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As Amended by House Committee
Session of 2025
HOUSE BILL No. 2063
By Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget
Requested by Justin Cobb on behalf of Kansans for Conservation
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AN ACT concerning natural resources; relating to state moneys for
conservation; establishing the state conservation fund, the working
lands conservation fund, the wildlife conservation fund and the Kansas
outdoors fund; providing for the use of moneys in such funds by the
Kansas department of agriculture and the Kansas department of wildlife
and parks; requiring that certain reports regarding such funds be made
to the governor and the legislature; authorizing a transfer from the state
general gaming revenues fund to the state conservation fund;
authorizing transfers from the state conservation fund to the working
lands conservation fund, wildlife conservation fund and the Kansas
outdoors fund; providing for the expiration of the state conservation
fund, the working lands conservation fund, the wildlife
conservation fund and the Kansas outdoors fund on and after July
1, 2031; amending K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 79-4801 and repealing the
existing section.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
New Section 1. (a) (1) There is hereby established in the state
treasury the state conservation fund. All moneys credited to the state
conservation fund shall be expended or transferred only for the purposes
and in the manner provided by this section. All expenditures from the state
conservation fund shall be made in accordance with appropriation acts for
the financing of conservation programs. It is the intent of the legislature
that the fund shall remain intact and inviolate for the purposes set forth in
this section, and moneys in the fund shall not be subject to the provisions
of K.S.A. 75-3722, 75-3725a and 75-3726a, and amendments thereto.
Moneys credited to the state conservation fund shall be used to supplement
existing appropriations and shall not be used to supplant state general fund
or special revenue fund appropriations to the Kansas department of
agriculture or the Kansas department of wildlife and parks.
(2) Moneys transferred to and received from the state conservation
fund shall not be used to fund any fee simple acquisition of land by the
federal or state government.
(b) On July 1, 2025 June 25, 2026, and each July 1 June 25
thereafter, the director of accounts and reports shall transfer $60,000,000
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$16,000,000 from the state general gaming revenues fund to the state
conservation fund pursuant to the provisions of K.S.A. 79-4801, and
amendments thereto.
(c) On July 15, 2025 1, 2026, and each July 15 1 thereafter, the
director of accounts and reports shall transfer an amount equal to 50% of
the balance in the state conservation fund to the working lands
conservation fund established in section 2, and amendments thereto.
(d) On July 15, 2025 1, 2026, and each July 15 1 thereafter, the
director of accounts and reports shall transfer an amount equal to 25% of
the balance in the state conservation fund to the wildlife conservation fund
established in section 3, and amendments thereto.
(e) On July 15, 2025 1, 2026 , and each July 15 1 thereafter, after
making the transfers prescribed by subsections (c) and (d), the director of
accounts and reports shall transfer the remaining an amount equal to
25% of the balance in the state conservation fund to the Kansas outdoors
fund established in section 4, and amendments thereto.
New Sec. 2. (a) There is hereby established in the state treasury the
working lands conservation fund. The working lands conservation fund
shall be administered by the director of the division of conservation
established within the Kansas department of agriculture by K.S.A. 74-
5,126, and amendments thereto. All expenditures from such fund shall be
made in accordance with appropriation acts upon warrants of the director
of accounts and reports issued pursuant to vouchers approved by the
director or the director's designee. The division is authorized to use an
amount of not to exceed 2% of the amount of moneys transferred to
the working lands conservation fund each July 1 for the
administration of the fund.
(b) The division shall adopt rules and regulations to administer a
grant program expending moneys from the working lands conservation
fund.
(c) The state conservation commission shall provide guidance to the
division on priority criteria for applications, the final selection of awardees
and the annual budget for the administration of the grant program. The
secretary shall consider both the guidance of the commission and the
recommendations of the division in making final approvals of awardees
and the annual administrative budget.
