<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Rising States of America: Property]]></title><description><![CDATA[Life, liberty, and PROPERTY are natural rights that all need a vigilant guard against elitists attempting to gain more control. Property rights are being attacked daily by those trying to control food, water, and our lands.]]></description><link>https://www.risingstates.com/s/property</link><image><url>https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Z9PF!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4aa6ad05-ca59-43f1-aa84-c0c906ffd8ee_1024x1024.png</url><title>Rising States of America: Property</title><link>https://www.risingstates.com/s/property</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 00:54:00 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.risingstates.com/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[Rising States of America]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[info@risingstates.com]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[info@risingstates.com]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[Rising States of America]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[Rising States of America]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[info@risingstates.com]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[info@risingstates.com]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[Rising States of America]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[Property Tax Freedom Rally Planned in Topeka]]></title><description><![CDATA[With a Kansas Senate hearing on SB488 scheduled at 9:20am, on March10th, a rally will follow at the Capitol building]]></description><link>https://www.risingstates.com/p/property-tax-freedom-rally-planned</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.risingstates.com/p/property-tax-freedom-rally-planned</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rising States of America]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 22:14:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ed03!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F29ec9904-616d-466d-bc74-a62dafd95984_1024x1347.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ed03!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F29ec9904-616d-466d-bc74-a62dafd95984_1024x1347.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ed03!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F29ec9904-616d-466d-bc74-a62dafd95984_1024x1347.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ed03!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F29ec9904-616d-466d-bc74-a62dafd95984_1024x1347.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ed03!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F29ec9904-616d-466d-bc74-a62dafd95984_1024x1347.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ed03!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F29ec9904-616d-466d-bc74-a62dafd95984_1024x1347.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ed03!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F29ec9904-616d-466d-bc74-a62dafd95984_1024x1347.jpeg" width="1024" height="1347" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/29ec9904-616d-466d-bc74-a62dafd95984_1024x1347.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1347,&quot;width&quot;:1024,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:342651,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.risingstates.com/i/190044778?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fda6c8ccc-1936-4e37-bd45-2f47f5ee3af0_1024x1536.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ed03!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F29ec9904-616d-466d-bc74-a62dafd95984_1024x1347.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ed03!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F29ec9904-616d-466d-bc74-a62dafd95984_1024x1347.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ed03!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F29ec9904-616d-466d-bc74-a62dafd95984_1024x1347.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ed03!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F29ec9904-616d-466d-bc74-a62dafd95984_1024x1347.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Image source freestatenews.net - Check them out for Citizen Journalists for Accountable Goverment</figcaption></figure></div><p>The Senate Committee on Taxation will hold a hearing on <a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/sb488_00_0000.pdf">SB 488</a> next Tuesday! Plan to be there if you can for the hearing and rally to follow! The hearing will be at the capitol building in room 548-S at 9:30 am.</p><p>Here is the article on the proposal we wrote wh&#8230;</p>
      <p>
          <a href="https://www.risingstates.com/p/property-tax-freedom-rally-planned">
              Read more
          </a>
      </p>
   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Urgent Alert: Act Now to Protect Local Water Rights!]]></title><description><![CDATA[A local Hays water dispute is about to make all counties helpless against urban area thirst]]></description><link>https://www.risingstates.com/p/urgent-alert-act-now-to-protect-local</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.risingstates.com/p/urgent-alert-act-now-to-protect-local</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rising States of America]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 01:01:10 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!wkcM!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc7c1dbb8-b293-4c83-8187-9398cc6ffaa6_784x1168.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!wkcM!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc7c1dbb8-b293-4c83-8187-9398cc6ffaa6_784x1168.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!wkcM!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc7c1dbb8-b293-4c83-8187-9398cc6ffaa6_784x1168.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!wkcM!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc7c1dbb8-b293-4c83-8187-9398cc6ffaa6_784x1168.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!wkcM!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc7c1dbb8-b293-4c83-8187-9398cc6ffaa6_784x1168.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!wkcM!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc7c1dbb8-b293-4c83-8187-9398cc6ffaa6_784x1168.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!wkcM!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc7c1dbb8-b293-4c83-8187-9398cc6ffaa6_784x1168.png" width="784" height="1168" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/c7c1dbb8-b293-4c83-8187-9398cc6ffaa6_784x1168.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/60c475bd-1256-41a2-9729-a06f5bc2963d_784x1168.jpeg&quot;,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1168,&quot;width&quot;:784,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:262747,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.risingstates.com/i/189827642?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F60c475bd-1256-41a2-9729-a06f5bc2963d_784x1168.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!wkcM!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc7c1dbb8-b293-4c83-8187-9398cc6ffaa6_784x1168.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!wkcM!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc7c1dbb8-b293-4c83-8187-9398cc6ffaa6_784x1168.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!wkcM!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc7c1dbb8-b293-4c83-8187-9398cc6ffaa6_784x1168.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!wkcM!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc7c1dbb8-b293-4c83-8187-9398cc6ffaa6_784x1168.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Fellow Kansans,</p><p>Today marks a critical escalation in the fight over <a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2433/">HB 2433</a>, the so-called "Hays Water Bill" that's poised to strip away county home rule powers across our state. After a rushed process, the bill has just passed out of the Senate Committee on Local Government, Transparency, and Ethics, and it's now barreling toward the full Senate floor w&#8230;</p>
      <p>
          <a href="https://www.risingstates.com/p/urgent-alert-act-now-to-protect-local">
              Read more
          </a>
      </p>
