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25 Jun

Posted at 17:49h in Industry News
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Renew Kansas Biofuels Association President and CEO Ron Seeber, Senior Vice President Randy Stookey and Vice President Trae Green recently met with United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 Administrator Jim Macy and staff members to discuss various regulatory issues, as well as the recently released Renewable Fuel Standard volume requirements for 2026 and 2027. Throughout the two-hour meeting, Renew Kansas, and association professionals from Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska reviewed agency initiatives and how they're affecting agribusiness and the biofuels industry. Specifically, Renew Kansas staff members took the lead in coordinating...

13 Jun

Posted at 15:35h in Industry News, Regulatory
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced proposed Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volume requirements for 2026 and 2027. According to the agency, EPA’s “Set 2” proposal ensures the RFS program remains true to Congress’ original intent of increasing the use of homegrown American biofuels, unleashing American energy, and supporting rural economies. “We are creating a new system that benefits American farmers while mitigating the impact on gas prices and ensuring the continued existence of liquid fuels,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. “We can no longer afford to continue with the same...

06 Jun

Posted at 17:15h in Industry News
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Renew Kansas Biofuels Association diligently works with a coalition of industries and organizations to oppose high electric utility rates. Information regarding Evergy’s proposed rate increase, and how to submit comments and attend public hearings, is below. Evergy has filed an Application with the Kansas Corporation Commission (Commission) requesting a $196.4 million rate increase (8.62%) for Evergy Kansas Central (EKC) customers. If approved, prices would become effective in September 2025. EKC residential customers would have an average monthly increase of $13.05. Evergy’s Application requests updated prices to include nearly $1 billion investment infrastructure...

20 May

Posted at 22:19h in Regulatory
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The state of Kansas will no longer issue commercial driver licenses (CDLs) to non-domicile, temporary residents working in the United States. Instead, those workers coming from Mexico and Canada must obtain a CDL in their home country. That license will then be honored in Kansas and across the U.S. Please see further details from the Kansas Department of Revenue below. “The Kansas CDL program is subject to audit annually by the FMCSA.  It was during one of these federal audits a few years back that KDOR was informed that due to the...

02 May

Posted at 14:39h in Regulatory
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The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division issued a field assistance bulletin providing guidance on how to determine employee or independent contractor status when enforcing the Fair Labor Standards Act. While the department reviews the 2024 final rule, Employee or Independent Contractor Classification Under the Fair Labor Standards Act – which is also being challenged in federal court – agency investigators are directed not to apply the 2024 rule’s analysis in current enforcement matters. Instead, the division will rely on longstanding principles outlined in USDOL Fact Sheet #13 and further informed by...

25 Apr

Posted at 21:44h in Advocacy
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During the Kansas Legislature’s brief veto session earlier this month, a handful of bills were passed and sent to the Governor for consideration. Because the legislature adjourned sine die on April 11th, there was no opportunity for the legislature to attempt to override any bill that was vetoed by the governor. Below is a brief update of bill activity following the Veto Session. Next year’s legislative session is scheduled to begin on January 12, 2026. Energy Storage Systems Property Tax Exemption House Bill 2083 would amend Kansas personal property tax law on machinery...

12 Apr

Posted at 23:14h in Advocacy
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Through a two-day veto session this week, the Legislature put its finishing touches on a condensed session and then adjourned sine die (final day). The adjournment, which concludes the 2025 Kansas legislative session, came one day before the 90th scheduled day. During its veto session, the Legislature busied itself overriding about a dozen bills vetoed by Governor Laura Kelly, and also overrode 15 budget line-items that had been vetoed by the Governor. Additionally, this week, the Legislature passed a handful of bills that will be sent to the Governor for initial...

29 Mar

Posted at 23:18h in Advocacy
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Around 11:30 p.m., on Thursday, March 27, 2025, after narrowly passing a state budget bill for fiscal years 2025 – 2027, and numerous other bills, the Kansas legislature gaveled out for the First Adjournment of the 2025 session. Lawmakers will return to Topeka on April 10 for a short Veto Session where they could take final action on remaining legislation and also attempt to override any vetoes of bills by Governor Laura Kelly. Ethanol Blended Fuel Retailer Grant Program and Biodiesel Tax Credit House Bill 2012 was introduced as a tax credit...

21 Mar

Posted at 22:39h in Advocacy
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The 2025 Kansas legislative session is quickly drawing to a close as legislators spent the majority of the session’s 10th week debating and ultimately passing a combined 160 bills, including the preliminary state budget ahead of First Adjournment scheduled for March 28. Conference committees, a six-person panel consisting of each committee’s chairmen, vice chairmen and ranking member, begin meeting on Monday to negotiate differences in House and Senate-passed legislation. The most-watched conference committee will be the budget, which began meeting on Friday to finalize 25 pages worth of differences in the...

15 Mar

Posted at 21:24h in Advocacy
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Kansas lawmakers worked through the last few days of committee work this week before they wrap up hearings on March 18 and begin multiple days of debate on bills. This will be followed by conference committees meeting on amended bills the week of March 24, and then the legislature’s first adjournment on March 28. Following this break, the Legislature will return on April 10 for a brief Veto Session to consider final action on certain bills and possibly take an override vote on any bills vetoed by Governor Laura Kelly. The...

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