Legislative Updates from Rep. Pam Curtis

March 20 - 24, 2023

H Sub for SB 113 : Making appropriations for the department of education for FY 23, FY 24 and FY 25; establishing the mental health intervention team program; authorizing certain students to participate in activities regulated by the Kansas state high school activities association; requiring school districts to post certain enrollment and academic information on school district websites; revising school district open-enrollment procedures; authorizing local school board members to receive compensation from their school district; authorizing current-year student enrollment for determinations of state foundation aid; continuing the 20 mill statewide tax levy for schools; amending the school districts that qualify for and the amount that school districts are able to levy pursuant to the cost-of-living weighting. Passed on Final Action, 75-48 .

HB 2436 : Enacting the Kansas public investments and contracts protection act concerning environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria, prohibiting the state and political subdivisions from giving preferential treatment to or discriminating against companies based on such ESG criteria in procuring or letting contracts, requiring KPERS fiduciaries to act solely in the financial interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the system, restricting state agencies from adopting ESG criteria or requiring any person or business to operate in accordance with such criteria and providing for enforcement of such act by the attorney general. Passed as amended on Final Action, 85-38 .

HCR 5008 : Applying to the Congress of the United States to call for a convention of the states for the limited purpose of amending the constitution of the United States to impose fiscal restraints on the federal government. Final Action -- Not adopted by required ⅔ majority, 74-48 .

HB 2313 : Creating the born-alive infants protection act to provide legal protections for infants who are born alive regardless of the intent of the delivery. Passed on Final Action, 88-34 .

H Sub for SB 208 : Concerning campaign finance; relating to the governmental ethics commission; modifying the investigatory and enforcement powers thereof and the schedule of registration fees for political committees; expanding the list of allowable expenditures from contributions. Passed on Emergency Final Action, 119-3 .

SB 15 : Removing the requirement of a documented written demand for premiums as part of a prima facie case against agents or brokers who fail to pay premiums due. Emergency Final Action, Passed as amended, 104-18 .
SB 18 : Adding certain legal entities to the definition of "person" thereby making such entities subject to penalties for violations of insurance law. Emergency Final Action, Passed as amended; 104-18 .

SB 28 : Discontinuing payments to certain group-funded insurance pools, refunding existing balances thereof and abolishing such funds and establishing the group-funded pools refund fund. Emergency Final Action, Passed as amended; 106-16 .

SB 106 : Prohibiting the manufacture, importation, distribution, sale, offer for sale, installation or reinstallation of a counterfeit supplemental restraint system component or nonfunctional airbag and providing for criminal penalties for violation thereof and expanding permitted lighting equipment on vehicles to include all ground effect lighting. Emergency Final Action, Passed as amended; 99-23 .

2023 Legislative Update 10

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 19:14:19 GMT

Week of March 13 to March 17, 2023

Another very busy week in the Kansas Legislature as work continues both in committees and on the Floor as bills work their way through the process. Thank you to REACH Healthcare for hosting the Wyandotte County Delegation Luncheon and sharing information about the work they do in our community.

The Joint Committee on Information Technology “JCIT” met this week, and I was honored to be elected to serve as the ranking member for the committee. The committee, which consists of 5 member of the Senate and 5 members of the House, studies the use of computers, telecommunications and oth er information technologies used by state agencies. We also review projects, plans and budgets related to IT and make policy recommendations. It is one of the few legislative committees that focuses on technology.

I had the honor of having Romelia and Vivian spend the day with me at the Capitol as Legislative Pages. We had our picture taken with Lt. Governor Toland and they ran errands as we debated bills on the floor. Their grandma and mom, dear friends of mine, Teresa and Francesca came with them. We rode the cage elevator, visited the State Library and Romelia and her mom Francesca made it all the way to the top of the Dome! Vivian and I made it half-way. There are 296 steps to the top of the dome. It was so nice to have them spend the day with me.

One-Room Schoolhouses, Absent Fiscal Notes & A Rabbit: SB 83 Barely Scrapes By

For over three hours on Tuesday, House members debated SB 83 , the controversial school vouchers bill.

During debate, the bill’s chief advocate, Rep. Kristey Williams (R-Augusta) repeatedly said the bill could send Kansas schools into the past -- an image that was quickly mocked across social media.

"Imagine what life was like 100 years ago, where you had someone that was 12 years old and maybe 6 years old and 15 years old, they're working together, they're helping one another," she said. "Whenever you teach someone, you actually learn material better."

"So you are suggesting that we return to one-room schoolhouses?" asked Rep. Jerry Stogsdill (D-Prairie Village), top Democrat on the House Education committee.

In a brief fact check, the Topeka Capital-Journal wrote, “One-room, one-teacher schoolhouses preformed so poorly 100 years ago that the Kansas State Board of Agriculture's biennial report for 1925-26 called for reforms.”

Williams wouldn’t reject the idea, though, even as social media exploded with jokes about the 1800’s and one-room schoolhouses.

"I'm suggesting education freedom," Williams replied. “Micro schools,” she explained, do not require teachers to be certified or hold degrees, "This is called education freedom with giving the parents the ability to make those choices.”

Rep. Ford Carr (D-Wichita) took issue with the romanticization of 19th-century society. "I can also tell you what was missing from those schools that were in place in the 1800s — and that was people that looked most like me," said Carr, who is Black. "... I for one certainly don't want to go back to anything that was taking place in the 1800s."

On Tuesday’s initial roll call vote, SB 83 passed by a razor thin margin of 61-59. There was an audible gasp in the chamber.