   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hays Water Bill Set to Drain County Control Across the State]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hays' legislative end around move on their lawsuit action is full steam ahead, unless you help throw on the brakes]]></description><link>https://www.risingstates.com/p/hays-water-bill-set-to-drain-county</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.risingstates.com/p/hays-water-bill-set-to-drain-county</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rising States of America]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 14:04:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!p-bX!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5db02c97-b1a4-47eb-a0bc-08bd4a7600fb_1360x768.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!p-bX!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5db02c97-b1a4-47eb-a0bc-08bd4a7600fb_1360x768.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!p-bX!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5db02c97-b1a4-47eb-a0bc-08bd4a7600fb_1360x768.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!p-bX!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5db02c97-b1a4-47eb-a0bc-08bd4a7600fb_1360x768.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!p-bX!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5db02c97-b1a4-47eb-a0bc-08bd4a7600fb_1360x768.png 1272w, 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!p-bX!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5db02c97-b1a4-47eb-a0bc-08bd4a7600fb_1360x768.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!p-bX!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5db02c97-b1a4-47eb-a0bc-08bd4a7600fb_1360x768.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!p-bX!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5db02c97-b1a4-47eb-a0bc-08bd4a7600fb_1360x768.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!p-bX!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5db02c97-b1a4-47eb-a0bc-08bd4a7600fb_1360x768.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>The Senate committee hearing on <a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2433/">HB 2433</a> took place last Thursday, February 26, 2026, in Room 142-S before the Senate Committee on Local Government, Transparency and Ethics. What struck me most about the discussion was how frequently legislators referred to it as the "Hays Water Bill"&#8212;a shorthand that underscores its origins in addressing the long-standi&#8230;</p>
      <p>
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      </p>
   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[HB 2433: A Water Grab That Puts Big Cities First and Leaves Rural Kansas High and Dry]]></title><description><![CDATA[It flew through the House, but we are saying... WHOA! Don't let cities take water from rural counties without the county's approval.]]></description><link>https://www.risingstates.com/p/hb-2433-a-water-grab-that-puts-big</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.risingstates.com/p/hb-2433-a-water-grab-that-puts-big</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rising States of America]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 21 Feb 2026 15:02:35 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/8eb523c1-d944-43e7-8a6d-8f85f5fb835d_832x1248.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!a5eU!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2f93ed3d-c6a4-4dd5-8f4f-cea0a3343202_832x1074.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!a5eU!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2f93ed3d-c6a4-4dd5-8f4f-cea0a3343202_832x1074.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!a5eU!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2f93ed3d-c6a4-4dd5-8f4f-cea0a3343202_832x1074.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!a5eU!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2f93ed3d-c6a4-4dd5-8f4f-cea0a3343202_832x1074.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!a5eU!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2f93ed3d-c6a4-4dd5-8f4f-cea0a3343202_832x1074.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!a5eU!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2f93ed3d-c6a4-4dd5-8f4f-cea0a3343202_832x1074.jpeg" width="832" height="1074" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/2f93ed3d-c6a4-4dd5-8f4f-cea0a3343202_832x1074.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1074,&quot;width&quot;:832,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:260737,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.risingstates.com/i/188625790?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F505a37aa-29fc-4f87-b28c-3460d788f0e0_832x1248.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!a5eU!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2f93ed3d-c6a4-4dd5-8f4f-cea0a3343202_832x1074.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!a5eU!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2f93ed3d-c6a4-4dd5-8f4f-cea0a3343202_832x1074.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!a5eU!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2f93ed3d-c6a4-4dd5-8f4f-cea0a3343202_832x1074.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!a5eU!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2f93ed3d-c6a4-4dd5-8f4f-cea0a3343202_832x1074.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>As Kansas grapples with its ongoing water crisis, <a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2433/">House Bill 2433</a> has emerged as a contentious piece of legislation that, on the surface, aims to &#8220;clarify&#8221; authority over water transfers and appropriations. But dig a little deeper, and it&#8217;s clear this bill tips the scales heavily in favor of larger cities at the expense of rural counties. By stripping counties of their ability to regulate water movements within their borders, HB 2433 enables urban areas to siphon resources from rural regions without meaningful local oversight. This isn&#8217;t just about water&#8212;it&#8217;s about power, representation, and the potential for unintended consequences that could devastate small communities. Let&#8217;s break it down.</p><p><strong>The Bill&#8217;s Core: Shifting Power from Counties to the State</strong></p><p>HB 2433 amends K.S.A. 19-101a, the statute governing county home rule powers, by adding a new restriction: Counties can no longer enact or enforce resolutions that conflict with, duplicate, or exceed state oversight on water transfers or appropriations. This means no local permits, fees, conditions, or charges related to water movement&#8212;except for domestic wells regulated via zoning or sanitary codes. The authority shifts entirely to state entities like the Chief Engineer of the Division of Water Resources and the Water Transfer Hearing Panel. Proponents argue this ensures uniformity under state law, but critics see it as a blatant erosion of local control, applying retroactively to nullify existing county measures.</p><p>While the bill doesn&#8217;t explicitly hand power to cities, it effectively does so by removing barriers that rural counties use to protect their resources. Big cities, with more resources and political clout, can now push through state-approved transfers to pull water from distant counties where they have no stake or representation. This creates a scenario where urban demands override local interests, all without a truly neutral arbiter&#8212; the state panel, after all, may prioritize statewide economic growth over rural sustainability.</p><p><strong>A Rushed Path Through the House: Slipping Under the Radar</strong></p><p>HB 2433 didn&#8217;t face the scrutiny it deserved in the Kansas House, where it slipped through in a remarkably rushed final week. Introduced on January 12, 2026, after prefiling on January 9, it was quickly shuffled from the Water Committee to the Local Government Committee by January 13. A hearing was held on January 28, and the committee issued a favorable report just days later on February 3. From there, it accelerated: The Committee of the Whole advanced it on February 9, and final passage came the next day on February 10 with an overwhelming 116-6 vote.</p><p>This compressed timeline&#8212;especially the sprint from committee report to floor vote in under a week&#8212;left little room for deep debate amid a session already packed with divisive issues like culture wars and other fast-tracked bills. Only a handful of really conservative legislators raised concerns during the process, but by then, the inertia was unstoppable. The five GOP nay votes came from Reps. Bradley Barrett, Brett Fairchild,  Samantha Poetter Parshall, Rebecca Schmoe, and Gary White&#8212;voices from the right who likely saw the bill as an overreach on local control, but their opposition came too late to halt the momentum. In a chamber dominated by party-line pushes, this bill glided through without the amendments or extended floor time it warranted.</p><p><strong>The Hays Connection: A Clear Case of City-Driven Legislation</strong></p><p>This bill didn&#8217;t materialize in a vacuum. It&#8217;s deeply tied to the long-running dispute over the R9 Ranch in Edwards County, where the cities of Hays and Russell have been fighting for over a decade to convert irrigation water rights for municipal use. Hays, facing chronic water shortages, purchased the ranch in the 1990&#8217;s and has since navigated state approvals, but Edwards County responded with zoning resolutions to protect local impacts like aquifer depletion, construction damages, and economic harm to agriculture.