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Minutes for HB2564 - Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
Short Title
Establishing a farm to food bank program to expand the availability of Kansas agricultural food products for the state of Kansas' emergency food system.
Minutes Content for Tue, Feb 6, 2024
Chairperson Rahjes opened the hearing on HB 2564 and asked Revisor Kyle Hamilton, Office of Revisor of Statutes, to give an overview of the bill. (Attachment 1) The Revisor stood for questions.
Kelsey Olson, Deputy Secretary, Kansas Department of Agriculture, was recognized by Chairperson Rahjes. She gave proponent testimony. (Attachment 2) Ms. Olson stood for questions.
Also offering proponent testimony was Leslie Montee of Leafy Green Farms in Pittsburg, Kansas. (Attachment 3) She answered questions from the Committee.
Karen Siebert, Public Policy and Advocacy Advisor, came here today to give proponent testimony on behalf of all three of the food networks: Harvesters, Kansas Food Bank, and Second Harvest Community Food Bank. (Attachment 4) A list of food bank participants was provided. (Attachment 5) Ms. Siebert answered questions.
Chairperson Rahjes called upon Scott Thellman, President, Juniper Hill Farms LLC, farmer and local food distributor, to speak as a proponent. (Attachment 6) He stood for questions.
There were several written-only proponents:
Claudia Hissong, Kansas Farm Bureau (Attachment 7)
Tom Buller, Kansas Rural Center (Attachment 8)
Mallory Lutz, Kansas Food and Farm Coalition (Attachment 9)
Allen G. Stovall, AJ Honey Farms LLC (Attachment 10)
There was no oral opponent testimony. Two individuals provided written-only opponent testimony:
Angel Cushing, Citizen (Attachment 11)
Jill O'Connor, Kansas Precinct Committee Woman, 5-18. (Attachment 12)
There were no neutrals to present testimony and Chairperson Rahjes closed the hearing on HB 2564.