In Wednesday’s final action vote, SB 83 initially failed to receive enough votes for passage. The vote prompted a dramatic “Call of the House,” a political maneuver that provides legislative leadership time to whip votes. A member, deemed the “rabbit, ”goes “missing” -- in reality, they hide in an office watching the chamber’s YouTube livestream until given the greenlight to return. The rest of the body are locked in the chamber and must stay in their seats until the “rabbit” is found, at which point the call is lifted. This happens after leadership believes they’ve whipped enough votes to win.

After numerous Republican votes flipped to YES during Wednesday’s Call of the House, Rep. Bill Sutton (R-Gardner) walked into the chamber and the call was lifted.

SB 83 ultimately passed 64-61 .

As for how the Senate will vote, Senate President Ty Masterson (R-Andover) said , "I think we have the votes... At this point I have no idea exactly what that bill does. But the short answer is yes."

When asked if she would sign the bill because it includes funding for special education and teacher pay raises, Governor Laura Kelly said, "I don't really react very well to game-playing and bribery, or whatever you want to call it…I think it's just really, really unfortunate that there are those in the Legislature who believe that playing those kinds of games is a good idea. They put their own legislative colleagues in a horrible position today, and I think they will live to regret it."

Medicaid Expansion Rally!

Kansans flooded the second floor of the capitol building on Wednesday for a Medicaid expansion rally. The event was hosted and planned by Alliance for a Healthy Kansas, a group of 125 organizations statewide that advocate for KanCare expansion.

Over 7 in 10 Kansans support expanding Medicaid and Kansas is one of 11 states remaining that has failed to expand. So why do Kansans want Medicaid expansion so badly, and why do Republicans block it?

Under expansion, 23,000 jobs would be created. The state has lost out on over $6 billion in federal funds for failing to expand. 75 hospitals in Kansas are vulnerable to closure and many already have. Expansion would be an immense help to these hospitals, especially in rural Kansas.

Republicans have one buzzword they use during Medicaid expansion debates: “Able-bodied adults.” They claim that expansion is essentially enabling and encouraging folks to not work, another predictable variation of arguments against any sort of government-related safety net.

The reality is, adults between 18 and 65 years old making up to 138% of the federal poverty rate would qualify. For one adult, this means household income is capped at $20,000. For a family of four, this means annual household income is capped at $41,400. These people are working, despite what Republican’s claim.

Chandra Dickson, a teacher and mom from Wichita, shared a captivating, emotional, and all too familiar argument for expansion. One $500 treatment and eight days after receiving her non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis, Chandra’s mother passed away at 62 years old.

“If my mother had qualified for KanCare she would have gotten the routine health care that she desperately needed and that she would still be here with myself and my daughter,” Chandra Dickson said. “I miss her every single day. I tell her story in memory because she would want me to, because we would not want any other Kansan to go through what my family went through.”

Governor Laura Kelly spoke to the crowd and reiterated her commitment to fighting for health care coverage. Medicaid expansion is one of her top priorities and has been for years.

"We just have to make sure legislative leadership gets the message and gets the bill onto the floor for debate. Like me, I know many of you in this room have been fighting for Medicaid expansion for years. I know it can be frustrating, but we must keep up the fight. Don't give up. I will keep fighting right along with you."

Curtis Sneden, president of the Topeka Chamber of Commerce, hammered on why failing to expand, “put simply, is bad business.”

“Placing the burden of uncompensated health care on our health care system, when the solution is so straightforward, that’s bad for business,” he told the crowd.

Physician Roy Jensen, vice chancellor and director of the University of Kansas Cancer Center and a member of the national board of directors for the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network, told the rally about the profound impacts failing to expand has on patients statewide.

“If you are unlucky enough to be without insurance of any type on that day that you are diagnosed with cancer, five years from that date there is a 50% decreased likelihood that you will be alive,” Jensen said. “That’s an astounding statistic and it’s a moral indictment of not expanding care.”

The federal government’s 2021 American Rescue Plan bolstered financial support, giving an additional $370 to $450 million over the next 2 ½ years to states like Kansas which have repeatedly failed to pass expansion. This is enough money to cover the state’s share of expansion for eight years.

More facts:

Low-income Americans in states with Medicaid expansion have a 6.1% lower rate of mortality.
Low-income women in states with expansion are 25% more likely to receive mammograms than those in states without expansion.

A Representative Democracy & Legislative Pay

Lawmakers make a pay so low that many can’t afford to serve. Many people must accept a significant pay cut from their day jobs to serve, and legislative pay is not enough to make up the difference

The cost of hotel stays, gas, wear and tear on vehicles, meals, interstate tolls, and other expenses that accompany traveling to Topeka for three to four months of the year add up to far more than the current legislative pay rate.

Many young lawmakers see a net decrease in income while serving. This has a predictable, straightforward effect of excluding hundreds of thousands of Kansans from ever serving -- no matter how passionate, talented, or dedicated they may be.

House Democratic Leader Vic Miller hit the nail on the head when he told the Topeka Capital-Journal, "If we're really wanting to attract a diverse group of people to represent a diverse population, we need to look at stuff like this.”

The new Legislative Modernization Committee pushed out SB 229 . The bill creates an independent commission meant to finalize a report with recommendations for legislative pay adjustments. The bill is written to only require a vote only if the commission’s recommendations are rejected by the legislature.

The commission will not consist of currently elected officials, leadership staff, lobbyists, or others with a potential conflict of interest.

Chief proponent of the bill, lobbyist and former legislator Jason Watkins, shared Leader Miller’s sentiments. “...If you believe in a representative democracy, then there is one thing that should determine whether or not you get to serve in this Legislature. And that is whether or not the voters choose to send you here, not whether or not you can afford to come up here and serve in the Legislature."