</p><p>Enter HB 2433, sponsored by Rep. Barbara Wasinger (R-Hays), chair of the House Local Government Committee. The bill&#8217;s timing is no coincidence&#8212;it&#8217;s designed to override Edwards County&#8217;s restrictions, allowing Hays to proceed with pipelines and transfers. Proponent testimony in the House hearing on January 28, 2026, was dominated by Hays interests: local chambers of commerce, businesses, and Hays residents testified in support, emphasizing that counties shouldn&#8217;t duplicate state regulations. Opponents were outnumbered, with only the Kansas Natural Resource Coalition (KNRC) speaking against it, calling it an overreach that centralizes power at the state level. Edwards County&#8217;s county attorney submitted written opposition, highlighting the bill&#8217;s role in ongoing litigation over R9.</p><p>If enacted, it could fast-track Hays&#8217; project, setting a precedent for other cities to raid rural water supplies.</p><p><strong>Favoring Cities Over Counties: The Rural Disadvantage</strong></p><p>Rural counties like Edwards have little say in Topeka compared to urban powerhouses. With populations under 3,000, they lack the lobbyists and legislative muscle that bigger areas wield. HB 2433 exacerbates this by sidelining counties entirely, allowing cities to demand water from afar without addressing local fallout&#8212;think depleted aquifers, lost farm jobs, and strained infrastructure. Unintended consequences? Absolutely. What happens when the next drought hits and rural areas are left parched because their water was piped to growing cities? Or when small counties face legal battles they can&#8217;t afford against well-funded urban applicants?</p><p>The state oversight isn&#8217;t as neutral as it sounds. The Chief Engineer and panel focus on statewide metrics, often favoring economic development in population centers. Rural voices get drowned out, especially since the bill presumes any local regulation conflicts with state authority.<a class="footnote-anchor" data-component-name="FootnoteAnchorToDOM" id="footnote-anchor-1" href="#footnote-1" target="_self">1</a></p><p><strong>The Silence of the Kansas Association of Counties</strong></p><p>One glaring issue is the Kansas Association of Counties (KAC), which represents all counties but hasn&#8217;t strongly opposed HB 2433. Their fiscal note mentions potential increased costs for counties to comply but stops short of outright resistance. Why? Loyalties are split&#8212;larger counties with urban ties may benefit or stay neutral, while rural ones suffer. This dilutes KAC&#8217;s advocacy, leaving small counties without a unified voice in the legislature.</p><p><strong>A Potential Game-Changer: Reviewing the Proposed Senate Amendment</strong></p><p>As HB 2433 moves to the Senate, a proposed amendment&#8212;titled the &#8220;Kansas Areas and Activities of State Interest Act&#8221;&#8212;has surfaced, which could significantly alter the bill&#8217;s impact. This amendment, if adopted, would enact a new framework empowering both cities and counties to designate and regulate &#8220;projects of statewide importance,&#8221; including large-scale water supply systems, energy facilities, transportation projects, and natural resource extractions that cross boundaries or have major local effects.</p><p>For rural counties, this proposed change offers several key benefits that could counteract the original bill&#8217;s centralization of power:</p><p>- <strong>Restored Local Control and Permitting Authority</strong>: Counties would gain the ability to require permits for big projects like water transfers or pipelines, allowing them to address direct impacts on roads, bridges, emergency services, water quality, and soil conservation. This is a direct win for places like Edwards County, where officials could enforce setbacks, screenings, or mitigation measures to protect aquifers and farmland&#8212;tools stripped away by the House version.</p><p>- <strong>Protection of Infrastructure and Resources</strong>: The amendment explicitly recognizes the &#8220;distinct local character&#8221; of these projects and authorizes regulations to safeguard economic activity, property values, and community character. Rural areas, often bearing the brunt of infrastructure strain from distant urban demands, could demand financial security bonds for site restoration or decommissioning, ensuring they&#8217;re not left with depleted resources or environmental damage.</p><p>- <strong>Balanced Oversight with State Preservation</strong>: While preserving the Division of Water Resources&#8217; authority over water appropriations, the amendment clarifies that local regulations are a valid exercise of home rule powers. This creates a more neutral process, requiring public hearings and specific findings for permit denials, which could give rural counties a stronger voice in state-level decisions without fully preempting them.</p><p>- <strong>Broader Safeguards for Rural Economies</strong>: By including exemptions only for true agricultural uses (excluding commercial energy projects on ag land), the amendment helps prevent exploitation of rural landscapes. It could mitigate unintended consequences like job losses in farming by requiring compatibility with local comprehensive plans and impact assessments.</p><p>If this amendment is added in the Senate, it could transform HB 2433 from a rural disadvantage into a more equitable system, providing rural counties with the tools to negotiate fair terms and protect their vital resources. However, as of now, it&#8217;s just a proposal&#8212;its fate depends on the upcoming hearing.</p><p><strong>A Path Forward: Insights from Edwards County Citizens</strong></p><p>In conversations with Edwards County residents, a potential compromise has surfaced: Amend the bill to include mandatory local impact assessments or veto rights for affected counties in transfers exceeding certain volumes. This could ensure neutral oversight, perhaps through an expanded panel with rural representation, balancing city needs with rural protections. Without such tweaks, HB 2433 remains a raw deal for places like Edwards, Pawnee, or any rural spot eyed for its water.</p><p><strong>A Narrow Window in the Senate: Act Now to Protect Rural Water Rights</strong></p><p>The House&#8217;s rushed approval has left a very small time window before the Senate takes this up. HB 2433 is now in the Senate Committee on Local Government, Transparency and Ethics, with a hearing scheduled for next Thursday, February 26, 2026. This is our chance to push back&#8212;citizens need to email the committee members ASAP to voice concerns and demand protections for rural counties&#8217; water rights. Key members include:</p><p>- Chair: <a href="mailto:Elaine.Bowers@senate.ks.gov">Sen. Elaine Bowers</a> (R)</p><p>- Vice Chair: <a href="http://Ron.Ryckman@senate.ks.gov">Sen. Ronald Ryckman</a> (R)</p><p>- <a href="mailto:ToryMarie.Blew@senate.ks.gov">Sen. Tory Marie Blew</a> (R)</p><p>- <a href="mailto:Craig.Bowser@senate.ks.gov">Sen. Troy Bowser</a> (R)</p><p>- <a href="mailto:Kenny.Titus@senate.ks.gov">Sen. Kenny Titus</a> (R)</p><p>Tell them this bill favors big cities over rural interests and needs amendments for fair, neutral oversight, and this bill needs to voted &#8220;NO&#8221; without clear protections for rural counties.</p><p><a href="https://abcnews.com/US/600-acre-ai-data-center-cost-wisconsin-residents/">DATA CENTER CONCERNS?</a></p><p><strong>Time to Act: Stop HB 2433 in Its Current Form</strong></p><p>This bill may solve Hays&#8217; problems, but it creates bigger ones for rural Kansas. It&#8217;s innovative for cities, sure, but at what cost? Unchecked urban expansion could accelerate the decline of our agricultural heartland. Contact your senators and the committee before the February 26 hearing&#8212;demand amendments for fair representation and local safeguards. Rural Kansas deserves better than being a water ATM for the big cities. Let&#8217;s rework this into something equitable, or scrap it altogether.</p><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;247a7ecd-e9c7-4127-8d47-3ffe9f176d33&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;In my previous article, \&quot;A Breath of Fresh Air in Kansas: Ending the Property Tax Nightmare,\&quot; I outlined how our current property tax system is suffocating homeowners, retirees, and families across the state. Skyrocketing appraisals and opaque mill levies have turned what should be a fair contribution into an unpredictable burden, discouraging homeowner&#8230;&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:&quot;Read full story&quot;,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;lg&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Real Leadership Step Up NOW on Property Tax Reform&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:193449704,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Rising States of America&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Promoting federalism, protecting individual natural rights, while fighting the elitist mentality that strives to tell you how to live your life.