Agriculture committee approves rules, sets schedule for water, secretary and commodity presentations

The Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources approved its conferee and committee rules and set a series of presentations and meetings for the coming week, the committee chair said.

The action to approve the conferee and committee rules drew no objections during the meeting; Representative Rogie said she had none when the chair asked for objections. The committee then reviewed its meeting schedule and deadlines.

The committee is scheduled to meet the next day for a presentation by Don Bueller, chairman of the Kansas Water Authority, and Julian Rands, who has worked on a funding plan for state water efforts. Members were told the briefing will focus on the Water Authority’s funding plan and related matters. Kansas Agriculture Secretary Mike Beam is scheduled to appear at the committee’s next regular meeting to discuss topics the secretary raised previously; the chair asked members to bring computers to that session for document review.

The committee also confirmed a Tuesday session for the annual commodity presentations required by state statute; those presentations come from the commissions that collect commodity assessments and report on their programs. The chair reminded members that the deadline to file individual bills with committee sponsorship is Monday, Feb. 3, and said committee staff member Kyle is the point of contact for agriculture-related bills.

The chair noted there may be an additional, short meeting during the week on the call of the chair to allow for "bridal reductions" (brief procedural adjustments) and to give members a chance to submit last-minute items. The committee encouraged members to monitor email for any changes to the schedule.

Members were also told that the Kansas Commodity Classic will be held in Salina next Friday and that Mitch Holtz is scheduled to speak at a related event there.

After the scheduling and procedural items, the chair adjourned the meeting.