SB 229 passed on a 96-26 vote in the House.

ESG: What is it and why are lawmakers so obsessed?

Adding to the growing portfolio of so-called “woke” things to be scared of, Kansas Republicans in both the House and Senate have demonized a popular investment strategy colloquially called “ESG.” The strategy has grown in popularity across the United States in recent years, prompting aggressive backlash from conservative lawmakers -- including those in Kansas.

Simply put, ESG means considering environmental, social, and governance factors during investing decisions. For example, as climate change worsens and global interest in green energy grows, someone following ESG principles may consider investments in wind turbines or electric vehicles to be a more profitable, long-term investment than oil and gas.

Some of the most influential conservative lobbying groups in Kansas oppose the Republicans’ position on ESG. Rather than imposing strict regulations on the free market, the groups suggest allowing capitalism to run its course. If investors don’t want an ESG approach utilized, they can simply say so.

US SIF: The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment , promotes sustainable investing. A December report from US SIF says about one-eighth of U.S. assets being professionally managed, or $8.4 trillion, are managed by ESG principles.

BlackRock , by some measures, is the biggest investment management company across the globe with more than $10 trillion in assets under management. “Incorporating financially material environmental, social, and/or governance information into investment research and decision-making, based on the conviction that sustainability-integrated portfolios can provide better risk-adjusted returns to investors,” BackRock writes on their website .

There are concerns about the financial impact of such discriminatory policy. “It’s going to cause problems… It’s just the latest moral panic that’s been invented to get the conservatives riled up,” said Rep Rui Xu (D-Westwood). Rep. Xu is the top Democrat on the Financial Institutions & Pensions committee, where the legislation was introduced.

The initial version of the bill faced immediate opposition. KPERS, the pension fund for Kansas teachers and government workers, would have had projected investment losses of over $3.6 billion across 10 years.

Marijuana Goes Up in Smoke

In the Senate this week, hopes for legalizing medical access to cannabis went up in smoke.

SB 135 had a hearing in the Senate Federal & State Affairs committee, but it was ultimately tabled for the remainder of session. The bill created regulations for the distribution, processing, and sale and use of medicinal marijuana.

Despite an interim committee dedicated to studying medical marijuana policy, dozens of states to learn from, and years of advocacy, Chairman Mike Thompson said the issue was “complicated” and “requires more work than we can perform this session.”

Governor Laura Kelly responded with a call for more activism, saying “I am disappointed that some legislators are saying they don’t want to move forward with legalizing medical marijuana this year – effectively turning their backs on our veterans and those with chronic pain and seizure disorders. If they get their way, for yet another year thousands of Kansans will be forced to choose between breaking the law and living without pain. I encourage Kansans to call their state legislators and tell them to legalize medical marijuana this session.”

Missouri legalized recreational, adult-use marijuana in the November 2022 election.

From the House Floor

SB 83 : Making appropriations for the state department of education for FY 2024, establishing the sunflower education equity act to provide education savings accounts for qualified students, requiring school districts to provide a salary increase to all licensed teachers and defining enrollment of small school districts as the highest enrollment from the preceding four years under the Kansas school equity and enhancement act. Passed on Final Action, 64-61 .
HB 2400 : Enacting the Kansas adult learner grant act to facilitate workforce development by providing grants and workforce retention incentive payments to adults who pursue baccalaureate degrees from eligible postsecondary educational institutions in certain fields of study. Passed as amended; 116-6 .
HB 2422 : Eliminating the statutory qualifications listed for the chief inspector for boiler safety appointed by the state fire marshal. Passed on Final Action; 121-1 .
HB 2225 : Limiting cost recovery for certain electric public utilities’ transmission-related costs. Passed as amended on Final Action; 120-1 .
HB 2331 : Designating Lehigh Portland state park. Passed on Final Action, 101-21 .
SB 229 : Creating the legislative compensation commission and prescribing powers and duties of the commission and the legislature. Final action - Substitute passed, 96-26 .
SB 14 : Updating the version of risk-based capital instructions in effect. Passed as amended on Emergency Final Action, 121-0 .
SB 19 : 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 as amended on Emergency Final Action, 121-0 .
SB 26 : Specifying certain requirements necessary to demonstrate fiscal soundness for health maintenance organizations and Medicare provider organizations applying for certificates of authority. Passed as amended on Emergency Final Action, 121-0 .
HB 2247 : Prohibiting banks from requiring a cosigner for an account of a child in the custody of the secretary. Passed as amended on Emergency Final Action, 114-7 .
HB 2388 : Requiring that licensing bodies provide verified electronic credentials to credential holders, including military servicemembers and others receiving Kansas credentials based on their credentials from other jurisdictions, and use centralized electronic credential data management systems with instantaneous credential verification and an auditable record. Passed as amended on Emergency Final Action, 121-0 .
HB 2105 : Enacting the Kansas earned wage access services act, establishing requirements, duties and prohibitions for persons engaged in earned wage access services and providing for the administration of such act by the office of the state bank commissioner. Passed as amended on Emergency Final Action, 108-13 .

Did you know?

All committee hearings and chamber proceedings can be found on the Kansas Legislature’s YouTube page.

Resources

Week of March 13 to March 17, 2023

One-Room Schoolhouses, Absent Fiscal Notes & A Rabbit: SB 83 Barely Scrapes By

For over three hours on Tuesday, House members debated SB 83 , the controversial school vouchers bill.

During debate, the bill’s chief advocate, Rep. Kristey Williams (R-Augusta) repeatedly said the bill could send Kansas schools into the past -- an image that was quickly mocked across social media.