&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/e625aeed-840d-49cc-a4ae-550e99480b56_1024x1024.png&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:null}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2026-02-18T16:37:55.312Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1i4p!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2242d1ae-8738-460a-afcf-98ebf43d31a4_832x488.jpeg&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://www.risingstates.com/p/continuing-the-fight-why-kansas-needs&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:&quot;Property&quot;,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:188385297,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:2,&quot;comment_count&quot;:0,&quot;publication_id&quot;:2214647,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Rising States of America&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Z9PF!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4aa6ad05-ca59-43f1-aa84-c0c906ffd8ee_1024x1024.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><div class="footnote" data-component-name="FootnoteToDOM"><a id="footnote-1" href="#footnote-anchor-1" class="footnote-number" contenteditable="false" target="_self">1</a><div class="footnote-content"><p><a href="https://kansascounties.org/news/718854/January-23-2026-Legislative-Update-by-Jay-Hall.htm">https://kansascounties.org/news/718854/January-23-2026-Legislative-Update-by-Jay-Hall.htm</a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.risingstates.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Share this communication and encourage your friends to subscribe to receive new posts and support my work. </p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Real Leadership Step Up NOW on Property Tax Reform]]></title><description><![CDATA[Without bold leadership, nothing will happen, and taxpayers will be left with the check]]></description><link>https://www.risingstates.com/p/continuing-the-fight-why-kansas-needs</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.risingstates.com/p/continuing-the-fight-why-kansas-needs</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rising States of America]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 16:37:55 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1i4p!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2242d1ae-8738-460a-afcf-98ebf43d31a4_832x488.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In my previous article, "<a href="https://www.risingstates.com/p/a-breath-of-fresh-air-in-kansas-ending">A Breath of Fresh Air in Kansas: Ending the Property Tax Nightmare</a>," I outlined how our current property tax system is suffocating homeowners, retirees, and families across the state. Skyrocketing appraisals and opaque mill levies have turned what should be a fair contribution into an unpredictable burden, discouraging homeowner&#8230;</p>
      <p>
          <a href="https://www.risingstates.com/p/continuing-the-fight-why-kansas-needs">
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Breath of Fresh Air in Kansas: Ending the Property Tax Nightmare]]></title><description><![CDATA[Legislation has been filed to accomplish an end to this nightmare, but how far will it go?]]></description><link>https://www.risingstates.com/p/a-breath-of-fresh-air-in-kansas-ending</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.risingstates.com/p/a-breath-of-fresh-air-in-kansas-ending</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rising States of America]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 16 Feb 2026 19:32:45 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/92b6a501-ed89-4b7d-8393-bb521a2f34f1_784x1168.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>For too long, Kansas homeowners&#8212;and drivers&#8212;have been the unwitting ATM for state and local governments.</strong> Property taxes have skyrocketed, driven by ever-rising appraisals, convoluted mill levies, and a system that treats your home <em>and</em> your car like perpetual cash cows&#8212;regardless of whether you're selling, moving, or just trying to get to work. Property owners, often fixed-income retirees or families stretching every dollar, shoulder the full burden of funding schools, roads, police, and parks that <em>everyone</em> in the state uses. It's an outdated, unfair relic that punishes ownership, distorts the market, and hits drivers with annual vehicle taxes year after year.<br><br>But now, a Kansas State Senator, Mike Murphy, is flipping the script with a bold, innovative pair of proposals: <strong>Senate Concurrent Resolution 1621</strong> (<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/scr1621_00_0000.pdf">SCR 1621</a>) and <strong>Senate Bill 488</strong> (<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/sb488_00_0000.pdf">SB 488</a>), the Kansas Property Tax Freedom Act of 2026. If passed and approved by voters in November 2026, this duo would abolish <em>all </em>property taxes&#8212;on homes, land, <strong>and personal property like cars</strong>&#8212;by the end of 2027, replacing them with a simple, consumption-based surcharge that spreads the load to <em>all </em>users of government services. It's a refreshing reset that puts fairness first and bureaucracy last.<br><br><strong>The Core Problem: Property Owners (and Drivers) as the State's Personal Piggy Bank</strong><br><br>Kansas property taxes have ballooned in recent years, fueled by aggressive reassessments and local spending sprees. Homeowners face complex formulas they barely understand&#8212;mill rates, appraised values tied to hypothetical sales. Drivers get slammed with annual vehicle property taxes at registration time, even on cars they've owned for years. Most folks aren't flipping houses or trading vehicles constantly; they're raising families, commuting, or retiring in place. Yet they're forced to subsidize services that benefit tourists, renters, businesses, and non-owners alike.<br><br>This isn't sustainable. It discourages homeownership, inflates housing costs, burdens mobility, and creates a vicious cycle where governments chase higher valuations instead of cutting waste.<br><br><strong>The Solution: A Constitutional Ban on All Property Taxes</strong><br><br>SCR 1621 proposes a constitutional amendment to prohibit <em>any</em> property taxes by the state or local subdivisions on real or personal property after December 31, 2027. (A phased wind-down handles 2026 and 2027.) Voters decide in November 2026.<br><br>Paired with it, SB 488 makes it real:<br><br>- <strong>Phased Elimination</strong>: Property taxes (including on vehicles) drop to 50% of 2025 levels in 2026, 25% in 2027, and zero thereafter. During the transition, the state provides revenue replacement grants to local governments, schools, and counties, funded from the new surcharge.<br>- <strong>The Kansas Fair Share Purchase Surcharge</strong>: Starting January 1, 2027, a flat, easy-to-understand charge on every retail purchase:<br>  - Under $20: 7.6% of the price.<br>  - $20 or more: A simple $1.60 per transaction.<br>  <br>  Collected like sales tax and distributed:<br>  - <strong>48%</strong> to school districts (proportional to old shares).<br>  - <strong>35%</strong> to counties, cities, townships, etc.<br>  - <strong>12%</strong> to the state general fund.<br>  - <strong>5%</strong> to a Property Tax Freedom Reserve Fund&#8212;for buffers, transition, and potential "freedom dividend" rebates.<br><br>Exemptions keep it family-friendly: groceries (SNAP-eligible), prescription drugs, medical devices, motor fuel, rent/mortgage payments, utilities, child care, and K-12 tuition.<br><br><strong>Kansas Property Tax Freedom: A Game-Changer for Mortgage Holders, First-Time Buyers, and Drivers</strong><br><br>This isn't just relief for homeowners&#8212;it's a seismic shift across the board. Phasing out all property taxes by 2028 delivers massive wins:<br><br>- <strong>Mortgage Holders</strong>: Escrow for the "T" in PITI shrinks dramatically (50% in 2026, 25% in 2027, gone by 2028), cutting monthly payments by hundreds and freeing cash flow.<br>- <strong>New Buyers</strong>: Lower PITI boosts affordability, eases DTI ratios for loans, and expands buying power&#8212;making the American Dream more reachable.<br>- <strong>Car Owners</strong>: Annual vehicle property taxes vanish in stages&#8212;half in 2026, a quarter in 2027, zero from 2028. Registration renewals get simpler and cheaper, no more yearly "tax on wheels."