Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Senate panel hears bill to tighten rules for state water grants, focus on transparency and small towns
Summary
Senate Bill 317 would add application and scoring requirements for two state water grant programs, require a 25-year supply demonstration for distribution projects, set a Sept. 15 deadline, and reserve at least half of certain funds for municipalities under 8,000 residents; proponents and neutral witnesses urged clearer criteria and public posting amid huge demand.
Senate Bill 317, presented at a hearing of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, would require applicants to the Water Technical Assistance Fund and the Water Projects Grant Fund to meet new documentation and scoring criteria and would add legislative intent favoring partial grants combined with other funding sources.
Tamara Lawrence, senior assistant adviser to the committee, summarized the bill’s changes, saying it would require distribution- or supply-related projects to demonstrate a minimum 25-year water supply unless the project adds a new source that extends supply beyond 25 years, impose a Sept. 15 application deadline, allow revocation and repayment of grants under certain circumstances, and direct the Kansas Water Office to adopt a scoring matrix when demand exceeds available funds. Lawrence also noted the bill would require at least half of annual transfers to the technical assistance fund be awarded to municipalities with 8,000 or fewer residents…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