"So you are suggesting that we return to one-room schoolhouses?" asked Rep. Jerry Stogsdill (D-Prairie Village), top Democrat on the House Education committee.

Williams wouldn’t reject the idea, though, even as social media exploded with jokes about the 1800’s and one-room schoolhouses.

On Tuesday’s initial roll call vote, SB 83 passed by a razor thin margin of 61-59. There was an audible gasp in the chamber.

After numerous Republican votes flipped to YES during Wednesday’s Call of the House, Rep. Bill Sutton (R-Gardner) walked into the chamber and the call was lifted.

SB 83 ultimately passed 64-61 .

As for how the Senate will vote, Senate President Ty Masterson (R-Andover) said , "I think we have the votes... At this point I have no idea exactly what that bill does. But the short answer is yes."

Medicaid Expansion Rally!

Governor Laura Kelly spoke to the crowd and reiterated her commitment to fighting for health care coverage. Medicaid expansion is one of her top priorities and has been for years.

Curtis Sneden, president of the Topeka Chamber of Commerce, hammered on why failing to expand, “put simply, is bad business.”

“Placing the burden of uncompensated health care on our health care system, when the solution is so straightforward, that’s bad for business,” he told the crowd.

More facts:

Low-income Americans in states with Medicaid expansion have a 6.1% lower rate of mortality.
Low-income women in states with expansion are 25% more likely to receive mammograms than those in states without expansion.

A Representative Democracy & Legislative Pay

Lawmakers make a pay so low that many can’t afford to serve. Many people must accept a significant pay cut from their day jobs to serve, and legislative pay is not enough to make up the difference

The commission will not consist of currently elected officials, leadership staff, lobbyists, or others with a potential conflict of interest.

SB 229 passed on a 96-26 vote in the House.

ESG: What is it and why are lawmakers so obsessed?

Marijuana Goes Up in Smoke

In the Senate this week, hopes for legalizing medical access to cannabis went up in smoke.

Missouri legalized recreational, adult-use marijuana in the November 2022 election.

From the House Floor

SB 83 : Making appropriations for the state department of education for FY 2024, establishing the sunflower education equity act to provide education savings accounts for qualified students, requiring school districts to provide a salary increase to all licensed teachers and defining enrollment of small school districts as the highest enrollment from the preceding four years under the Kansas school equity and enhancement act. Passed on Final Action, 64-61 .
HB 2400 : Enacting the Kansas adult learner grant act to facilitate workforce development by providing grants and workforce retention incentive payments to adults who pursue baccalaureate degrees from eligible postsecondary educational institutions in certain fields of study. Passed as amended; 116-6 .
HB 2422 : Eliminating the statutory qualifications listed for the chief inspector for boiler safety appointed by the state fire marshal. Passed on Final Action; 121-1 .
HB 2225 : Limiting cost recovery for certain electric public utilities’ transmission-related costs. Passed as amended on Final Action; 120-1 .
HB 2331 : Designating Lehigh Portland state park. Passed on Final Action, 101-21 .
SB 229 : Creating the legislative compensation commission and prescribing powers and duties of the commission and the legislature. Final action - Substitute passed, 96-26 .
SB 14 : Updating the version of risk-based capital instructions in effect. Passed as amended on Emergency Final Action, 121-0 .
SB 19 : 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 as amended on Emergency Final Action, 121-0 .
SB 26 : Specifying certain requirements necessary to demonstrate fiscal soundness for health maintenance organizations and Medicare provider organizations applying for certificates of authority. Passed as amended on Emergency Final Action, 121-0 .
HB 2247 : Prohibiting banks from requiring a cosigner for an account of a child in the custody of the secretary. Passed as amended on Emergency Final Action, 114-7 .
HB 2388 : Requiring that licensing bodies provide verified electronic credentials to credential holders, including military servicemembers and others receiving Kansas credentials based on their credentials from other jurisdictions, and use centralized electronic credential data management systems with instantaneous credential verification and an auditable record. Passed as amended on Emergency Final Action, 121-0 .
HB 2105 : Enacting the Kansas earned wage access services act, establishing requirements, duties and prohibitions for persons engaged in earned wage access services and providing for the administration of such act by the office of the state bank commissioner. Passed as amended on Emergency Final Action, 108-13 .

2023 Legislative Update 9

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 19:51:45 GMT

Week of March 1 to March 3, 2023

Week 9 in the Kansas House was a flurry. House Democrats hosted press conferences covering education funding, special education, teacher pay, and property tax cuts, demanding that Republicans pivot their focus from culture war divides to kitchen-table issues.

The Wyandotte County Delegation’s weekly luncheon this week included a very informative presentation by McClain Bryant Macklin, VP Policy and Impact, Health Forward Foundation, about the work they do in our community. Their mission is “to achieve health equity and secure a fair and just region.” The work they do to support that varies from addressing health access to voter rights. Health Forward uses creative approachs to address health inequities and social determinants of health and supports a holistic view as to what it takes to build a healthy community. Many thanks to McClain Bryant Macklin, Nathan Madden and Alicia Araujo for joining the Wyandotte County Delegation for our lunch and learn at the Capitol. You can learn more about Health Forward at healthforward.org .

Frank White III, President and CEO for the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority “KCATA” provided a briefing to the House Transportation Committee. It was so nice to see both Frank and Terri Barr-Moore at the Capitol. Since my usual committee did not meet that day, I was able to see my friend Frank give an excellent presentation to House Transportation. There were several questions from committee members about micro transit as well as future expansion plans, including potential for rail and connections to the airport.

