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SB 317KANSASSession 2025-2026State Billpassed both
Passed

Kansas modifies water grant funds, adds 25-year supply requirements, and sets annual September 15 application deadlines

Original title: AN ACT concerning water; relating to the water technical assistance fund and the water projects grant fund; extending the current expiration date of such funds; transferring moneys from the state general fund to the state water plan fund; requiring the Kansas water office to transfer appropriations for the water technical assistance fund and the water projects grant fund; establishing additional criteria for the operation of such funds; prohibiting grants for issues related to water rights impaired by another water right; prioritizing applications based on public health, resource management, population trends, funding sources, regional cooperation and weather resiliency; requiring applications to be submitted annually by September 15, with grants subject to revocation and repayment under certain circumstances; amending K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 82-955a, 82a-956 and 82a-957 and repealing the existing sections.

Last action · March 20, 2026: Stricken from Calendar by Rule 1507

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Would Do

Senate Bill 317 updates requirements for the and the by extending their expiration dates to July 1, 2031, requiring applicants for water distribution projects to demonstrate a 25-year water supply, and establishing an annual application deadline of September 15. The measure prohibits grants for issues involving water rights impaired by another right and sets strict scoring criteria based on public health, resource management, and regional cooperation.

Why it matters

Local governments and special water districts face new conditions to qualify for technical assistance and infrastructure grants, including mandatory proof of long-term water availability and specific application scoring metrics.

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

Municipalities

Municipalities must meet new 25-year water supply demonstration rules, adhere to an annual September 15 application deadline, and follow revised scoring criteria to receive water grants.

Directly affected

Special districts related to water

Special districts face specific eligibility criteria, restrictions on prioritization based on customer count, and modified loan prepayment limits.

Directly affected

Kansas Water Office

The office is tasked with administering funds, establishing scoring matrices, reviewing preliminary engineering reports, and overseeing grant revocations and repayments.

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

What is the new application deadline for water grants?
Applications for grants from the and the are due annually on September 15.
Are large cities subject to additional eligibility requirements?
Yes. Municipalities with more than 50,000 residents must demonstrate a threat to public health or show that failure to complete the project creates a disproportionate burden on a low-income population.
Can water grant funds be used to resolve water rights impairment issues?
No. Grants from the technical assistance fund and the cannot be used to address issues related to the impairment of water rights by another water right.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

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

Procedural history

15 actions
  1. Mar 20, 2026House
    Stricken from Calendar by Rule 1507
  2. Mar 18, 2026HouseFloor
    Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by
  3. Mar 10, 2026House
    Hearing: Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 9:00 AM — Room 218-N
  4. Feb 24, 2026HouseIntroduced
    Received and Introduced
  5. Feb 24, 2026HouseCommittee
    Referred to House Committee on Water
  6. Feb 18, 2026SenateFloor
    Final Action - Passed as amended
Show 9 earlier actions
  1. Feb 17, 2026Senate
    Committee of the Whole - Now working on
  2. Feb 17, 2026SenateFloor
    Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
  3. Feb 17, 2026Senate
    Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by
  4. Feb 17, 2026SenateFloor
    Committee of the Whole - Amendment by was adopted
  5. Feb 17, 2026SenateFloor
    Committee of the Whole - Be passed as further amended
  6. Feb 12, 2026SenateFloor
    Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by
  7. Feb 4, 2026Senate
    Hearing: Wednesday, February 4, 2026, 8:30 AM — Room 144-S
  8. Jan 15, 2026SenateCommittee
    Referred to Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
  9. Jan 14, 2026SenateIntroduced
    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

Stricter Water Planning Mandates

The legislation shifts state grant policy by conditioning water distribution funding on proof of a 25-year water supply and explicitly excluding water rights impairment issues.

Kansas Water OfficeWater Technical Assistance FundWater Projects Grant Fund

Connected Entities

Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Water Projects Grant Fund, State Water Plan Fund and 3 more
OrganizationKansas Department of Health and Environment“Coordinates information sharing with the Kansas water office regarding loan appl”Map →
otherWater Projects Grant Fund“Provides full or partial funding grants for water-related infrastructure constru”Map →
otherState Water Plan Fund“Receives fund transfers and holds abolished fund moneys.”Map →
otherWater Technical Assistance Fund“Provides grants for planning, engineering, and technical assistance.”Map →
OrganizationKansas Water Authority“Recommends appropriations and sets policies regarding state water plan fund allo”Map →
OrganizationKansas Water Office“Administers the water technical assistance fund and water projects grant fund.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.kslegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy30
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz25
    Current news / social attention level

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