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Kansas bill alters Wildlife and Parks Commission appointments and rulemaking powers

Original title: AN ACT concerning wildlife and parks; relating to the wildlife and parks commission; modifying member appointments and qualifications; authorizing such commission to direct the secretary to report on or develop rules and regulations; allowing members to submit potential rules and regulations to such commission; amending K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 32-805 and repealing the existing section.

Last action · March 20, 2025: Committee of the Whole - Now working on

Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Would Do

Senate Bill 211 restructures the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission by changing how its seven members are appointed among state officials and expanding the commission's authority to direct wildlife rule development. The measure sets new eligibility rules barring certain commercial hunting providers and establishes staggered terms for new appointees.

Why it matters

Changes who controls state wildlife and park regulations by shifting appointment powers among the governor, legislative leaders, and the attorney general, while setting strict professional disqualifications for commissioners.

Background
  • The Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission is the advisory and rule-review body associated with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. context
  • Senate Bill 211 was introduced during the 2025-2026 legislative session by the Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs. context

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission members

Commissioners face new appointment structures, professional eligibility restrictions, term changes, and expanded authority to propose and direct rules.

Directly affected

Controlled shooting area licensees and hunting outfitters

Individuals associated with these businesses are explicitly barred from being appointed to the commission for five years following their industry involvement.

Directly affected

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

The department is subject to commission direction regarding the development and reporting of proposed rules and regulations as well as fee approvals.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who appoints the members of the wildlife and parks commission under the bill?
Members are appointed by the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, and the attorney general.
Are hunting guides or shooting area operators allowed to serve on the commission?
No. The bill forbids appointing authorities from selecting anyone who is or within the past five years has been a , an employee of such licensee, or a hunting outfitter or guide.
Can the commission initiate or direct the creation of new rules?
Yes. Members can submit potential rules and regulations, and the commission may, by a majority vote, direct the secretary to develop or report on proposed rules and regulations.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Where This Stands

Currently passed chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.

Procedural history

12 actions
  1. Mar 20, 2025Senate
    Committee of the Whole - Now working on
  2. Mar 20, 2025SenateFloor
    Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
  3. Mar 20, 2025Senate
    Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by
  4. Mar 20, 2025SenateFloor
    Committee of the Whole - Amendment by was adopted
  5. Mar 20, 2025SenateFloor
    Committee of the Whole - Be passed as further amended
  6. Mar 20, 2025Senate
    fa_fabc_912
Show 6 earlier actions
  1. Mar 20, 2025SenateFloor
    Emergency Final Action - Not passed
  2. Mar 12, 2025SenateFloor
    Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by
  3. Feb 26, 2025Senate
    Hearing continuation: Wednesday, February 26, 2025, 8:30 AM — Room 144-S
  4. Feb 13, 2025Senate
    Hearing: Thursday, February 13, 2025, 8:30 AM — Room 144-S
  5. Feb 6, 2025SenateCommittee
    Referred to Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
  6. Feb 5, 2025SenateIntroduced
    Introduced

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

Decentralization of Appointment Powers

The bill shifts appointment authority away from solely the governor by distributing seats to legislative leaders and the attorney general.

Connected Entities

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission, Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs and 4 more
OrganizationKansas Department of Wildlife and Parks“State department housing the commission”Map →
OrganizationKansas Wildlife and Parks Commission“Commission created within the department of wildlife and parks”Map →
PersonAttorney General“Appointing authority for commission members”Map →
PersonPresident of the Senate“Appointing authority for commission members”Map →
PersonGovernor“Appointing authority for commission members”Map →
PersonSpeaker of the House of Representatives“Appointing authority for commission members”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.kslegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance45
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy55
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz20
    Current news / social attention level

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