K-12 Education Committee

Immediately after Monday’s K-12 Education Budget meeting, the Democrats hosted a press conference. In the committee, the Republican Chair and Vice Chair insisted on combining special education funding and teacher pay raises with a controversial voucher bill to urge support among reluctant lawmakers.

It was also announced that under the bill, Kansans making 600% of the federal poverty level will qualify for vouchers. This means any family making up to $180,000 may apply for and receive taxpayer money to send their kids to private, parochial, or home schools.

The move puts lawmakers in a difficult position.

Rep. Jarrod Ousley attempted to sever the popular aspects of the legislation from vouchers, but the GOP majority struck down the motion. The motion would have allowed representatives to support special education funding and teacher pay raises without voting for vouchers.

“Our teachers deserve more,” he said. “They deserve everything they’ve earned, and that’s probably not what they’re getting — whether it’s respect in the classroom, respect in the committee room or their salary schedule.”

Assistant Democratic Leader Rep. Valdenia Winn, hit on the committee’s egregious, repeated breaches of public trust throughout the 2023 session. “Do public servants silence opposition? Do they amplify misinformation?” Winn said “I’m constantly concerned about achievement, but I don’t attack the teachers. I don’t try to take funding from public schools. The whole process was disingenuous, which is a word that we use up here for not telling the truth, for telling lies.”

Teachers spoke up on social media and in-person about the scheme, saying they’d rather skip out on pay hikes than suck much-needed funding out of classrooms. Then, more than 100 of Kansas’s “most distinguished” teachers and educators -- including 2022 Kansas Teacher of the Year Susanne Stevenson, 2020 National Teacher of the Year Tabatha Rosproy, 2019 Kansas Teacher of the Year Whitney Morgan, and 2018 Kansas Teacher of the Year Sam Neill -- signed onto a letter rejecting so-called school choice and voucher scams.

They wrote, “We believe that accredited private schools and homeschools have an important role in the education of children; however, we do not support using public funds for private education.” Read the full letter here .

Property Tax Cut Proposal

Homeowners across Kansas are reacting with concern this week to property valuation notices. With some areas of Kansas seeing home valuations spike by upwards of 25% and 30%, there is a very serious reality that some families will be taxed out of their homes.

According to the Market Study Analysis for Wyandotte County the “residential market indicates a median inflationary trend of 20% over the course of 2022”. The study states: “High demand, and low supply continue to drive demand for residential property within Wyandotte County. These factors have led to an increase of sales prices and subsequently an increase in market values.”

At a press conference this week House Democratic Vic Miller said "That's why we're here making noise. We're hearing the noise from the people, but we're not hearing enough noise in this building about the problem of rising property taxes."

Some averages from across the state:

Wyandotte County saw a 20% increase
Shawnee County saw a 13% increase
Johnson County saw a 12% increase
Douglas County saw a 9% increase
Leavenworth County saw a 14.8% increase
Wallace County saw a 20% increase

House Democrats again urged the Kansas Legislature to at least have hearings on the following three-pronged property tax proposal, which eases the property tax burden on homeowners:

HCR 5009 : A constitutional amendment reducing the assessment level of Residential Property from 11.5% to 9%. Even with this reduction, residential property will still contribute an estimated 48% of the total property taxes in the state.
HB 2366 : Replenish and enhance the Local Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund (LAVTRF). We propose that the LAVTRF be replenished with the annual $54,000,000 required by law (K.S.A. 79-2959) and, for the next four years, enhanced by an equal annual amount of $54,000,000.
HB 2364 : Amend K.S.A. 79-201x to raise the residential property exemption from the statewide school mill levy to $65,000. We propose raising this exemption again—this time from $40,000 to $65,000. The fiscal note for this is $55.6 million in FY 2025, $62.3 million in FY 2026, and $62.3 million in FY 2027.

Rep. Adam Smith, chairman of the House Taxation Committee, agreed on Tuesday to host a hearing over HCR 5009. "We agree on a lot more than we disagree on," he told The Capital-Journal after the press conference. "I would love to sit down with him, and I'm sure I will here soon."

HCR 5009 amends the Kansas Constitution to reduce residential property assessment levels from 11.5% to 9%. Homeowners are estimated to save nearly $700 million under the change. There would not be a reduction in tax revenues. The amendment would simply shift some of the burden off residential property and onto other classes, such as agriculture, oil and commercial.

"We cannot continue this pattern. We have to do something about it, or we're going to tax people out of homeownership,” said Miller.

If passed out of committee, the constitutional amendment would require a ⅔ vote of the body. If it received the necessary 84 votes, voters would see the question on their next ballot. To pass, the amendment needs a simple majority of the vote.

The hearing on HCR 5009 is to be held on Thursday, March 16th.

House Democrats encourage homeowners to submit testimony supporting the amendment to the Tax committee. You may find instructions to provide either written or oral testimony by contacting Rep. Smith’s office at 785 296-0715 or adam.smith@house.ks.gov .

Across the Rotunda

In the Senate chamber, focus was on the transgender athlete’s bill. After a floor debate and failed amendments, HB 2238 passed on a 28-11 vote. The House passed the bill earlier in the session, 82-40 , two votes short of the ⅔ majority needed to override a gubernatorial veto.

Now that both chambers have passed the bill, it heads to Governor Laura Kelly’s desk. She’s historically vetoed the legislation as have numerous Republican governors.

SUBMIT TESTIMONY: High Hopes for Medical Cannabis Bill

The Senate Committee on Fed & State Affairs will host a hearing on a medical cannabis bill, SB 135. Kansans are encouraged to submit testimony in support of legalizing medical use of cannabis, and contact their legislators to push for legalization.

