams, BNSF public affairs executive, said railroads are increasing wayside detectors and other safety systems and told lawmakers, \"railroads are the safest mode of transportation. 99.9% of all goods make it to their destination, without any kind of incident.\" Presenters also said companies are testing biodiesel blends and lower‑emission fuels to meet corporate emissions goals.

The committee did not take action; presenters and lawmakers agreed to follow up on specific local crossing and safety questions. The discussion closed as the panel moved on to the day’s bill hearings.

","BNSF, Union Pacific and the Kansas Railroad Association told the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources that rail service, shuttle elevators and investments help Kansas farmers move grain to domestic and export markets; presenters stressed safety investments and said companies are testing biodiesel blends.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee hears House Bill 2,095 to license pump‑installation contractors; KDHE and industry back measure

Railroads tell Kansas committee they move large grain volumes, back safety and biodiesel use