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• Introduced in the House on February 13, 2008, to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to issue registrations that last up to three years for agricultural chemicals transported through, or sold within, the state. Current registrations for any given shipment of chemicals may last up to one year. NOTE: In March 2008 a Senate committee replaced the original provisions described here with an unrelated bill restricting government water diversions in Douglas County.
  • Referred to the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on February 14, 2008.
    • Reported to the House on February 27, 2008, recommening the bill be passed as amended. House committee inserted a maximum fee for multiple-year registrations.
• Passed in the House (123 to 0) on February 29, 2008, to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture issue registrations that last up to three years for agricultural chemicals transported through, or sold within, the state. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Received in the Senate on March 4, 2008.
  • Referred to the Senate Agriculture Committee on March 5, 2008.
    • Reported to the Senate on March 12, 2008, to recommend passage of a substitute bill, replacing the previous version with an unrelated one that would use this as a legislative "vehicle" to make changes regarding water appropriation by cities. The substitute bill would preclude state permits for cities to divert water for public uses unless the city first obtains legal access to the proposed point of diversion: before January 1, 2008; by voluntary means such as purchase or gift; or by eminent domain (constitutional government "takings" powers) at least 10 years in advance of the diversion.
  • Amendment offered by Sen. Janis Lee (D) on March 13, 2008, to require the provisions of the bill to expire in 2010. The amendment passed in the Senate by voice vote on March 13, 2008.
  • Amendment offered by Sen. Janis Lee (D) on March 13, 2008, to create a special legislative committee to study and recommend changes to government eminent domain powers regarding water. The amendment passed in the Senate by voice vote on March 13, 2008.
• Failed in the Senate (19 to 21) on March 13, 2008, to prevent cities from diverting water for public uses except under conditions specified in the bill. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Recalled in the Senate on March 13, 2008.
  • Referred to the Senate Agriculture Committee on March 13, 2008.
    • Reported to the Senate on March 18, 2008, recommending the bill be passed as amended. Senate committee limited the bill's restrictions only to a public wholesale water supply district in Douglas County.
• The recalled passed in the Senate (33 to 3) on March 19, 2008, to place restrictions on the diversion of water by a public wholesale water supply district in Douglas County. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Received in the House on March 24, 2008.
  • Motion by Rep. John Faber (R) on March 24, 2008, to not approve the Senate version of the bill, but to send the bill to a conference committee to negotiate the two chambers' differences. The motion passed in the House by voice vote on March 24, 2008.
• Motion by Sen. Roger Pine (R) on May 3, 2008, to adopt a compromise version of the bill reported by a House-Senate conference committee. The report recommends enactment of the Senate-passed version of the bill, but would apply the new diversion restrictions to all public water supply districts in Dounglas County.
• The motion passed in the Senate (34 to 0) on May 3, 2008, approving the conference committee report, to prevent all public wholesale water supply districts in Douglas County from diverting water for public uses except under conditions specified in the bill. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Motion by Rep. John Faber (R) on May 5, 2008, to adopt the conference committee report approved earlier by the Senate.
• The motion passed in the House (64 to 57) on May 5, 2008, approving the conference committee report, to prevent all public wholesale water supply districts in Douglas County from diverting water for public uses except under conditions specified in the bill. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Signed by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on May 18, 2008.