Individuals wishing to present testimony before the Committee must provide a digital copy of the testimony by email, in PDF format, to the committee assistant ( Sheila.Wodtke@senate.ks.gov ) at least 24 business hours in advance of the hearing. This means testimony on SB 135 must be submitted by 10:30 A.M. on Wednesday, March 15.

Find full instructions to submit testimony, including formatting recommendations, here .

Rally for KanCare Expansion

Join Alliance for a Healthy Kansas and other Medicaid expansion advocates for a rally in the Capitol building on March 15th! Don’t live in Topeka? No problem. Buses are leaving from Wichita, North Newton, and Emporia on the morning of the rally. RSVP here .

Views From the House Floor

HB 2002 : Continuing in existence the reimbursement from the taxpayer notification costs fund for printing and postage costs for county clerks beyond calendar year 2023. Emergency Final Action - Passed, 114-7 .
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. Final Action - Passed as Amended, 85-35 .
HB 2229 : Providing a deduction from sales or compensating use tax when selling and buying different motor vehicles within 180 days. Emergency Final Action - Passed, 117-4 .
HB 2106 : Providing a sales tax exemption for sales of property and services used in the provision of communications services. Emergency Final Action - Passed as Amended, 108-13 .
HB 2026 : Requiring the secretary of revenue to file release of tax warrants in the county where the warrant is docketed after payment of taxes owed. Emergency Final Action - Passed as Amended, 121-0 .
HB 2304 : Standardizing firearms safety programs in school districts. Final Action - Passed, 78-43 .
HB 2201 : Requiring prior year tax information to be included on the classification and appraised valuation notice. Emergency Final Action - Passed, 121-0 .
HB 2344 : Expanding the membership of the council on travel and tourism, updating the committee assignment required for members appointed from the house of representatives and modifying the department of commerce's grant program for tourism promotion by reducing the allocation of grants for public entities and removing the limitation on grant amounts to any single entity. Final Action - Passed, 114-9 .
HB 2144 : Authorizing modification of a noncharitable irrevocable trust to provide that the rule against perpetuities is inapplicable, providing that the Kansas uniform statutory rule against perpetuities is inapplicable to trusts under certain circumstances and modifying the definition of resident trust in the Kansas income tax act. Final Action - Passed, 123-0 .
HB 2083 : Creating the Kansas vacant property act to prohibit municipalities from imposing any fees or registration requirements on the basis that property is unoccupied. Final Action - Passed as Amended, 87-36 .
Sub HB 2077 : Implementing additional reporting requirements for information technology projects and state agencies, requiring additional information technology security training and status reports, requiring reporting of significant cybersecurity audits and changing the membership requirements, terms of members and the quorum requirements for the information technology executive council. Final Action - Substitute passed as amended, 123-0 .
HCR 5005 : Making application to the Congress of the United States to call a convention of the states to establish term limits for members of Congress. Final Action - Not adopted by required ⅔ majority, 69-54 .

Did you know?

All committee hearings and chamber proceedings can be found on the Kansas Legislature’s YouTube page.

Resources

Week of March 1 to March 3, 2023

K-12 Education Committee

The move puts lawmakers in a difficult position.

Property Tax Cut Proposal

Some averages from across the state:

Wyandotte County saw a 20% increase
Shawnee County saw a 13% increase
Johnson County saw a 12% increase
Douglas County saw a 9% increase
Leavenworth County saw a 14.8% increase
Wallace County saw a 20% increase

House Democrats again urged the Kansas Legislature to at least have hearings on the following three-pronged property tax proposal, which eases the property tax burden on homeowners:

HCR 5009 : A constitutional amendment reducing the assessment level of Residential Property from 11.5% to 9%. Even with this reduction, residential property will still contribute an estimated 48% of the total property taxes in the state.
HB 2366 : Replenish and enhance the Local Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund (LAVTRF). We propose that the LAVTRF be replenished with the annual $54,000,000 required by law (K.S.A. 79-2959) and, for the next four years, enhanced by an equal annual amount of $54,000,000.
HB 2364 : Amend K.S.A. 79-201x to raise the residential property exemption from the statewide school mill levy to $65,000. We propose raising this exemption again—this time from $40,000 to $65,000. The fiscal note for this is $55.6 million in FY 2025, $62.3 million in FY 2026, and $62.3 million in FY 2027.

"We cannot continue this pattern. We have to do something about it, or we're going to tax people out of homeownership,” said Miller.

The hearing on HCR 5009 is to be held on Thursday, March 16th.

Across the Rotunda

Now that both chambers have passed the bill, it heads to Governor Laura Kelly’s desk. She’s historically vetoed the legislation as have numerous Republican governors.

SUBMIT TESTIMONY: High Hopes for Medical Cannabis Bill

Find full instructions to submit testimony, including formatting recommendations, here .