(d) Public entities, including, but not limited to, state agencies,
municipalities, counties, state or federally recognized tribal nations,
conservation districts, special park and recreation districts, recreation
commissions and nonprofit entities shall be eligible to receive funding
from the grant program.
(e) Eligible grant applications shall benefit the natural resources of
the state by promoting conservation on working lands or utilizing
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practices, including, but not limited to:
(1) Irrigation efficiency;
(2) grazing land management;
(3) voluntary conservation agreements;
(4) soil health practices;
(5) practices that promote or regenerate soil ecosystems, biodiversity
and native grasslands;
(6) management of woody encroachment;
(7) sustainable and regenerative timber management;
(8) ecological restoration of lands;
(9) enhanced water quality or quantity; and
(10) relevant educational programs, resources and services for adults
and youth.
(g) Applications providing an opportunity to capture federal, private
or other nonstate matching moneys through a state or local match shall be
prioritized. Matching moneys shall include cash contributions, noncash
contributions, including land value donations, and in-kind contributions.
(h) Applications related to land use practices included in
subsection (e) that also provide tangible benefits to water quality and
quantity shall be prioritized.
(i) It is the intent of the legislature that all moneys allocated to the
working lands conservation fund shall be:
(1) Fully obligated to approved projects within 12 months of
allocation to the fund; and
(2) in addition to, and not supplant, existing appropriations.
(i)(j) On or before December 1 of each year, the division shall submit
a report to the governor and the legislature, which shall be published on
the division's website. Such report shall include:
(1) An accounting of all moneys expended from the working lands
conservation fund in the immediately preceding fiscal year and the current
fiscal year to date; and
(2) a brief description of all funding applications received with an
explanation of why such applications were or were not funded.
(j) The division may use a portion of moneys allocated to the working
lands conservation fund to pay for relevant and necessary expenses of
administering the grant program.
(k) As used in this section:
(1) "Director" means the executive director of the division.
(2) "Division" means the division of conservation established within
the Kansas department of agriculture by K.S.A. 74-5,126, and
amendments thereto.
(3) "Secretary" means the secretary of agriculture.
(4) "Working lands" means lands used for farming, grazing or
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production of forest products.
New Sec. 3. (a) There is hereby established in the state treasury the
wildlife conservation fund. The wildlife conservation fund shall be
administered by the secretary of wildlife and parks. All expenditures from
such fund shall be made in accordance with appropriation acts upon
warrants of the director of accounts and reports issued pursuant to
vouchers approved by the secretary of wildlife and parks or the secretary's
designee.
(b) The secretary of wildlife and parks shall adopt rules and
regulations to administer a grant program expending moneys from the
wildlife conservation fund. The secretary is authorized to use an
amount of not to exceed 2% of the amount of moneys transferred to
the wildlife conservation fund each July 1 for the administration of the
fund.
(c) The Kansas department of wildlife and parks commission shall
provide guidance to the division on priority criteria for applications, the
final selection of awardees and the annual budget for the administration of
the grant program. The secretary of wildlife and parks shall consider both
the guidance of the commission and the recommendations of the division
in making final approvals of awardees and the annual administrative
budget.
(d) Public entities, including, but not limited to, state agencies,
municipalities, counties, state or federally recognized tribal nations,
conservation districts, special park and recreation districts, recreation
commissions and nonprofit entities shall be eligible to receive funding
from the grant program.
(e) Eligible grant applications shall benefit the natural resources of
the state by promoting biodiversity or utilizing practices established in the
state wildlife action plan, including, but not limited to:
(1) Establishing quality habitat;
(2) increasing access to diverse high-quality privately owned native
grassland habitat for hunting through the expansion of walk-in hunting
access;
(3) increasing access to diverse high-quality native grassland habitat
through the expansion and creation of wildlife management areas;
(4) establishing diverse high-quality native grasslands for the benefit
of upland birds in a manner that prioritizes science-based habitat
investments to create the most significant outcomes for these species;
(5) engaging in voluntary conservation agreements;
(6) restoring habitat for threatened or endangered species or those
species in need of conservation;
(7) conserving or restoring native landscapes, such as forests,
grasslands or state wetlands and streams;
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(8) improving fisheries, angler access and invasive species
management; and
(9) providing relevant educational programs, resources and services
for adults and youth.