<br><br>The surcharge spreads costs to everyone shopping in Kansas&#8212;without hitting home equity or vehicle ownership directly.<br><br><strong>Why This is a Game-Changer</strong><br><br>1. <strong>Fairness for All</strong>: Owners and drivers no longer foot the bill alone. Shop, eat out, buy goods? You contribute.<br>2. <strong>Simplicity</strong>: Goodbye appraisers, mill rates, appeals&#8212;and annual car tax bills. Just a straightforward surcharge on what you choose to buy.<br>3. <strong>Economic Boost</strong>: Relief for families, retirees, commuters; indirect wins for renters; thriving businesses; protected reserve fund.<br>4. <strong>Local Control Preserved</strong>: Schools and cities funded without property tax handcuffs; bonds need voter approval.<br><br>This is grounded in Kansas values&#8212;limited government, personal responsibility&#8212;and gaining traction. As of mid-February 2026, the bills are in early committee stages.<br><br><strong>A Model for the Rising States</strong><br><br><strong>Kansas must lead on this:</strong> Ditch the archaic property tax machine for a modern, equitable system. Other states could follow, sparking affordable housing, stronger mobility, and fiscal sanity.<br><br><strong>Kansans:</strong> Spread the word about this proposal. We will be tracking this legislation as it likely will get a committee hearing in the near future. That will require citizens like you, to be ready to provide testimony in support of this initiative. It will take a tremendous amount of support to get this on the November 2026 ballot. Rising States of America salutes this bold stand against tax tyranny. Freedom from property taxes&#8212;on homes <em>and</em> cars&#8212;is within reach.<br><br><strong>What do you think? Are you ready for your mortgage and car tag renewals to go down?</strong></p><p>-David Schneider</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.risingstates.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.risingstates.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[**UPDATE** The Same Old Greenie Slush Fund Returns – Even Republicans Can't Resist Expanding Government]]></title><description><![CDATA[Republicans line up to expand government with new spending to unaccountable greenie non-profits]]></description><link>https://www.risingstates.com/p/the-same-old-greenie-slush-fund-returns</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.risingstates.com/p/the-same-old-greenie-slush-fund-returns</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rising States of America]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 08 Feb 2026 22:08:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ork6!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc202ec93-bd81-4361-9841-d818b622aecd_832x1248.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ork6!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc202ec93-bd81-4361-9841-d818b622aecd_832x1248.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ork6!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc202ec93-bd81-4361-9841-d818b622aecd_832x1248.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ork6!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc202ec93-bd81-4361-9841-d818b622aecd_832x1248.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ork6!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc202ec93-bd81-4361-9841-d818b622aecd_832x1248.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ork6!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc202ec93-bd81-4361-9841-d818b622aecd_832x1248.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ork6!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc202ec93-bd81-4361-9841-d818b622aecd_832x1248.jpeg" width="832" height="1248" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/c202ec93-bd81-4361-9841-d818b622aecd_832x1248.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1248,&quot;width&quot;:832,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:350886,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.risingstates.com/i/187303377?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc202ec93-bd81-4361-9841-d818b622aecd_832x1248.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ork6!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc202ec93-bd81-4361-9841-d818b622aecd_832x1248.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ork6!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc202ec93-bd81-4361-9841-d818b622aecd_832x1248.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ork6!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc202ec93-bd81-4361-9841-d818b622aecd_832x1248.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ork6!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc202ec93-bd81-4361-9841-d818b622aecd_832x1248.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p><strong>***UPDATE*** This bill (HB 2063) was not taken up before the legislative deadline, and is considered &#8220;killed&#8221;. That is not to say that it clearly had GOP support to get out of committee this year, and that is something to watch as these legislators are waiting for their opportunity to move this forward in the future.</strong></p>
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          <a href="https://www.risingstates.com/p/the-same-old-greenie-slush-fund-returns">
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Green Grab Reloaded: Slush Fund Lobbyists Keep Pushing and Some Legislators Keep Listening]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Nature Conservatory's group - Kansans for Conservation]]></description><link>https://www.risingstates.com/p/the-green-grab-reloaded-slush-fund</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.risingstates.com/p/the-green-grab-reloaded-slush-fund</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rising States of America]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 10 Nov 2025 21:25:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/6eec8e55-3205-4d0f-9488-5550682456c2_1024x1024.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!c4Zp!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7c66dafb-9aaf-4d54-887c-1acb60f14954_766x766.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!c4Zp!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7c66dafb-9aaf-4d54-887c-1acb60f14954_766x766.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!c4Zp!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7c66dafb-9aaf-4d54-887c-1acb60f14954_766x766.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!c4Zp!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7c66dafb-9aaf-4d54-887c-1acb60f14954_766x766.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!c4Zp!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7c66dafb-9aaf-4d54-887c-1acb60f14954_766x766.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!c4Zp!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7c66dafb-9aaf-4d54-887c-1acb60f14954_766x766.png" width="766" height="766" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/7c66dafb-9aaf-4d54-887c-1acb60f14954_766x766.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:766,&quot;width&quot;:766,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:1065043,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.risingstates.com/i/178287444?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6cfb32c5-c923-4164-9ae5-357dcce8526a_1024x1024.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!c4Zp!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7c66dafb-9aaf-4d54-887c-1acb60f14954_766x766.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!c4Zp!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7c66dafb-9aaf-4d54-887c-1acb60f14954_766x766.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!c4Zp!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7c66dafb-9aaf-4d54-887c-1acb60f14954_766x766.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!c4Zp!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7c66dafb-9aaf-4d54-887c-1acb60f14954_766x766.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Kansas is <strong><a href="https://www.nasbo.org/mainsite/resources/proposed-enacted-budgets/kansas-budget">broke by 2029</a></strong> unless someone slams the brakes. That&#8217;s not hyperbole; it&#8217;s the Kansas Legislative Research Department&#8217;s own forecast. Since 2018, general-fund spending has <strong>exploded 64 %</strong>&#8212;more than <strong>double</strong> inflation&#8212;driven by court-mandated K-12 bloat, one-time COVID cash turned permanent, and a Democratic governor who&#8217;s added <strong>thousands</strong> of state e&#8230;</p>
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          <a href="https://www.risingstates.com/p/the-green-grab-reloaded-slush-fund">
