[{"_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",6637662,"mediaKeyId","2580192-96c68e6fefb0e40ed9b06cf12fedc044","parentId",2580192,"title","Senate Utilities Committee advances bill requiring utilities to allow law‑enforcement pole attachments; adds sunset","audioSeconds",1468,"startMs",1222000,"endMs",2690000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2580192-96c68e6fefb0e40ed9b06cf12fedc044&start=1222&end=2690","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2580192-96c68e6fefb0e40ed9b06cf12fedc044/thumbnail_1222000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6637662/Kansas/Senate-Utilities-Committee-advances-bill-requiring-utilities-to-allow-lawenforcement-pole-attachments-adds-sunset","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6637662-ad424323f5c57a7491efc87fb4cee562/orig.mp4?Expires=1774907451&Signature=NgfFzOVRiSpFqZpxZe47DWiAuc9r-6C6maF3zRbfzwPdiY8Tl0RFzmerqQsQkK1PZxkTSFw03RGWkZ7AwVCn9KoqegLp6i0mqpt8r42t7OwxOtt3T5~HVcqeE77fcByAH2B~zJwxC1BPWoGJ6j2jex4nY5YjvaTaWk3b7RftdJNy8U~fOceapWqnyA~EiBuWwZEeSxr-qHtOUL-LQBfpyQM1r94iv4yPH72fy5H~5WxMOTvWlGuCKcusaQHOcv21DSxtbTBgtqlKQOA6Ws7PmA8k6OYe1vTQLNZyyqNQbPf7ckiRJigzCalS4i4nVWeJPl1fBSdvDPPcvpCb-QicqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate Utilities ","date","2025-03-12T19:47:36.237Z","article","The Senate Utilities Committee voted to advance House Bill 2109, as amended, to require any public utility—including municipal utilities and electric cooperatives—to enter into a pole‑attachment agreement with a law‑enforcement agency upon request. The committee added a sunset date of July 1, 2027.

Nick Myers, a committee staff member, summarized the bill: it would require agreements to identify utility poles for attachments, describe the nature of the law‑enforcement equipment to be attached, establish safety specifications for attachment and access, and set terms for removal. The agreement would allow the utility to require that installation, access and removal be performed by the utility or a qualified contractor the utility approves. The bill also would require the law‑enforcement agency to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the utility from liability related to the attachment and operation of the equipment, Myers said.

Committee debate focused on privacy, legal authority and contracting concerns. Senator Warren, who expressed multiple objections, argued that the bill's use of \"shall\" would coerce utilities into agreements and could effectively grant law‑enforcement bodies powers like eminent domain over utility property. \"The bottom line is there is going to be a security camera on that pole. End of story,\" Warren said, warning of a broad surveillance capability without clear limits on duration, access and removal.

Warren also noted the bill's definition of \"law‑enforcement agency\" reaches agencies cited in other statutes and referenced that the Federal Bureau of Investigation was included in that definition in the bill text. He raised Fourth Amendment concerns and pointed to mixed federal appellate decisions about long‑term pole‑mounted surveillance of private property.

Senators who supported advancing the bill emphasized its stated purpose of protecting utilities from tort liability arising from cameras or other attachments and argued the practice had been used in Kansas previously. One senator said the measure would restore the prior status quo following litigation over pole attachments.

A motion to table the bill failed. Committee members then approved a conceptual amendment to add a sunset date of July 1, 2027; the amendment passed by voice vote. The committee then voted to report the bill favorably as amended. The committee's actions were recorded by voice votes; the transcript does not show roll‑call tallies.

The bill as described places decisions about pole locations and contractor approval primarily with the utility, while imposing indemnification obligations on the requesting law‑enforcement agency. Several senators asked for possible amendments on the Senate floor or in conference committee to address privacy protections, limits on duration of surveillance, warrant or court‑order requirements and the bill's definition of law‑enforcement agency.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Committee on Utilities 03/12/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Utilities Committee voted to advance House Bill 2109, as amended, to require public utilities to enter pole‑attachment agreements with law‑enforcement agencies upon request and added a sunset date of July 1, 2027.","taxTitle","Utilities, Standing, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Kansas","taxId",18813,"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},6637666,"Senate committee recommends Kate Gleeson for Central Interstate Low‑Level Radioactive Waste Commission",0,720000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2580192-96c68e6fefb0e40ed9b06cf12fedc044&start=720&end=720","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2580192-96c68e6fefb0e40ed9b06cf12fedc044/thumbnail_720000.jpg","/articles/6637666/Kansas/Senate-committee-recommends-Kate-Gleeson-for-Central-Interstate-LowLevel-Radioactive-Waste-Commission","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6637666-18f1c5a58f1fafd8b73d2a9e90030a55/orig.mp4?Expires=1774907451&Signature=B~bTVvagLDw8DYtF92Dg8pv6nKq18q517rZSx2h7a01n-BtfwOiNhUl7qrQmIp1dOqbWV7kCQsQ19pi0cfKdzOPOJqVC4QMGnrKT9nJb~w2UFGvvNkqXAcF-ixFBm9NWi87MrYKj9v5OVshLt1zFRt49G7t3tEjZl2g9yKo0aZNF1zusi1AlMI~Ct4Fvx6-mzkXT2oBWmhdGXL6jG4fSb0bWqGpQTivXk2AV5Qg4NX5~As1fIqaB1S4euhXxy8AoH0Ee9lamiaKCZlSRHMcsFWqqHNv9U5Tg8I86hvuU6V7O6pTI~0v-fpUK8WCWI626WN82L8ZkKqKesFSXTNRVsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kate Gleeson, deputy director for environment at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, was recommended by the Senate Utilities Committee for appointment as Kansas' commissioner to the Central Interstate Low‑Level Radioactive Waste Commission.

Gleeson told the committee she has served about a year and a half as deputy director and previously worked about 10 years as an attorney handling environmental programs, including air, remediation, waste, water and field services. \"It's a pleasure ... to provide some information about my ... appointment to the Central Interstate Low Level Radioactive Waste Commission,\" Gleeson said.

The commission, she said, was formed in 1985 and currently comprises four states: Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. Gleeson told the committee that Kansas currently ships its low‑level radioactive waste to disposal facilities in Texas and Utah and that the commission's work focuses on tracking amounts of waste generated and disposed and coordinating among states that generate such waste.

Gleeson said her initial goals would be to learn more about the commission's activities and to consult hospitals, laboratories, the state laboratory and Wolf Creek (the state's nuclear plant) to determine whether continued Kansas participation adds value. \"My purpose in joining the commission is first to become more familiar with the work that it does and the value it may or may not add ... and then to engage with those stakeholders,\" she said.

Senator Bowser moved that the committee recommend the Senate approve Gleeson's appointment pursuant to KSA 65‑34a02; Senator Francisco seconded the motion. The committee approved the recommendation by voice vote.

Because state statute requires Senate confirmation for the post, Gleeson will proceed to the full Senate for consideration. The committee hearing on the appointment was brief and drew supportive comments from multiple senators who said they were familiar with Gleeson's prior testimony before related panels.","The Senate Utilities Committee voted to recommend confirmation of Kate Gleeson to serve as Kansas' commissioner on the Central Interstate Low‑Level Radioactive Waste Commission after a brief hearing in which Gleeson described her environmental regulatory background and plans to consult state stakeholders about the commission's value.","actionData","errors"]

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Senate Utilities Committee advances bill requiring utilities to allow law‑enforcement pole attachments; adds sunset

Senate committee recommends Kate Gleeson for Central Interstate Low‑Level Radioactive Waste Commission