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

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.