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Grassroots Victory: Kansans Take a Stand Against HB 2063]]></title><description><![CDATA[As the Kansas legislature considered an annual $60M slush fund, NGO's lined up in the committee with their hands outs]]></description><link>https://www.risingstates.com/p/grassroots-victory-kansans-take-a</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.risingstates.com/p/grassroots-victory-kansans-take-a</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rising States of America]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 11 Feb 2025 18:12:25 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1WA-!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fedce9ac0-3416-4c66-8e65-a7717690869f_1024x1024.webp" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1WA-!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fedce9ac0-3416-4c66-8e65-a7717690869f_1024x1024.webp" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1WA-!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fedce9ac0-3416-4c66-8e65-a7717690869f_1024x1024.webp 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1WA-!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fedce9ac0-3416-4c66-8e65-a7717690869f_1024x1024.webp 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1WA-!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fedce9ac0-3416-4c66-8e65-a7717690869f_1024x1024.webp 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1WA-!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fedce9ac0-3416-4c66-8e65-a7717690869f_1024x1024.webp 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1WA-!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fedce9ac0-3416-4c66-8e65-a7717690869f_1024x1024.webp" width="1024" height="1024" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/edce9ac0-3416-4c66-8e65-a7717690869f_1024x1024.webp&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1024,&quot;width&quot;:1024,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:666754,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/webp&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1WA-!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fedce9ac0-3416-4c66-8e65-a7717690869f_1024x1024.webp 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1WA-!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fedce9ac0-3416-4c66-8e65-a7717690869f_1024x1024.webp 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1WA-!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fedce9ac0-3416-4c66-8e65-a7717690869f_1024x1024.webp 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1WA-!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fedce9ac0-3416-4c66-8e65-a7717690869f_1024x1024.webp 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Thanks to the swift and decisive action of engaged citizens across Kansas, <a href="https://www.risingstates.com/p/kansas-house-poised-to-greenlight">HB 2063&#8212;the $60 million annual slush fund for environmental NGOs</a>&#8212;has hit a roadblock. After an outpouring of calls and emails from voters, legislators on the Kansas House Committee on Agricultural and Natural Resources have paused their advance of this reckless bill. But make no &#8230;</p>
      <p>
          <a href="https://www.risingstates.com/p/grassroots-victory-kansans-take-a">
              Read more
          </a>
      </p>
   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[**URGENT ACTION NEEDED** Kansas House Poised to Greenlight a $60 Million Slush Fund for NGOs – Again! Conservatives Must Speak Out!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Here we go again... More slush, more handouts...]]></description><link>https://www.risingstates.com/p/kansas-house-poised-to-greenlight</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.risingstates.com/p/kansas-house-poised-to-greenlight</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rising States of America]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 04 Feb 2025 21:36:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_K4J!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2ca3b2f6-b0e8-4538-a3d5-ced3f82883fb_1024x1024.webp" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_K4J!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2ca3b2f6-b0e8-4538-a3d5-ced3f82883fb_1024x1024.webp" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_K4J!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2ca3b2f6-b0e8-4538-a3d5-ced3f82883fb_1024x1024.webp 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_K4J!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2ca3b2f6-b0e8-4538-a3d5-ced3f82883fb_1024x1024.webp 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_K4J!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2ca3b2f6-b0e8-4538-a3d5-ced3f82883fb_1024x1024.webp 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_K4J!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2ca3b2f6-b0e8-4538-a3d5-ced3f82883fb_1024x1024.webp 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_K4J!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2ca3b2f6-b0e8-4538-a3d5-ced3f82883fb_1024x1024.webp" width="1024" height="1024" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/2ca3b2f6-b0e8-4538-a3d5-ced3f82883fb_1024x1024.webp&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1024,&quot;width&quot;:1024,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:414808,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/webp&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_K4J!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2ca3b2f6-b0e8-4538-a3d5-ced3f82883fb_1024x1024.webp 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_K4J!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2ca3b2f6-b0e8-4538-a3d5-ced3f82883fb_1024x1024.webp 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_K4J!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2ca3b2f6-b0e8-4538-a3d5-ced3f82883fb_1024x1024.webp 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_K4J!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2ca3b2f6-b0e8-4538-a3d5-ced3f82883fb_1024x1024.webp 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>**UPDATED - 2/6/25** </p><p>Today, the Kansas House <a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/committees/ctte_h_ag_nat_res_1/">Committee on Agricultural and Natural Resources</a> will hear testimony on <a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/hb2063_00_0000.pdf">HB 2063</a>, a bill that would siphon off a staggering $60 million per year from the state&#8217;s general fund to create an unchecked slush fund for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) under the guise of &#8220;conservation.&#8221;</p><p>If this sounds familiar, th&#8230;</p>
      <p>
          <a href="https://www.risingstates.com/p/kansas-house-poised-to-greenlight">
              Read more
          </a>
      </p>
   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[LEGISLATIVE UPDATE - Snap the 3-Mile Rule!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Urgent Action Needed - Committee This Week]]></description><link>https://www.risingstates.com/p/legislative-update-snap-the-3-mile</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.risingstates.com/p/legislative-update-snap-the-3-mile</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rising States of America]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 28 Jan 2025 15:02:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3Iw0!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd750a357-f29d-4eaf-8d02-05072d8f27a0_1024x1024.webp" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3Iw0!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd750a357-f29d-4eaf-8d02-05072d8f27a0_1024x1024.webp" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3Iw0!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd750a357-f29d-4eaf-8d02-05072d8f27a0_1024x1024.webp 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3Iw0!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd750a357-f29d-4eaf-8d02-05072d8f27a0_1024x1024.webp 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3Iw0!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd750a357-f29d-4eaf-8d02-05072d8f27a0_1024x1024.webp 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3Iw0!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd750a357-f29d-4eaf-8d02-05072d8f27a0_1024x1024.webp 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3Iw0!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd750a357-f29d-4eaf-8d02-05072d8f27a0_1024x1024.webp" width="1024" height="1024" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/d750a357-f29d-4eaf-8d02-05072d8f27a0_1024x1024.webp&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1024,&quot;width&quot;:1024,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:412064,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/webp&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3Iw0!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd750a357-f29d-4eaf-8d02-05072d8f27a0_1024x1024.webp 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3Iw0!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd750a357-f29d-4eaf-8d02-05072d8f27a0_1024x1024.webp 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3Iw0!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd750a357-f29d-4eaf-8d02-05072d8f27a0_1024x1024.webp 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3Iw0!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd750a357-f29d-4eaf-8d02-05072d8f27a0_1024x1024.webp 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Kansas residents, this is your opportunity to stand up for property rights and protect rural landowners from unnecessary city overreach. House Bill 2025 and Senate Bill 37&#8212;legislation that repeals the &#8220;Three Mile Rule&#8221;&#8212;are scheduled for critical committee hearings this week:</p><ul><li><p><strong>House Committee Hearing on HB2025:</strong> Wednesday in <a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/committees/ctte_h_loc_govt_1/">House Local Government Committee</a></p></li><li><p><strong>&#8230;</strong></p></li></ul>
