This bill amends existing Kansas law regarding the construction of electric transmission lines, specifically focusing on high-impact electric transmission lines. It defines a "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 is now mandated prior to construction, which involves notifying the legislature within 30 days of receiving the siting permit and providing detailed information about the proposed line.

The bill also includes several amendments to the definitions and processes outlined in K.S.A. 66-1,177 and K.S.A. 66-1,178, such as the removal of certain phrases and the specification of requirements for public hearings and the timeline for the commission's final order on applications. Notably, the existing sections of K.S.A. 66-1,177 and K.S.A. 66-1,178 are repealed, indicating a significant overhaul of the regulatory framework governing electric transmission line construction in Kansas. The act will take effect upon publication in the statute book.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 66-1
As introduced: 66-1