This bill amends existing Kansas law regarding the construction of electric transmission lines, specifically focusing on high-impact electric transmission lines. It defines "high-impact electric transmission line" as any line that is at least 10 miles long and used for the bulk transfer of 340 kilovolts or more of electricity. The bill requires electric utilities to obtain a siting permit from the state corporation commission before beginning site preparation or construction of any electric transmission line. Additionally, for high-impact lines, legislative approval must be secured, which involves notifying the legislature within 30 days of receiving the siting permit and providing detailed information about the proposed line.

The bill also repeals the previous sections of K.S.A. 66-1,177 and 66-1,178, streamlining the process and ensuring that legislative oversight is a requirement for high-impact electric transmission lines. The changes include the removal of certain definitions and requirements, such as the previous definition of "electric transmission lines" and the specific voltage threshold for those lines. The act will take effect upon publication in the statute book, emphasizing the importance of legislative involvement in significant energy infrastructure projects.

Statutes affected:
As introduced: 66-1