HAYS – Governor Laura Kelly on Wednesday ceremonially signed Senate Substitute for House Bill 2172 in Hays, establishing the water program task force to create a long-term investment program for water with a dedicated revenue source. The task force will also evaluate current funding for water and the state’s water planning statutes, submitting reports detailing its findings to the governor and the Kansas Legislature in 2026 and 2027.
“Kansas’ water challenges require us to act now to secure this essential, nonrenewable resource,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Kansas’ agriculture industry, economy, and communities must have a secure water supply to thrive, now and into the future. This bill is a significant step forward in protecting our water quality and quantity for generations to come.”
The task force includes 16 voting members spearheaded by a bipartisan group of legislators. Of those 13 voting members, six members were 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.
Governor Kelly was joined at the ceremonial signing by co-chairs of the task force, Kansas State Senator Kenny Titus and Kansas State Representative Jim Minnix.
“Over the last several legislative sessions, water has received some long overdue attention. Now it is time to take the next step,” said Senator Kenny Titus, District 18. “If we want to continue to make progress with our state’s water issues, we must develop clear priorities for investment and make sure we have the necessary accountability measures in place to create a sustainable water supply for future Kansans.”
The task force will prepare and submit a preliminary report to the governor and Legislature on or before Jan. 31, 2026, and a final report on Jan. 31, 2027. The report will include recommendations on the water program’s long-term structure to address Kansas’ current and future water needs, the roles and responsibilities of the state, municipalities, and regional entities, and identify a dedicated funding source for the State Water Plan fund.
“The livelihood of our state is dependent upon the actions we take now to ensure Kansas has the water it needs to prosper in the coming decades,” said Representative Jim Minnix, District 118. “The task force’s work will be crucial to support our farmers and ranchers, economy, and every corner of Kansas that must have access to a reliable, clean water supply.”
Governor Kelly encouraged the Legislature to form the task force during her State of the State address in January. The Kelly administration and Kansas Water Authority also conducted 14 public meetings across the state in 2024 to gather feedback from Kansans on local priorities and needs for a long-term program. The results of these meetings were published in the Strategic Implementation Framework for water, which can serve as a blueprint for the task force’s work in constructing a long-term water program.
