Week 6

February 13 - February 17

It was a very busy week in Topeka! We kicked off the week with a Monday morning press conference to unveil the policy priorities for the Kansas House Democrats. In addition to acting on over 100 bills, work in committees continues to ramp to push out bills as we approach the “Turn Around” deadline next week. Clay Wirestone with the Kansas Reflector wrote about the quick and hectic pace of this week’s legislative proceedings.

This week in the Capitol we celebrated Aviation Day, Black Legislative Day at the Capitol and enjoyed seeing visitors from the League of Women Voters, Silver Haired Legislature and WyCo Area Agency on Aging to name a few! I also had the opportunity to join friends from Goodwill for lunch who were at the Capitol to share with lawmakers the work they do in our communities connecting people to job opportunities, helping with digital literacy and much more.

It is a special honor to serve as your state representative. I value and appreciate your input on issues facing state government.  Please feel free to contact me with your comments and questions.  My office address is Room 452-S, 300 SW 10th, Topeka, KS 66612.  You can reach me at (785) 296-7430 or call the legislative hotline at 1-800-432-3924 to leave a message for me. You can also e-mail me at pam.curtis@house.ks.gov

HB 2028! Automated process for the expungement of criminal records

HB 2028, providing for a streamlined automated process for the expungement of criminal records passed unanimously out of the House Judiciary Committee a few weeks ago. HB 2028 is drafted based on the recommendations of the Kansas Judicial Council, Criminal Law Advisory Committee. The bill is on the House Calendar and will hopefully be moved above the “The Line” for a consideration by the Full House of Representatives.

Other states have adopted various measures of “Clean Slate” legislation to help remove barriers for returning citizens. A more streamlined, automated process will help thousands of Kansans who are eligible for expungement, as many lack the time and resources to get their record expunged manually. 

Expungement removes a barrier to opportunity and gives people with criminal records a chance to move on with their lives and get back to work once they have paid their debt to society. There is growing support among the business community for Clean Slate legislation and as they adopt and participate in second chance hiring policies. 

Fentanyl Testing Strips:

There is growing support across Kansas to decriminalize Fentanyl test strips. The energy comes after a shocking spike in Fentanyl overdoses in the state and across the nation. Test strips have been pitched as one effort to help curb deaths that would be low-cost and accessible, with data to support their effectiveness.

A coalition, invested in the passage of Fentanyl legislation, formed last year. The coalition, which includes Republicans and Democrats from across Kansas and the political spectrum, successfully ushered two bills through committee this week. Governor Laura Kelly has also supported decriminalization of test strips, even citing the policy as a priority in her state of the state address.

HB 2390 had a hearing on Wednesday, February 15 in the Health & Human Services committee. The bill establishes the Kansas overdose fatality review board and allows Kansans to legally test substances for Fentanyl, ketamine or GHB -- commonly known as a roofie, or the date-rape drug.

HB 2328 is virtually the same bill with the exception of the review board. It was also heard by on Wednesday, but in the Corrections & Juvenile Justice committee.

HB2390 and HB2328 are expected to be voted on by the full House before the end of session.

Continuing the Fight for Kansas Public Schools

Public schools, special education funding, vouchers, and school choice continue to be at the center of one of the loudest -- and most frequent -- debates in Topeka. 

The nationwide teacher shortage affects Kansas, yet Republicans in the House fail to pursue sustainable solutions, opting instead to siphon money away from the public education budget. They say public schools don’t deserve support because of threats from a “woke agenda,” teachers who “groom” students, critical race theory, and other hot button issues. 

“The Legislature, whether they like it or not, or intends, is running teachers out of the profession. It is that simple,” said Rep. Winn. “Teaching is one of the most important jobs in our society. Yet, it’s repeatedly sidelined and dismissed. Some arrogant lawmakers — I hate to call them that — seem to work day in and day out to squash the hopes and esteems of Kansas teachers.”

Education bills to keep an eye on:

• HB 2048: Providing additional student eligibility under the tax credit for low income students scholarship program and increasing the amount of the tax credit for contributions made pursuant to such program. 
• HB 2218: Establishing the Sunflower education equity act to provide education savings accounts for qualified students in Kansas.
• HB 2236: Establishing parents' right to direct the education, upbringing and moral or religious training of their children including the right to object to harmful and inappropriate educational materials. 
• HB 2261: Authorizing boards of education of school districts to compensate board members for the duties and obligations of board members.
• HB 2271: Authorizing any nonresident student whose parent or guardian is employed by a school district to enroll in and attend such school district.

