Governor Laura Kelly signs a bill to establish a task force to tackle water issues in Kansas.
The bill creates a water program task force to create a long-term investment program for water with a dedicated revenue source, similar to the state’s rolling 10-year transportation programs. The task force will also evaluate current funding for water in addition to considering the state’s water planning statutes.
The task force will include 13 voting members, spearheaded by a bipartisan group of legislators. Of those 13 voting members, six members will be Kansans appointed by legislative leadership. The task force also includes a five-member water planning work group, which is tasked with reviewing and modernizing the State Water Resources Planning Act.
The task force will evaluate major risks to Kansas’ water quality and quantity, including any impact on current and future economic growth. It will also examine current funding for water and determine whether that funding is sufficient to address the water issues included in the State Water Plan, including spending on infrastructure.
The task force will prepare and submit a report to the governor and the Kansas Legislature by January 31, 2026, while a final report is expected by January 31, 2027. The report will include recommendations on the water program’s long-term structure to address Kansas’ current and future water needs.
