All Roll Calls
Yes: 582 • No: 50
KansasHB 21142025–2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Substitute for HB 2114 by Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources - Clarifying which structures shall be considered water obstructions and not a dam, increasing application fees for a permit to construct, modify or add to a dam, requiring post-construction permit fees and requiring any licensed professional engineer who conducts inspections required by the act to be approved by the chief engineer or a certified intern engineer who is under the supervision of a licensed professional engineer.
Sponsored By: Committee on Water
Signed by Governor
senate committee on agriculture and natural resourceshouse committee on agriculture and natural resourceshouse committee on water
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 2 costs, 3 mixed.
Lower inspection charges for dam owners
The law lowers inspection fees to $1,000 for fee classes 1 and 2, $2,000 for class 3, and $3,000 for class 4. This fee schedule does not apply when owners choose to arrange and pay for their own authorized inspection. Owners also avoid charges for added inspections when a higher hazard rating results from reasons they did not cause. The higher-rating inspection requirements still apply.
Public access to dam flood maps
The chief engineer must prominently post each permitted dam’s flood map on the Kansas Department of Agriculture website. Copies go to the local zoning authority, or the county clerk where no zoning authority exists. Preparing or updating maps not already provided to the chief engineer is required only when additional funding is available.
Some structures no longer count as dams
The law treats several structures as water obstructions rather than dams. These include government dry-detention road fills, low-head dams below the lowest stream bank, and approved confined-feeding wastewater storage. Some hazard class A structures also qualify if they are under 30 feet high and store under 125 acre-feet. They must hold water under the specified irrigation, stockwater, or sediment-control rights or permits. Water-obstruction rules still apply.
Land transfers require dam flood notices
Beginning July 1, 2026, owners must file a notice when selling, subdividing, or otherwise transferring flood-zone land separately from a dam. The dam must be under the chief engineer’s authority. Owners must file with the register of deeds in every county containing an affected parcel, using required wording and a legal description. When the higher-hazard inspection cost rule applies, failure to file makes the landowner responsible for costs above the previous lower rating’s requirements.
Higher permit costs for water projects
Dam permit application fees are $250 for nonexempt hazard class A dams, $500 for class B, and $1,000 for class C. The class A fee rises from $200. A modification includes changes to size or water-flow features that the chief engineer identifies in structures or channels under state authority. Permitted water obstructions and covered stream changes also carry a post-construction fee, separate from the application fee. Based on the upstream watershed, this fee is $200 below 5 square miles, $400 from 5–50, and $800 above 50.
Civil fines expand, criminal penalties narrow
Water-structure violations can bring civil fines of $100 to $1,000 per violation, in addition to other penalties. The chief engineer must impose a fine through a written order. For continuing violations, each notice counts separately if corrective action has not begun within seven days after receipt. Class C misdemeanor penalties apply only to intentional violations of the law, its rules, or orders. Each continued day after notice served by restricted mail remains a separate criminal offense.
Dam inspections require qualified engineers and notice
Safety inspections follow hazard ratings: class C every 3 years, class B every 5, and nonexempt class A every 10. The law removes the prior exception allowing different intervals for classes B and C. Inspections require the chief engineer, an approved licensed engineer, or a certified intern supervised by a licensed engineer. Owners may arrange and pay for an inspection by an authorized engineer. Private-property access requires at least seven days’ notice to the dam owner, unless the chief engineer finds a possible emergency.
