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Kansas House passes bill to aid farmers and ranchers impacted by wildfires

Valarie Smith
/
High Plains Public Radio

The Kansas House passed a bill Tuesday that provides a tax exemption on materials and services needed to rebuild or repair fencing for ranchers and farmers affected by wildfires

As The Wichita Eagle reports, lawmakers on Tuesday afternoon advanced House Bill 2387 with a 122-0 vote, after the Legislature set the bill on a fast track - bypassing its typical procedure - giving the legislation both early and final approval on Tuesday.

The bill comes in response to wildfires that have burned more than 650,000 acres in central Kansas, destroying miles of fencing.

Similar legislation was passed last year in response to the Anderson Creek wildfire in Comanche and Barber counties. The bill passed Tuesday extends the exemption put in place after the 2016 fires.

According to The Hutch News, the bill varies from last year's fence legislation because it gives the buyer the option of applying for a refund on sales tax paid or obtaining a sales tax exemption certificate to be presented to the retailer when making the purchase.