      <p>
          <a href="https://www.risingstates.com/p/legislative-update-snap-the-3-mile">
              Read more
          </a>
      </p>
   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rep. Fairchild Calls for State Buffer on Federal Designation]]></title><description><![CDATA[This landmark legislation represents a significant step toward safeguarding property rights in Kansas]]></description><link>https://www.risingstates.com/p/rep-fairchild-calls-for-state-buffer</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.risingstates.com/p/rep-fairchild-calls-for-state-buffer</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rising States of America]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 22 Jan 2025 21:37:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!zSmK!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5520d4c3-f4da-4b14-ae6b-891b3ce5429f_1024x1024.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!zSmK!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5520d4c3-f4da-4b14-ae6b-891b3ce5429f_1024x1024.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!zSmK!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5520d4c3-f4da-4b14-ae6b-891b3ce5429f_1024x1024.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!zSmK!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5520d4c3-f4da-4b14-ae6b-891b3ce5429f_1024x1024.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!zSmK!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5520d4c3-f4da-4b14-ae6b-891b3ce5429f_1024x1024.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!zSmK!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5520d4c3-f4da-4b14-ae6b-891b3ce5429f_1024x1024.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!zSmK!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5520d4c3-f4da-4b14-ae6b-891b3ce5429f_1024x1024.png" width="1024" height="1024" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/5520d4c3-f4da-4b14-ae6b-891b3ce5429f_1024x1024.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1024,&quot;width&quot;:1024,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:2751002,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!zSmK!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5520d4c3-f4da-4b14-ae6b-891b3ce5429f_1024x1024.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!zSmK!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5520d4c3-f4da-4b14-ae6b-891b3ce5429f_1024x1024.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!zSmK!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5520d4c3-f4da-4b14-ae6b-891b3ce5429f_1024x1024.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!zSmK!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5520d4c3-f4da-4b14-ae6b-891b3ce5429f_1024x1024.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><h3><strong>A Thoughtful Approach to Protecting Kansas Sovereignty: Supporting HB2051 for Legislative Oversight on National Land Designations</strong></h3><p>Today, <a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/members/rep_fairchild_brett_1/">Representative Brett Fairchild</a> <strong>(R - St. John)</strong> introduced <strong><a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/hb2051_00_0000.pdf">HB2051</a></strong>, a bill requiring state legislative approval for the designation of National Heritage Areas (NHAs) and National Historic Trails within Kansas. This landmar&#8230;</p>
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          <a href="https://www.risingstates.com/p/rep-fairchild-calls-for-state-buffer">
              Read more
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      </p>
   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Turning Kansas into a Giant Battery for Big Cities?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Big city elites want to use our natural resources, but what benefit does Kansas get in the deal?]]></description><link>https://www.risingstates.com/p/turning-kansas-into-a-giant-battery</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.risingstates.com/p/turning-kansas-into-a-giant-battery</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rising States of America]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 18 Jan 2025 15:46:49 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!oDsQ!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1a1fd29d-f0b3-4ba9-b349-53a382996ea7_1024x1024.webp" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!oDsQ!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1a1fd29d-f0b3-4ba9-b349-53a382996ea7_1024x1024.webp" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!oDsQ!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1a1fd29d-f0b3-4ba9-b349-53a382996ea7_1024x1024.webp 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!oDsQ!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1a1fd29d-f0b3-4ba9-b349-53a382996ea7_1024x1024.webp 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!oDsQ!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1a1fd29d-f0b3-4ba9-b349-53a382996ea7_1024x1024.webp 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!oDsQ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1a1fd29d-f0b3-4ba9-b349-53a382996ea7_1024x1024.webp 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!oDsQ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1a1fd29d-f0b3-4ba9-b349-53a382996ea7_1024x1024.webp" width="1024" height="1024" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/1a1fd29d-f0b3-4ba9-b349-53a382996ea7_1024x1024.webp&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1024,&quot;width&quot;:1024,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:219848,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/webp&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!oDsQ!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1a1fd29d-f0b3-4ba9-b349-53a382996ea7_1024x1024.webp 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!oDsQ!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1a1fd29d-f0b3-4ba9-b349-53a382996ea7_1024x1024.webp 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!oDsQ!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1a1fd29d-f0b3-4ba9-b349-53a382996ea7_1024x1024.webp 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!oDsQ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1a1fd29d-f0b3-4ba9-b349-53a382996ea7_1024x1024.webp 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><h3>Turning Kansas into a Giant Battery for Big Cities?</h3><p>The <a href="https://grainbeltexpress.com/">Grain Belt Express</a>, a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line project, has resurfaced in Kansas with renewed momentum, thanks to federal funding. Originally abandoned years ago due to feasibility concerns, the project has been revived to increase wind energy production in Southwest Kans&#8230;</p>
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          <a href="https://www.risingstates.com/p/turning-kansas-into-a-giant-battery">
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Snap The 3 Mile Rule]]></title><description><![CDATA[Let's get a Win for Rural Property Rights in Kansas]]></description><link>https://www.risingstates.com/p/snap-the-3-mile-rule</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.risingstates.com/p/snap-the-3-mile-rule</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rising States of America]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 17 Jan 2025 18:56:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-QfL!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0a45d352-1251-475b-a245-c07b2044521b_1024x1024.webp" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-QfL!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0a45d352-1251-475b-a245-c07b2044521b_1024x1024.webp" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-QfL!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0a45d352-1251-475b-a245-c07b2044521b_1024x1024.webp 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-QfL!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0a45d352-1251-475b-a245-c07b2044521b_1024x1024.webp 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-QfL!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0a45d352-1251-475b-a245-c07b2044521b_1024x1024.webp 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-QfL!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0a45d352-1251-475b-a245-c07b2044521b_1024x1024.webp 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-QfL!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0a45d352-1251-475b-a245-c07b2044521b_1024x1024.webp" width="1024" height="1024" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/0a45d352-1251-475b-a245-c07b2044521b_1024x1024.webp&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1024,&quot;width&quot;:1024,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:412064,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/webp&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-QfL!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0a45d352-1251-475b-a245-c07b2044521b_1024x1024.webp 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-QfL!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0a45d352-1251-475b-a245-c07b2044521b_1024x1024.webp 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-QfL!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0a45d352-1251-475b-a245-c07b2044521b_1024x1024.webp 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-QfL!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0a45d352-1251-475b-a245-c07b2044521b_1024x1024.webp 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><h3><strong>Snap the 3 Mile Rule!</strong></h3><p>The Kansas Legislature is currently considering <a href="http://chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/hb2025_00_0000.pdf">HB2025</a> in the House of Representatives and its companion bill <a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb37/">SB37</a> in the Senate, a bill designed to eliminate the authority of cities to impose planning and zoning regulations on land outside their municipal boundaries. Most are calling it a repeal of the &#8220;Three Mile Rule&#8221;. For rural &#8230;</p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Will Kansas Fight for Landowner Rights?]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Kansas legislature to consider limitations on formation of National Heritage Areas]]></description><link>https://www.risingstates.com/p/will-kansas-fight-for-landowner-rights</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.risingstates.com/p/will-kansas-fight-for-landowner-rights</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rising States of America]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 12 Feb 2024 15:24:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/b3a4b17e-c3e9-45f5-8a2d-ff4ef2968b61_450x300.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Kansas House and Senate will both hold committee hearings addressing the end-around land grab by the federal government.</p><p>Beware of handouts, especially from the federal government. Often tied to matching funds and help with community projects, the federal government loves to attach strings to the carrots they provide to local communities.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.risingstates.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Rising State&#8230;</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Land - The Real Battle]]></title><description><![CDATA[Private land ownership is under assault with the globalist's 30x30 plan enshrined into official federal policy]]></description><link>https://www.risingstates.com/p/land-the-real-battle</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.risingstates.com/p/land-the-real-battle</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rising States of America]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 12 Feb 2024 02:30:33 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/e6e4daa5-2ab7-4d8b-8c61-97021c241b30_675x519.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Driving across Kansas, you may have noticed some signs on highways indicating you are entering the Freedom&#8217;s Frontier National Heritage Area and wondered what exactly that was.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.nps.gov/places/freedom-s-frontier-national-heritage-area.htm">Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA)</a> was Congressionally designated in 2006 and formally set up a direct relationship between the National Park Service and local &#8230;</p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Kansas Committee Hearing Filled with Elitists Looking for Handouts from Taxpayers ]]></title><description><![CDATA[NGOs filled committee room with hats in hand. The Sierra Club and the Audubon Society were ready to lobby for your tax money!]]></description><link>https://www.risingstates.com/p/elitists-fill-committee-room-looking</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.risingstates.com/p/elitists-fill-committee-room-looking</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rising States of America]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 23 Jan 2024 14:09:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/af58b992-f8eb-4a9d-b36a-c6d4e72d9aab_4000x3000.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Yesterday, the Kansas House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources held a hearing on <a href="https://kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/hb2541_00_0000.pdf">HB2541</a>, which would essentially create three new funding resources for NGOs seeking to put more Kansas farm and ranch land in conservancy.</p><p>But what exactly is conservancy? The best we could discern from the testimony given during the hearing is that conservancy i&#8230;</p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Kansas Committee Bending Over for Environmental Special Interests]]></title><description><![CDATA[When moving legislation in the Kansas House of Representatives, it is rare to introduce a bill and get a hearing the next available legislative day, not to mention this weird coincidence...]]></description><link>https://www.risingstates.com/p/kansas-committee-bending-over-for</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.risingstates.com/p/kansas-committee-bending-over-for</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rising States of America]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 19 Jan 2024 20:57:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/d78a65e5-0202-448f-ae7c-e3ccce54f287_1286x994.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As reported earlier today in &#8220;<a href="https://www.risingstates.com/p/kansas-legislature-rushes-bill-to">Kansas Legislature Rushes Bill to Create Green Initiative Slush Fund</a>,&#8221; the Kansas House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources introduced legislation yesterday that would establish a new state fund intended to promote conservation called the &#8220;Working Lands Conservation Fund.&#8221; The bill number is <a href="https://kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/hb2541_00_0000.pdf">HB2541</a> and is being f&#8230;</p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Kansas Legislature Rushes Bill to Create Green Initiative Slush Fund ]]></title><description><![CDATA[HB2541 would create a new fund to funnel money to entities seeking to lock up Kansas farm and ranch land.]]></description><link>https://www.risingstates.com/p/kansas-legislature-rushes-bill-to</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.risingstates.com/p/kansas-legislature-rushes-bill-to</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rising States of America]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 19 Jan 2024 18:45:16 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/47ee3054-df11-4e0e-86d0-fdb836938326_293x293.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Kansas House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources introduced legislation on Thursday that would establish a new state fund intended to promote conservation called the &#8220;Working Lands Conservation Fund&#8221;. The bill number is <a href="https://kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/hb2541_00_0000.pdf">HB2541</a> and is being fast-tracked for adoption by the committee, with a hearing already scheduled for Monday in Topeka.</p><p>On&#8230;</p>
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