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27 Apr

Posted at 19:05h in Regulatory
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Following an announcement by OSHA in February concerning its guidance on COVID-19, OSHA now plans to issue an emergency temporary standard (ETS) on COVID-19. The agency has formally transmitted its draft Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on COVID-19 to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. You can find the draft rule here: DASHBOARD - EO - REGINFO.GOV. After publication, OSHA could make enforcement of the standard a priority. The ETS could then be made permanent. AGENCY: DOL-OSHA TITLE: Subpart U – Emergency Temporary Standard – COVID-19 RIN: 1218-AD36 STAGE: Final...

26 Apr

Posted at 14:18h in Advocacy
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Legislative Session Interim Report Governor Laura Kelly has now signed multiple bills passed by the legislature during the regular session. The Governor has also teed up possible action by the House and Senate during the veto session beginning May 3 by vetoing key legislation focusing on taxes and social issues. Upon its return, the legislature will also focus on passage of an omnibus budget bill for the balance of the current fiscal year. This budget action comes on the heels of the state having just received positive news on the budget...

19 Apr

Posted at 18:49h in Industry News, Regulatory
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The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) is providing Kansans a 30-day public comment period on the draft 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). The plan provides a 25-year statewide vision for the future of transportation in Kansas. Comments can be made until May 18 by clicking here. The draft plan inventories the state's transportation system that includes highways, transit, rail, air and active transportation elements. It also identifies issues and trends that will influence the transportation system over the next 25 years such as technology advances, digital access, connections between health...

16 Apr

Posted at 16:29h in Advocacy, Industry News, Regulatory
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Photo courtesy: Growth Energy Renew Kansas Biofuels Association submitted comments to United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) supporting changes in proposed regulations to either remove or amend the current labeling requirement on E15. The association also conveyed its support for EPA’s proposed changes to the compatibility requirements for UST systems for E15 and higher blend biofuels. The comment explained how the current label requirements for E15 are overly-aggressive, and unnecessarily deter consumers away from purchasing a beneficial and low-cost fuel. If the EPA label requirement is retained, Renew Kansas supports modifying the current label...

12 Apr

Posted at 13:18h in Advocacy
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Week Thirteen of the Kansas Legislative Session On Friday, April 9, the Kansas Legislature adjourned for the last day of the 2021 regular session. The House and Senate will now take a three-week break before returning for a veto session on May 3rd where they will consider bills vetoed by Governor Laura Kelly, work on the omnibus appropriations bill, and possibly take final action on other bills. During the last few days, the House and Senate worked long hours on a flurry of action on bills that will now be sent to the Governor...

09 Apr

Posted at 21:49h in Industry News, Regulatory
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The Kansas legislature, a few hours prior to its three-week adjournment, passed Conference Committee Report on Senate Bill 86 which creates the Kansas Extraordinary Utility Costs Loan Deposit Program to assist businesses impacted by the polar vortex in February. The legislation goes to Governor Laura Kelly for consideration. The bill creates a low-interest loan program administered by the State Treasurer for Kansas businesses who were affected by the extreme cold in February of 2021. The loans are intended to assist businesses with paying off the natural gas bills over time. This...

05 Apr

Posted at 14:24h in Advocacy
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Week Twelve of the Kansas Legislative Session With just one week left in the regular legislative session, the House and Senate debated and took action on many bills during this shortened three-day week. Bills of note included: action on the unemployment insurance fund and confirmation of the new Secretary of Labor; final passage of a multi-tiered income tax bill; advancement of a complex property tax bill and the Governor’s signature on a bill repealing the property tax lid; the signing into law of a bill providing limited immunity to businesses in regard to...

01 Apr

Posted at 16:52h in Industry News
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As you may recall during the 2020 Kansas legislative session, Renew Kansas Biofuels Association helped ensure passage of the short line rail improvement fund into the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Plan resulting in a three-year $15 million program that provides 70 percent state money to 30 percent investment by the eligible entity for improvements. In October of 2020, 13 projects were awarded grants totaling $5 million. Four projects were awarded to short line railroads and nine projects were awarded to shippers. Effective July 1, 2021, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) will have...

29 Mar

Posted at 14:46h in Advocacy
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Week 11 of the Kansas Legislative Session Several days of floor debate by both chambers and final action for most committees made for a full week in the legislature. Much time was spent debating various bills, including a bill allowing regulated energy providers to bond long-term debt; and House Resolution 5015 urging the United States Congress to reject the “For the People Act of 2021.” Next week will bring additional floor debate on bills before the first adjournment on Friday, April 9. The legislature will then take a three-week break before returning...

29 Mar

Posted at 14:42h in Industry News
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The Kansas Department of Agriculture will host a free informational webinar focused on updates to the H–2A guest worker program including CDL requirements for custom harvesting and farm employees. The webinar will take place virtually on April 7, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. This educational webinar will information on current legislation concerning the U.S. Department of Labor’s H–2A program for temporary agricultural employment of foreign workers via the Farm Worker Modernization Act. The webinar also will provide insight on the process and necessary documentation needed for obtaining a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)...

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