Crimes Related to Critical Infrastructure Facilities; SB 172
SB 172 amends the Kansas Criminal Code regarding crimes involving property by
eliminating the crime of tampering with a pipeline and establishing four new crimes: trespassing
on a critical infrastructure facility (CIF), aggravated trespassing on a CIF, criminal damage to a
CIF, and aggravated criminal damage to a CIF. The bill also allows a judge to order restitution
for property damage to any victim of the four new crimes.
Right to Peacefully Protest
The bill includes a “whereas” clause that states the provisions of the bill protect the right
to peacefully protest for all Kansans and citizens of the four sovereign nations within the state’s
borders while also protecting the critical infrastructure located within the state.
Definition of Critical Infrastructure Facility
The bill defines a CIF, as used in the bill, as any:
●Petroleum or alumina refinery;
●Electric generation facility, substation, switching station, electrical control center,
electric distribution or transmission lines, or associated equipment infrastructure;
●Chemical, polymer, or rubber manufacturing facility;
●Water supply diversion, production, treatment, storage, or distribution facilities
and appurtenances, including, but not limited to, underground pipelines and a
wastewater treatment plant or pump station;
●Natural gas compressor station;
●Liquid natural gas or propane terminal or storage facility;
●Facility that is used for wireline, broadband, or wireless telecommunications or
video services infrastructure, including backup power supplies and cable
television headend;
●Port, railroad switching yard, railroad tracks, trucking terminal, or other freight
transportation facility;
●Gas processing plant, including a plant used in the processing, treatment, or
fractionation of natural gas, propane, or natural gas liquids;
●Transmission facility used by a federally licensed radio or television station;
Kansas Legislative Research Department 1 2021 Summary of Legislation