(f) Applications providing an opportunity to capture federal, private
or other nonstate matching moneys through a state or local match shall be
prioritized. Matching moneys may include cash contributions, noncash
contributions, including land value donations, and in-kind contributions.
(g) Fee simple land acquisitions by a state agency shall be subject to
the requirements in K.S.A. 32-833, and amendments thereto, at the time of
acquisition and not the grant application In support of section 21 of the
bill of rights of the constitution of the state of Kansas, applications
involving public access for purposes of hunting, fishing, trapping or
other consumptive recreation shall be prioritized.
(h) It is the intent of the legislature that all moneys allocated to the
wildlife conservation fund shall be:
(1) Fully obligated to approved projects within 12 months of
allocation to the fund; and
(2) in addition to, and not supplant, existing appropriations.
(i) On or before December 1 of each year, the Kansas department of
wildlife and parks shall submit a report to the governor and the legislature,
which shall be published on the department's website. Such report shall
include:
(1) An accounting of all moneys expended from the wildlife
conservation fund in the immediately preceding fiscal year and the current
fiscal year to date; and
(2) a brief description of all funding applications received with an
explanation of why such applications were or were not funded.
(j) The Kansas department of wildlife and parks may use a portion of
moneys allocated to the wildlife conservation fund to pay for relevant and
necessary expenses of administering the grant program.
New Sec. 4. (a) There is hereby established in the state treasury the
Kansas outdoors fund. The Kansas outdoors fund shall be administered by
the secretary of wildlife and parks as part of the parks division of the
Kansas department of wildlife and parks. All expenditures from such fund
shall be made in accordance with appropriation acts upon warrants of the
director of accounts and reports issued pursuant to vouchers approved by
the secretary of wildlife and parks or the secretary's designee.
(b) The secretary, in consultation with the division, shall adopt rules
and regulations to administer a grant program expending moneys from the
Kansas outdoors fund. The secretary is authorized to use an amount of
not to exceed 2% of the amount of moneys transferred to the outdoors
fund each July 1 for the administration of the fund.
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(c) The advisory board shall provide guidance to the division on
priority criteria for applications, the final selection of awardees and the
annual budget for the administration of the grant program. The secretary
shall consider both the guidance of the advisory board and the
recommendations of the division in making final approvals of awardees
and the annual administrative budget.
(d) Public entities, including, but not limited to, state agencies,
municipalities, counties, state or federally recognized tribal nations,
conservation districts, special park and recreation districts, recreation
commissions and nonprofit entities shall be eligible to receive funding
from the grant program.
(e) Eligible grant applications shall benefit the natural resources of
the state by promoting outdoor access, environmental education and
recreation or utilizing practices established in the state comprehensive
outdoor recreation plan, including, but not limited to:
(1) Increasing access to and numbers of natural areas for nature
appreciation, camping, hiking, trail use, boating, kayaking, canoeing and
other outdoor recreational pursuits;
(2) engaging in voluntary conservation agreements;
(3) improving local, county and state recreational facilities and parks;
(4) enhancing outdoor tourism opportunities; and
(5) providing relevant educational programs, resources and services
for adults and youth.
(f) Applications providing an opportunity to capture federal, private
or other nonstate matching moneys through a state or local match shall be
prioritized. Matching moneys may include cash contributions, noncash
contributions, including land value donations, and in-kind contributions.
(g) It is the intent of the legislature that all moneys allocated to the
Kansas outdoors fund shall be:
(1) Fully obligated to approved projects within 12 months of
allocation to the fund; and
(2) in addition to, and not supplant, existing appropriations.