Some dam inspection duties are eased
An owner can avoid required safety inspections by submitting a flood map showing failure affects only the owner’s property or fixtures. A watershed district and chief engineer can agree on limited inspections instead of a qualifying class A dam’s 10-year inspection. The law also ends the required state inspection, paid by the owner, after an owner misses an inspection interval. Ending that backup inspection removes a safety safeguard; it does not cancel the owner’s inspection deadline.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Committee on Water
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
Affiliation unavailable
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/23/2026
Yea: 39 Nay: 1
Yes: 39 • No: 1
House vote • 4/23/2026
Yea: 103 Nay: 13
Yes: 103 • No: 13
House vote • 4/23/2026
Yea: 39 Nay: 0
Yes: 39 • No: 0
House vote • 4/23/2026
Yea: 110 Nay: 11
Yes: 110 • No: 11
House vote • 3/27/2026
Conference Committee Report was adopted
Yes: 110 • No: 11
Senate vote • 3/26/2026
Conference Committee Report was adopted
Yes: 39 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/19/2026
Emergency Final Action - Passed as amended
Yes: 39 • No: 1
House vote • 2/19/2026
Emergency Final Action - Substitute passed
Yes: 103 • No: 13
Actions Timeline
Engrossed on Wednesday, April 1, 2026
4/9/2026HouseEnrolled and presented to Governor on Friday, April 3, 2026
4/9/2026HouseApproved by Governor on Thursday, April 9, 2026
4/9/2026HouseConference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 110, Nay 11, Absent 4
3/27/2026HouseSen. Craig Bowser is appointed to replace Sen. Larry Alley on the Conference Committee
3/26/2026SenateConference committee report now available
3/26/2026SenateConference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 39, Nay 0, Absent 1
3/26/2026SenateMotion to accede adopted; Sen. Virgil Peck, Sen. Larry Alley and Sen. Marci Francisco appointed as conferees
3/24/2026SenateNonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Rep. Ken Rahjes, Rep. Lance W. Neelly and Rep. Linda Featherston
3/23/2026HouseCommittee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
3/19/2026SenateCommittee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Sen. Scott Hill
3/19/2026SenateCommittee of the Whole - Amendment by Sen. Scott Hill was adopted
3/19/2026SenateCommittee of the Whole - Be passed as further amended
3/19/2026SenateEmergency Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea 39, Nay 1
3/19/2026SenateCommittee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
3/17/2026SenateReferred to Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
2/26/2026SenateReceived and Introduced
2/25/2026SenateCommittee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted recommending substitute bill be passed
2/19/2026HouseCommittee of the Whole - Substitute bill be passed
2/19/2026HouseMotion to advance to Emergency Final Action adopted
2/19/2026HouseEmergency Final Action - Substitute passed; Yea 103, Nay 13, Absent 9
2/19/2026HouseCommittee Report recommending substitute bill be passed by House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
2/16/2026HouseHearing: Friday, February 14, 2025, 3:30 PM — Room 112-N
2/14/2025HouseHearing: Thursday, February 13, 2025, 3:30 PM — Room 112-N — CANCELED
2/13/2025HouseWithdrawn from House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources; Referred to House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
1/29/2025House
Bill Text
As Amended by Senate Committee
As Introduced
Enrolled
Sub
{As Amended by Senate Committee of the Whole}
Related Bills
SB 430, Adding mitragynine to schedule I of the uniform controlled substances act and reconciling multiple amendments to certain statutes in the Kansas criminal code.
SB 82, Providing tax credits for expenditures for lockable gun and ammunition storage and the retail sale of higher ethanol blends of fuel, discontinuing the tax credit for qualified alternative-fueled motor vehicle property or fueling station expenditures, repealing the agritourism liability insurance, assistive technology contributions, declared disaster capital investment, owners promoting employment across Kansas and swine facility improvement tax credits and expanding the eligibility for applicable expenses under the child day care services assistance tax credit.
SB 300, Providing for the apportionment of business income by manufacturers of alcoholic liquor depending on whether the taxpayer is a qualifying Kansas investor or a general manufacturer and removing obsolete reference to global intangible low-taxed income provided for under the federal internal revenue code in determining Kansas adjusted gross income.
HB 2029, Reconciling multiple amendments to certain statutes.
HB 2018, Senate Substitute for HB 2018 by Committee on Federal and State Affairs - Creating the crime of interference with the conduct of a religious assembly, providing criminal penalties therefor and providing for a civil cause of action for damages.
HB 2036, Providing a Kansas income tax subtraction modification for certain amounts received as compensation for members of the armed forces.