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Minutes for HB2091 - Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
Short Title
Requiring the secretary of agriculture to establish a division of sustainable agriculture that shall apply for federal grant funds under the greenhouse gas reduction fund to assist farmers in converting to renewable energy and sustainable agriculture practices.
Minutes Content for Thu, Feb 16, 2023
The Chair opened the hearing on HB2091. Kyle Hamilton, Office of the Revisor of Statutes, provided an overview of the bill. He stood for questions.
Dr. Robert Casad, Director, Blue Flame Biopower, stood in support of HB2091. He noted for the committee members the economic risk for each county in Kansas and how the bill would help not only the environment but the economies of high risk counties. (Attachment 23)
Randy Stookey, Sr. V.P. and General Counsel for Kansas Grain and Feed Association, Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association and Renew Kansas Biofuels Association provided proponent testimony and had suggestions for two amendments. He stood for questions. (Attachment 24)
Written only Proponent testimony was provided by Bernard B. Sheff, Montrose Environmental (Attachment 25), Jack Thimesch, former Kansas Legislator, current county commissioner (Attachment 26), and William R. Tetrick, President of Kansas Sustainable Agriculture District #001. (Attachment 27)
Oral Neutral testimony was provided by Justin Cobb, Government Relations Manager, The Nature Conservancy in Kansas. He stated that the bill only targeted the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and the bill needs a broader scope to ensure advancement of sustainable agriculture. He stood for questions. (Attachment 28)
Kelsey Olson, Assistant Secretary, Kansas Department of Agriculture provided neutral oral testimony and that while the Department supports sustainable agriculture, there are concerns about the administration of the bill that will need to be addressed. (Attachment 29) Discussion ensued.
Written only opponent testimony was provided by Zack Pistora, (Attachment 30) Kansas Sierra Club and Tom Buller, Kansas Rural Center. (Attachment 31)
The Chair called for additional testimony. There was none.
The Chair closed the hearing on HB2091.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:45 p.m.