(h) On or before December 1 of each year, the division shall submit a
report to the governor and the legislature, which shall be published on the
division's website. Such report shall include:
(1) An accounting of all moneys expended from the Kansas outdoors
fund in the immediately preceding fiscal year and the current fiscal year to
date; and
(2) a brief description of all funding applications received with an
explanation of why such applications were or were not funded.
(i) The division may use a portion of moneys allocated to the Kansas
outdoors fund to pay for relevant and necessary expenses of administering
the grant program.
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(j) As used in this section:
(1) "Division" means the parks division established within the Kansas
department of wildlife and parks.
(2) "Advisory board" means the statewide local recreation advisory
board established by the parks division within the Kansas department of
wildlife and parks pursuant to K.S.A. 32-825, and amendments thereto.
(3) "Secretary" means the secretary of wildlife and parks.
New Sec. 5. The provisions of sections 1 through 4, and
amendments thereto, shall expire and have no effect on and after July
1, 2031.
Sec. 6. K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 79-4801 is hereby amended to read as
follows: 79-4801. There is hereby created the state gaming revenues
fund in the state treasury. All moneys credited to such fund shall be
expended or transferred only for the purposes and in the manner
provided by law and all expenditures from the state gaming revenues
fund shall be made in accordance with appropriation acts. All moneys
credited to such fund shall be allocated and credited monthly to the
funds and in the amounts specified by law except that the total of the
amounts credited to such funds in any one fiscal year pursuant to
K.S.A. 79-4803 through 79-4806, and amendments thereto, shall not
exceed $50,000,000. All amounts credited to such fund in any one fiscal
year that are in excess of $50,000,000 shall be transferred and credited
to the state general fund on June 25, except that:
(a) (1) On June 25, 2026, June 25, 2027, June 25, 2028, June 25,
2029, and June 25, 2030, the director of the budget, in consultation
with the director of legislative research, shall certify, for each such
fiscal year, the aggregate of all amounts certified by the executive
director of the Kansas lottery that have been transferred to the state
gaming revenues fund as provided by law, but not including sports
wagering revenues deposited in the lottery operating fund, that is in
excess of $50,000,000 and equal to or less than $66,000,000 and shall
transmit such certification to the director of accounts and reports.
(2) Upon receipt of such certification for any fiscal year pursuant
to paragraph (1), on June 25 of such fiscal year or as soon thereafter
on such dates as moneys are available, the director of accounts and
reports shall transfer the amount of revenues in excess of $50,000,000
and equal to or less than $66,000,000 as certified by the director of the
budget for such fiscal year from the state gaming revenues fund to the
state conservation fund established in section 1, and amendments
thereto. If the amount certified by the director of the budget for such
fiscal year is equal to or less than $50,000,000, no transfer to the state
conservation fund shall be made.
(b) (1) On June 25, 2025, and each June 25 thereafter, the director
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of the budget, in consultation with the director of legislative research,
shall certify, for each such fiscal year, the aggregate of all amounts
certified by the executive director of the Kansas lottery that have been
transferred from the lottery operating fund to the state gaming
revenues fund as provided by law, but not including sports wagering
revenues deposited in the lottery operating fund, that is in excess of, or
is less than, $71,490,000, and shall transmit such certification to the
director of accounts and reports.
(b)(2) Upon receipt of such certification for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year thereafter, or as soon thereafter as
moneys are available, the director of accounts and reports shall
transfer the amount of revenues in excess of $71,490,000 as certified
by the director of the budget for such fiscal year from the state gaming
revenues fund to the attracting professional sports to Kansas fund
established in K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 74-8793, and amendments thereto. If
the amount certified by the director of the budget for such fiscal year
is less than $71,490,000, then no transfer to the attracting professional
sports to Kansas fund shall be made.
Sec. 7. K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 79-4801 is hereby repealed.
Sec. 5. 8. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book Kansas register.
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