HB 2002 : Continuing in existence the reimbursement from the taxpayer notification costs fund for printing and postage costs for county clerks beyond calendar year 2023. Emergency Final Action - Passed, 114-7 .
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. Final Action - Passed as Amended, 85-35 .
HB 2229 : Providing a deduction from sales or compensating use tax when selling and buying different motor vehicles within 180 days. Emergency Final Action - Passed, 117-4 .
HB 2106 : Providing a sales tax exemption for sales of property and services used in the provision of communications services. Emergency Final Action - Passed as Amended, 108-13 .
HB 2026 : Requiring the secretary of revenue to file release of tax warrants in the county where the warrant is docketed after payment of taxes owed. Emergency Final Action - Passed as Amended, 121-0 .
HB 2304 : Standardizing firearms safety programs in school districts. Final Action - Passed, 78-43 .
HB 2201 : Requiring prior year tax information to be included on the classification and appraised valuation notice. Emergency Final Action - Passed, 121-0 .
HB 2344 : Expanding the membership of the council on travel and tourism, updating the committee assignment required for members appointed from the house of representatives and modifying the department of commerce's grant program for tourism promotion by reducing the allocation of grants for public entities and removing the limitation on grant amounts to any single entity. Final Action - Passed, 114-9 .
HB 2144 : Authorizing modification of a noncharitable irrevocable trust to provide that the rule against perpetuities is inapplicable, providing that the Kansas uniform statutory rule against perpetuities is inapplicable to trusts under certain circumstances and modifying the definition of resident trust in the Kansas income tax act. Final Action - Passed, 123-0 .
HB 2083 : Creating the Kansas vacant property act to prohibit municipalities from imposing any fees or registration requirements on the basis that property is unoccupied. Final Action - Passed as Amended, 87-36 .
Sub HB 2077 : Implementing additional reporting requirements for information technology projects and state agencies, requiring additional information technology security training and status reports, requiring reporting of significant cybersecurity audits and changing the membership requirements, terms of members and the quorum requirements for the information technology executive council. Final Action - Substitute passed as amended, 123-0 .
HCR 5005 : Making application to the Congress of the United States to call a convention of the states to establish term limits for members of Congress. Final Action - Not adopted by required ⅔ majority, 69-54 .

2023 Legislative Update 8

Sun, 05 Mar 2023 12:56:43 GMT

Week of March 1 to March 3, 2023

It was a short week in Topeka, but still packed with drama.

The House K-12 Education Budget committee continues to go rogue, seeks to defund public schools and disrespects teachers. Bills on alcohol and tobacco kept lawmakers busy on the floor. A bill to penalize homeless Kansans brought out dozens of upset people and groups.

A special thank you to Eve and Audi for serving as Legislative Pages this week. They were there on the day that we debated and passed several bills including the T-21 bill. So glad they were able to spend the day with me at the Capitol.

It was an honor to join Representative Kirk Haskins and Kansas Thespians on the House Floor to celebrate Theatre in Our Schools Day at the Capitol! The Kansas Thespians is a chapter of the Educational Theatre Association and the International Theatre Society.

The Kansas Thespians chapter joined The International Thespian Society in 1933, making them the oldest troupe in the western half of the USA. Every January, the Kansas Thespians hold its Thespian Festival. Theatre in our schools help students develop self-confidence, creative problem solving, the ability to communicate their thoughts and feelings and work better with others.

It is important that we continue to support arts education and public investment in the arts that enrich our communities.

Governor Laura Kelly’s economic development efforts continue to bring businesses and stability to Kansas. Kansas was Ranked #1 in Private Investment Per Capita for the second straight year winning the 2022 Site Selection Magazine’s Governor’s Cup. More below about the Governor’s leadership that has paved the way for this remarkable economic recovery.

A Medicaid expansion rally is planned for March 15th. Hopefully the show of support will help move Medicaid expansion forward this session. Details for the rally are included below.

The K-12 Education Budget Committee

In the House K-12 Education Budget Committee there are efforts to expand voucher programs and school choice. The committee was supposed to hear from the public on Thursday afternoon, but the meeting is at the center of controversy after the chairwoman prohibited questions, dismissed concerns about transparency brought forward by representatives on the committee, and openly admitted to gutting the bill.

In a whirlwind 17-minute meeting, the Chair declared the day’s agenda null and void despite the attendance of numerous conferees and frustration among committee members. The committee was prepared to hear input from the public on SB 83 -- another voucher bill – however the Chair, Rep. Williams, announced the bill’s contents would be stripped and entirely new language would be inserted by Monday . This timeline prohibits the public from submitting testimony.

Chair Williams’ new version of the bill will be unveiled in the next committee meeting on Monday at 3:30 P.M., which can be watched live here .

Criminalizing Homelessness

In a packed Welfare Reform committee hearing on Thursday afternoon, lawmakers discussed HB 2430 . The legislation would criminalize sleeping on state and local land. Violators of the law would be faced with a class C nonperson misdemeanor charge and up to 30 days in jail, a controversial approach to tackling the state’s homelessness situation.

In another series of attacks on home rule, the bill also prohibits local officials, such as law enforcement and prosecutors, from refusing to enforce the law. The attorney general would be allowed to bring civil action against any violators. Furthermore, the bill strips cities of state funds to combat homelessness if the city has a higher-than-average rate of homelessness.

Opponents called the bill dehumanizing and ineffective in nearly 60 pieces of testimony. The 2022 Advocates’ Guide from the National Homelessness Law Center says, “Criminalization is the most expensive and least effective way of addressing homelessness,” and explains the consequences of arrests on an individual’s ability to rise out of poverty when weighed down by unaffordable tickets and criminal convictions. Additionally, a 2022 court opinion in the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals declared that civil and criminal punishments for homelessness are “cruel and unusual.”

Rep. Brian Bergkamp, the bill’s sponsor, advocates weighing “compassion for people in that situation,” against the complications they present to surrounding communities. He introduced the legislation on behalf a conservative, Texas-based think tank, the Cicero Institute. The sole proponent of the bill was a representative from the institute .

The committee’s chair gave the single proponent thirty minutes to present testimony but opponents were given two minutes each. Significant differences in time allotted to conferees is a growing pattern in the legislature.

Raising the Tobacco Age Limit

The House voted 68-53 on Thursday to raise the legal age to buy tobacco to 21. Failing to raise the legal age would cost the state an annual estimated $1.2 million in federal funding. The bill would bring the state into federal compliance and allow the state to continue receiving those funds.