Discriminatory Legislation

Following a national trend, Republicans in the legislature have introduced discriminatory, anti-LGBTQ bills. Many of these bills had hearings within a 4-day window this week. Here are 2 examples of such bills working their way through the legislative process.

HB 2238 – Transgender Youth in Sports had a hearing in the House Education Committee on Monday. Deceptively named the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act,” HB 2238 seeks to prevent trans girls from participating in K-12 and college athletics. There are only two transgender kids in after-school activities this year, according to the Kansas State High School Athletics Association, which oversees the programs. Two Republicans voted with Democrats in opposition to passing the bill out of committee.

HB 2376 had a hearing on Wednesday in the Local Government committee. The bill impedes on home rule and prohibits city or county nondiscrimination ordinances that are more restrictive than the current nondiscrimination ordinance in Kansas. Notably, the current ordinance does not include veterans or the LGBTQ community -- something House Democrats have repeatedly tried to change. 

Data from The Trevor Project’s 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health show overwhelming rates of anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts among LGBTQ youth. This is exacerbated when anti-LGBTQ legislation floods the airwaves. 

• 93% of transgender and nonbinary youth worry about receiving proper medical care due to state and local government interference.
• 91% are concerned about safe restroom access.
• 83% have worried about their ability to participate in sports due to state or local law.

The Trevor Project’s survey quantifies suicide attempts: 45% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year and 14% made the attempt. Nearly 1 in 5 transgender and nonbinary youth attempted suicide.

The Ogallala Aquifer:

Groundwater managers in western Kansas have been responsible for slowing the decline of the Ogallala Aquifer for 50 years. The Ogallala Aquifer, which underlies parts of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming, provides water to the people and regional economy. From Kansas southward, the aquifer’s water levels are in rapid decline.

After years of consternation surrounding the impending water crisis in Kansas and numerous failed efforts, the Water committee made significant progress this week.

HB 2279 requires groundwater management districts to annually submit information on their spending to the Kansas Legislature. The bill was passed out of committee on Thursday with bipartisan support and praise for the deference it shows to both local and state efforts. 

“We’re hoping that we’re empowering groundwater management districts to identify the most important areas that need to be addressed in relation to conserving and extending the life of the Ogallala Aquifer and then coming up with plans to do that,” said Rep. Lindsay Vaughn

From the House Floor

• HB 2100: Updating the version of risk-based capital instructions in effect. Passed on Emergency Final Action, 121-0.
• HB 2096: Requiring certain premium taxes to be paid 90 days after each calendar year and basing such premium taxes upon the gross premiums collected for the previous calendar year. Passed on Emergency Final Action, 121-0.
• HB 2093: Discontinuing payments to certain group-funded insurance pools, refunding existing balances thereof and abolishing such funds and establishing the group-funded pools refund fund. Passed on Emergency Final Action, 120-1. 
• HB 2314: Prohibiting the use of the social media platform TikTok on state-owned devices and on any state network. Passed as amended on Emergency Final Action, 109-12. 
• HB 2262: Allowing six months of an embalmer apprenticeship to be completed prior to an individual attending mortuary science school. Passed on Emergency Final Action, 121-0. 
• HB 2060: Establishing the special education and related services funding task force. Passed on Final Action, 83-37. 
• HB 2234: Increasing and changing the measure of the cost threshold when state construction projects require a negotiating committee and the selection of professional services from a list of qualified firms. Passed as amended on Final Action, 116-4. 
• HCR 5004: Urging the U.S. Congress to fully fund the federal government's original funding promise under the individuals with disabilities education act. Passed on Final Action, 119-1. 
• HB 2021: Allowing evidence-based program account money to be used on certain children, requiring the department of corrections to build data systems and allowing for overall case length limit extensions for certain juvenile offenders. Passed as amended on Final Action, 85-35. 

Kansas House Democrats Unveil Policy Priorities 

The House Democrats unveiled their policy priorities in a Monday morning press conference. Funding public education, Medicaid expansion, affordable workforce housing, property tax relief, job training, and public transportation all continue to be priority issues for our region. Wyandotte County has some of the highest paying jobs in the state however we rank near the bottom in per capita income. Thoughtful policy and investment to address this gap are necessary for economic growth.

At the press conference I had the opportunity to talk about the importance of returning local control for prevailing wage to be paid on local construction projects. Requiring prevailing wage leads to local job growth with more work being completed by in state contractors. Prevailing wage laws support a highly skilled and safe construction workforce that delivers construction projects more cost efficiently and improves the overall economic health of communities. I along with 37 co-sponsors introduced HB 2348 that would return local control for prevailing wage.

Here is the press release with additional information about KHD’s policy focus: