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15 Jun

Posted at 05:58h in Industry News, Regulatory
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers have asked a federal judge to remand the Waters of United States (WOTUS) rule without vacating it, essentially leaving the current rule in place while the agencies work on a replacement.  “This action reflects the agencies’ intent to initiate a new rulemaking process that restores the protections in place prior to the 2015 WOTUS implementation, and anticipates developing a new rule that defines WOTUS and is informed by a robust engagement process…,” the announcement stated. Prior to the 2015 rule's implementation,...

01 Jun

Posted at 08:44h in Advocacy
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2021 Kansas Legislature Adjourns Sine Die The 2021 Kansas legislative session formally adjourned Sine Die just before 1:00 p.m., on Wednesday, May 26. The half-day of floor work was uneventful in terms of laws overridden as the Senate successfully Governor Laura Kelly’s veto of a short-term health insurance bill, but the House fell nearly 20 votes short of the 2/3 majority needed to pass the law. Neither chamber attempted any other overrides on bills vetoed. Lawmakers in both chambers did pass a concurrent resolution to Governor Kelly, urging her administration to end the federally financed $300-a-week COVID-19 pandemic...

24 May

Posted at 08:33h in Industry News
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Kansas Grain and Feed Association’s (KGFA) scholarship committee has awarded more than $25,000 in scholarships to 19 Kansas high school graduating seniors for the 2021-22 academic year.  The scholarship committee, comprised of KGFA’s membership, received more than 200 applications and awarded financial aid based on equitable geographic locations throughout the state to students to assist in advancing their academic endeavors. “We are very proud of the KGFA scholarship program that has helped so many people throughout the state in its current capacity for more than 40 years,” KGFA’s president and CEO Ron Seeber said. “The association, its board...

12 May

Posted at 08:47h in Advocacy, Industry News
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Kansas State Treasurer Lynn Rogers announced a new linked deposit loan program to provide low-interest loans to Kansas businesses as well as to schools and businesses who experienced extraordinary natural gas bills from the February polar vortex weather event. The Extraordinary Utility Loan Program utilizes $20 million from the City Utility Loan Program to provide low-interest loans to wholesale natural gas customers, including businesses and school districts, who experienced higher utility bills resulting from the February winter weather. The program provides loans of no more than $500K with a term of up to three years. The State Treasurer’s Office began accepting participation...

12 May

Posted at 06:02h in Advocacy
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Legislative Veto Session Report The legislature met for additional legislative action last week during a time referred to as the Veto Session – historically meant to provide the legislature with a brief period to consider bills vetoed by the Governor. During this final week of action, lawmakers voted to override multiple vetoes of bills by Governor Laura Kelly. The legislature worked late into the evening on Friday, May 7, with the House adjourning at 1:40 a.m. on Saturday morning and the Senate adjourning at 2:15 a.m. The legislature passed a handful of new bills, including two multi-million-dollar COVID-response measures that...

27 Apr

Posted at 12:03h in Industry News
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Following an announcement by OSHA in February concerning its guidance on COVID-19, OSHA now plans to issue an emergency temporary standard (ETS) on COVID-19. The agency has formally transmitted its draft Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on COVID-19 to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. You can find the draft rule here: DASHBOARD - EO - REGINFO.GOV. After publication, OSHA could make enforcement of the standard a priority. The ETS could then be made permanent. AGENCY: DOL-OSHA TITLE: Subpart U – Emergency Temporary Standard – COVID-19 RIN: 1218-AD36 STAGE: Final Rule Status: Pending Review ECONOMICALLY SIGNIFICANT: Yes LEGAL DEADLINE: Statutory  RECEIVED DATE: 04/26/2021 ...

26 Apr

Posted at 07:15h in Advocacy
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Legislative Session Interim Report Governor Laura Kelly has now signed multiple bills passed by the legislature during the regular session. The Governor has also teed up possible action by the House and Senate during the veto session beginning May 3 by vetoing key legislation focusing on taxes and social issues. Upon its return, the legislature will also focus on passage of an omnibus budget bill for the balance of the current fiscal year. This budget action comes on the heels of the state having just received positive news on the budget from the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group. This advisory council...

19 Apr

Posted at 11:47h in Industry News, Regulatory
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The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) is providing Kansans a 30-day public comment period on the draft 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). The plan provides a 25-year statewide vision for the future of transportation in Kansas. Comments can be made until May 18 by clicking here.  The draft plan inventories the state's transportation system that includes highways, transit, rail, air and active transportation elements. It also identifies issues and trends that will influence the transportation system over the next 25 years such as technology advances, digital access, connections between health and transportation, the economy, demographics and the durability...

12 Apr

Posted at 06:12h in Advocacy
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Week Thirteen of the Kansas Legislative Session On Friday, April 9, the KansasLegislature adjourned for the last day of the 2021 regular session. The House and Senate will now take a three-week break before returning for a veto session on May 3 where they will consider bills vetoed by Governor Laura Kelly, work on the omnibus appropriations bill, and possibly take final action on other bills. During the last few days, the House and Senate worked long hours on a flurry of action on bills that will now be sent to the Governor for consideration. The legislature finished the regular session...

09 Apr

Posted at 14:48h in Industry News, Regulatory
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The Kansas legislature, a few hours prior to its three-week adjournment, passed Conference Committee Report on Senate Bill 86 which creates the Kansas Extraordinary Utility Costs Loan Deposit Program to assist businesses impacted by the polar vortex in February. The legislation goes to Governor Laura Kelly for consideration. The bill creates a low-interest loan program administered by the State Treasurer for Kansas businesses who were affected by the extreme cold in February of 2021. The loans are intended to assist businesses with paying off the natural gas bills over time. This is similar to the...

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