Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Legislation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications receives four bill introductions, hears lobbyist introductions and approves minutes
Summary
The Committee heard introductions of four bills covering utility wildfire liability, agricultural impact mitigation, Kansas Corporation Commission docket timelines and 9-1-1 accounting changes; lobbyists from Federico Durst Consulting introduced themselves and the committee approved minutes from Jan. 16.
The Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications approved its Jan. 16 minutes and received introductions for four bills during a brief meeting that focused on bill referrals and guest introductions.
Committee members heard requests to introduce bills from utility and industry representatives, including a proposal on utility liability for wildfires and a Kansas Farm Bureau bill on ag-impact mitigation protocols. Committee members asked no substantive questions before the chair allowed the introductions.
The introductions began when Laura Lutz of Evergy said, "My name is Laura Lutz. I'm with Evergy, and I'm asking for the committee's permission to introduce a bill with RS number 0288 dealing with utility liability for wildfires." The chair then indicated there were no questions and said, "Bill is introduced."
Claudia Song of the Kansas Farm Bureau asked to introduce 25RS0597, described as "requiring the Kansas Corporation Commission to establish and enforce a code of conduct in ag impact mitigation protocols for large energy facilities." After no questions, the chair recorded the bill as introduced.
A representative identified as WinReds (stated on the record with the Kansas Corporation Commission) introduced 25RS0172, a proposal to extend the commission's required timeframe for an order in line-siding application dockets from 120 to 180 days. The chair acknowledged the request and recorded the introduction.
Sherry Massey, executive director of the Kansas 9-1-1 Coordinating Council, asked permission to introduce RS0064, described as accounting changes necessary to move council processes into state accounting. The chair confirmed the bill was introduced after noting it followed up from last year's work.
Before bill introductions, the committee unanimously agreed to treat the Jan. 16 minutes as approved "as published" after the chair asked if there were any additions, corrections or changes and hearing none.
The meeting also included short introductions from consultants John Federico and Steven Durst of Federico Durst Consulting. Federico said the firm represents broadband and telecom providers including Cox Communications, Comcast, Midco, Mediacom and Cable 1 and added they also represent technology and data companies such as Garmin, Microsoft, SAS and Flock Safety. Durst noted energy clients including LS Power, South Bow and Symmetry Energy Solutions and referenced an upcoming project in western Kansas that he said would be brought before the committee at the appropriate time.
No motions, substantive committee debate, amendments or votes on bills occurred during the meeting; each bill was granted permission to be introduced. The committee set its next meeting for Thursday, the 23rd, which will include a presentation on coal in Kansas by Randy Immenger of Immenger LLC.
Minutes approval and bill introductions were recorded by the chair as formal acts of the committee during the session.
