Environment
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
StateKansasIn Committee
SB 61: Requiring an electric public utility to pay a landowner's attorney fees when a party appeals the appraisers' award and the jury renders a verdict that is greater than the appraisers' award in an eminent domain action.
Committee on Judiciary
SB 61 status: In Committee — Died in Committee (updated Apr 10, 2026).
Source
OpenStates
Confidence
Low
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
01
What this bill does
Official summary alongside an AI-generated read on where it stands and why.
Overall Score
50OUT OF 100
Score:50/100 civic fit — mixed
Risk:Low Risk
Impact:Moderate Impact 40/100
Constitutionality85%
Bipartisan50%
Public opinion75%
Bill summary
If an electric company takes your land for a project and offers you a price you think is too low, you can take them to court. If a jury agrees with you and awards you more money than the company originally offered, this bill would force the electric company to pay for your lawyer’s fees. The Senate is currently considering this proposal.
02
Impact analysis
✦ AI analysisModeled effects across six domains, estimated from bill text and comparable legislation.
Economy
Mixed / Neutral
50%
Benefits
- Reduces litigation cost burdens for landowners
- Provides financial protection for individuals against utilities
- Deters utilities from offering inadequate initial compensation
Risks
- Increases operating expenses for electric utilities
- Potential for higher electricity rates for consumers
- May discourage necessary utility infrastructure projects
Society
Mixed / Neutral
50%
Benefits
- Strengthens individual property rights protection
- Improves landowner bargaining power during eminent domain
- Increases public trust in the eminent domain legal process
Risks
- Could delay deployment of necessary infrastructure
- May create incentives for holdout behavior
- Potential for increased social conflict over utility projects
Technology Industry
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Civic Accountability
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Public Health & Safety
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
03
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Sourcing already shown above, this is what the analysis found worth flagging.
Source
OpenStates
Official bill text or data from OpenStates.
Confidence
Low
Information is limited or incomplete.
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
Source used for this bill's analysis.
Source note
Increased legal costs for utilities may eventually be passed to ratepayers.
Analysis scope
Source provided is a summary and does not contain full bill text.
04
Where it stands
Official record- IntroducedComplete
- CommitteeCurrent
- Chamber votesUpcoming
- Final agreementUpcoming
- GovernorUpcoming
- EnactedUpcoming
05
How it affects your district
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06
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