Policy Priorities in Kansas
The Nature Conservancy works with state and federal leaders to find meaningful solutions to the issues that impact Kansas's lands and waters.
Explore our latest policy objectives in the Sunflower State.
Highlights from the 2024 Kansas Legislative Session
Click the images to learn about conservation wins in the Kansas Statehouse this year.
Headway Toward a State Conservation Fund
Legislators and the conservation community took a historic step towards establishing a state conservation fund with the introduction of House Bill 2541 and its consideration in both House and Senate committees. The Nature Conservancy was proud to support this legislation alongside the other members of the Kansans for Conservation coalition. Although the bill was not acted upon this session, we are actively working to improve it for re-introduction and passage in 2025.
More Funding for Water Conservation
Last year, legislators fully funded the State Water Plan and established two new grant funds to provide technical and financial assistance for water projects implemented by municipalities and conservation districts. A staggering 309 applications were submitted to these grant funds, leading to the legislature's addition of $1 million to the programs this year.
Making Roof-Top Solar an Easier Choice
The “cap” on how much surplus energy generated by net-metered solar customers that can be added to the power grid was increased from 1% to 5%. Net-metering is the way that utility customers with solar energy systems (like solar panels on their roofs) can contribute energy they generate but don’t use back to the shared utility grid. The maximum size of these private solar systems was also increased dramatically. These new statutory regulations make it easier for everyday Kansans to choose roof-top solar energy for their homes.
Statewide Conservation Funding
The Nature Conservancy is a founding member of Kansans for Conservation, a coalition of organizations and individuals working together to provide a much-needed permanent and protected funding source for conserving and enhancing water quality and natural areas in this state, including parks, trails, fish and wildlife habitat and agricultural soils.
Kansans for Conservation
A diverse coalition working to ensure a healthy & sustainable future for Kansas.
Learn MoreThanks in part to the coalition's efforts, the Kansas legislature increased funding of the state water plan by $35 million in 2023. The Nature Conservancy worked with lawmakers to ensure that natural water infrastructure projects would be eligible for this funding. We will continue to work toward a new and dedicated statewide source of funding that provides consistent and sufficient funding for conservation.
Renewable Energy Siting
Did you know Kansas ranks 4th in the nation for wind capacity and is in the top ten states for days of sunshine? The ample wind and solar resources here and throughout the central U.S. offer the opportunity to rapidly expand renewable energy—which is necessary to meet our climate goals. However, it's important to ensure that renewable energy installations are properly sited to avoid known threats to wildlife and natural habits. That's why TNC created the Site Renewables Right mapping tool to identify where in the central U.S. renewable energy can be developed while still conserving important wildlife habitats and natural areas. It’s a win-win. TNC will continue to provide resources so developers, utilities and municipalities can make science-based siting decisions.
TNC’s conservation-informed tools, including Site Renewables Right and Power of Place, help renewable energy developers select sites for utility-scale wind and solar installations that avoid detrimental impacts to nature and communities.
Federal Policy That Supports Kansas
The Farm Bill is the nation's largest investment supporting the voluntary and successful conservation, restoration and management of America's private lands. Kansas is a leader in agricultural production and the Farm Bill is significant for many Kansans—from producers needing crop insurance to ranchers stewarding the last of the tallgrass prairie. Farm Bill programs provide incentives for regenerative agricultural practices and conserving native grasslands and other habitats. As Congress drafts the next Farm Bill, TNC reminds them that there is no more important investment than our natural heritage.
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Urge Congress to pass a Farm Bill that supports conservation and communities.
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The Farm Bill
The Farm Bill is the largest source of federal funding for conserving private land in the United States. About half the land in the contiguous United States—nearly 900 million acres—is cropland, rangeland, forestland, or pastureland eligible for programs funded by the Farm Bill.
Recovering America's Wildlife Act
More than a third of America's fish and wildlife species are at risk of extinction today. The alarming loss of biodiversity is not just a threat to species themselves, but to the communities, jobs and economies that depend on them.
More from Kansas
Climate Policy in Kansas
The Nature Conservancy uses the best available science and decades of field experience to help Kansas lawmakers make informed decisions about climate policy.
Healthy Streams For Kansas
Discover clean waters and healthy people through the David T. Beals III Healthy Streams for Kansas Initiative.
Regenerative Grazing Lands
The Nature Conservancy is working with ranchers, businesses and government agencies to protect and enhance grasslands while helping feed the Earth’s growing population.