Senate committee restores water-plan funds, backs new weights-and-measures truck and modest FTE increases for Department of Agriculture

Senator Peek, reporting for the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources subcommittee, told the Ways and Means Committee the Kansas Department of Agriculture remains the lead state agency for food safety, pesticide oversight, weights and measures and participation in statewide water planning. He said the department’s FY25 base budget was $78.8 million with roughly 360 full‑time equivalent positions.

The committee recommended restoring $9.6 million in state water plan funds for FY2026 while excluding a $635,000 reappropriation for water quality buffer initiatives; it also recommended a $192,000 reappropriation toward a specially equipped weights‑and‑measures truck, part of a vehicle purchase estimated at more than $500,000. "The truck they're currently using was purchased over 20 years ago," Senator Peek said as he explained the reappropriation request. The subcommittee further proposed adding a net 5.7 FTEs for FY2026 (offset by small reductions in some administrative lines).

For FY2027, the subcommittee recommended $1.7 million in state general fund to fulfill matching grants required under Senate Bill 36 for county conservation districts, and directed the Department to deliver a report on fiscal‑year 2027 expenditures made to mitigate impairment at the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge; that report must itemize recipients and any ongoing commitments and be provided to the Senate and relevant House committees by the start of the next session.

Committee members pressed staff on several deletions. Senator Penny raised the food safety and lodging fund balance and asked whether the department plans to raise fees; Senator Peek said the chair expected the agency would seek fee increases if the fund balance continues to decline. Members also questioned the omission of $2.7 million for dam inspection and rehabilitation cost shares; Senator Beck said the state water plan fund is overappropriated and "you can't spend money you don't have," explaining the committee left that item out so conference could resolve priorities.

At the close of the presentation, Senator Peek moved that the Senate Ways and Means Committee adopt the Agriculture & Natural Resources committee report for the Department of Agriculture for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The motion, seconded by Senator Ally, carried. No roll‑call vote was recorded in the transcript.

What happens next: Senators said the Ways and Means working sessions on the full budget will be the opportunity to revisit enhancements and deletions; several members signaled they intend to propose removals when the committee drafts the overall budget.