TOPEKA – Governor Sam Brownback signed HB 2202, legislation to allow an automatic increase in hay truck transportation limits upon drought declaration in Kansas.

While the state has received some welcome moisture in spring 2013, Governor Brownback said drought conditions remain in all 105 counties. For the past two consecutive years, Brownback has issued executive orders to temporarily suspend certain motor carrier rules and regulations in order to expedite the delivery of hay to livestock in drought-stricken areas. HB 2202 will make these exemptions automatic upon a governor’s drought declaration and will further expedite drought response and delivery efforts.

“Farmers and ranchers are at the mercy of Mother Nature and should not have to wait for an executive order to allow them to efficiently deliver hay and forage to their livestock,” Governor Brownback said. “Over the past two years, my administration has continuously worked to rapidly respond to the drought but there is no room for politics in the face of a natural disaster like the ongoing drought. We cannot end this drought but we can take commonsense steps, like implementing HB 2202, to help farmers and ranchers cope with the ongoing drought situation.”