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Panel reviews KDA plan to consolidate noxious-weed controls, schedule public hearing
Summary
The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and Regulations heard Kansas Department of Agriculture proposals to consolidate control-method rules, reclassify several plant species, and set a public hearing for April 7, 2026; committee members pressed the agency for clearer per-landowner costs and evidence for claimed economic benefits.
The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and Regulations on behalf of the legislature heard a presentation from Austin Vincent, staff attorney at the Kansas Department of Agriculture, on a package of amendments that would consolidate scattered control-method provisions into KAR 4-8-27 and change the designated list of noxious weeds. "These amendments are not federally mandated," Vincent told the committee and said the changes follow recommendations from the noxious weed advisory committee and stakeholder input. A public hearing is set for 04/07/2026.
Vincent outlined substantive list changes the department proposes: adding spotted knapweed and diffuse knapweed to category A; removing pignut from the designated list; adding common and cutleaf teasel to category B; and moving a variety of honeysuckle to category C. He said the department consolidated control methods into a single regulation to reduce fragmentation and improve clarity for landowners and county officials. Jeff Vogel, program manager for plant protection and weed control, added that some proposed species are not yet widely surveyed by counties, citing fewer than 100 acres of known spotted knapweed infestation in Kansas.
Committee members focused on the Economic Impact Statement. Representative Wasser asked how the department determined designations and pressed for detail on the EIS number, saying, "Is that per county, or does that include this just includes what tell me exactly what it is?" Vincent responded that the EIS reports a statewide annual cost figure (listed in the EIS as $7,489.93) based on county reports, statewide acreage estimates and modeled control-method costs; he offered to supplement the record with per-landowner and per-acre breakdowns. Several members requested supporting data for the department's claim that the rule changes would increase property values and crop yields and asked the agency to provide studies or data to substantiate those benefits.