In 2019, President Trump signed legislation to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and raise the federal minimum age for sale of tobacco products from 18 to 21 years. This legislation (known as “ Tobacco 21 ” or “T21”) became effective immediately and without exception.

Across the Rotunda

In the days leading up to the turnaround deadline, the Kansas Senate debated nearly 50 pieces of legislation. All but one reached the constitutional majority required to pass.

These include bills to prohibit the use of ballot drop boxes entirely in the state; eliminating the three-day grace period on advance ballots by mail that was adopted unanimously just 6 years ago; banning a safe, common access point for medication abortion; eliminating access to gender-affirming care (in all its forms) for trans Kansans; prohibiting communities’ ability to prevent future pandemics; expanding voucher programs that will defund our schools; and slashing taxes so drastically that our economy would be hit worse than under Brownback’s failed tax experiment.

Back on Track After Brownback

Governor Laura Kelly ’s predictable, stable leadership paved the way for economic recovery. Check out the recent highlights:

S&P Global Improves Kansas Credit Outlook Under Governor Kelly: “S&P Global, a worldwide credit rating agency, announced it has improved its credit outlook for the State of Kansas to ‘positive’ from ‘stable,’ citing Governor Laura Kelly’s efforts to close the Bank of KDOT, balance the state budget, pay off KPERS debt, and achieve record-low unemployment rates. This increases the likelihood that within the next two years the agency will improve Kansas’ credit rating, which dropped during Governor Sam Brownback’s administration due to his failed tax experiment. S&P affirmed Kansas’ credit rating as AA.” Read the full press release here .

Governor Kelly Announces February Total Tax Collections Exceed Estimates by Nearly $37 Million : “Total tax-only collections for February were $549.8 million. That is $36.8 million, or 7.2%, more than the monthly estimate. Those collections were also $47.3 million, or 9.4%, more than in February 2022.”

“‘Revenues have exceeded estimates for 30 out of the last 31 months – a clear sign that our efforts to make Kansas a place where businesses and families want to call home is paying off,’ Governor Laura Kelly said. ‘These revenues will continue to grow our historic budget surplus, making it possible for our legislature to pass responsible tax cuts that help every Kansan, like my ‘Axing Your Taxes’ plan.’” Read the full press release here .

Governor Kelly Announces Kansas Ranked #1 in Private Investment Per Capita for Second Straight Year: “Kansas attracted the most private business investment per capita of any state in the country in 2022 and will receive the nation’s foremost economic development award, the Governor’s Cup from Site Selection magazine, for the second year in a row.” Read the full press release here .

Governor Kelly Celebrates Second Straight Governor’s Cup Win : “Governor Laura Kelly was joined by Lieutenant Governor David Toland and Kansas business leaders to celebrate the announcement that the state has won the 2022 Site Selection Magazine’s Governor’s Cup. In 2022, Kansas ranked first in the nation in private investment per capita for the second straight year.” Read the full press release here .

Rally for KanCare Expansion

Join Alliance for a Healthy Kansas and other Medicaid expansion advocates for a rally in the Capitol building on March 15th! RSVP here .

Views From the House Floor

HB 2269 : Amending the Kansas cigarette and tobacco products act to raise the minimum age to 21 years old for the sale, purchase or possession of cigarettes, electronic cigarettes or tobacco products. Final Action, passed 68-53 .

HB 2058 : Requiring monthly remittance of gallonage taxes on wine to the secretary of revenue by the holder of a special order shipping license. Emergency Final Action, passed 112-10 .

HB 2059 : Amending the alcoholic liquor or cereal malt beverage common consumption area law to permit rather than require the city ordinance or county resolution creating such an area to block public streets or roadways from motorized traffic and to allow the boundaries to be designated by signage. Emergency Final Action, passed as amended 116-6 .

HB 2170 : Providing sampling rules for alcoholic liquor and cereal malt beverages for spirits distributors, wine distributors and beer distributors in regard to the amount of products used for samples for distributors, retailers and club and drinking establishment licensees. Emergency Final Action, passed as amended 115-7 .

HB 2124 : Allowing businesses to sell cereal malt beverage by the drink on Sundays without requiring that 30% of such businesses’ gross receipts be derived from the sale of food. Emergency Final Action, passed 97 to 25 .

SB 39 : Directing the capitol preservation committee to develop and approve plans for a mural honoring the 1st Kansas (Colored) Voluntary Infantry regiment. Final Action, passed 122-0 .

HB 2290 : Authorizing the affiliation of northwest Kansas technical college and north central Kansas technical college with Fort Hays state university. Final Action, passed 121-1 .

HB 2176 : Creating the Arkansas city area public library district act, requiring an election for the creation of such district and authorizing unified school district No. 470 to levy a tax on behalf of the library district. Final Action, Passed as amended 110-12 .

Did you know?

All committee hearings and chamber proceedings can be found on the Kansas Legislature’s YouTube page.

Resources

Week of March 1 to March 3, 2023

It was a short week in Topeka, but still packed with drama.

It is important that we continue to support arts education and public investment in the arts that enrich our communities.

A Medicaid expansion rally is planned for March 15th. Hopefully the show of support will help move Medicaid expansion forward this session. Details for the rally are included below.

The K-12 Education Budget Committee

Chair Williams’ new version of the bill will be unveiled in the next committee meeting on Monday at 3:30 P.M., which can be watched live here .

Criminalizing Homelessness

Raising the Tobacco Age Limit

Across the Rotunda

In the days leading up to the turnaround deadline, the Kansas Senate debated nearly 50 pieces of legislation. All but one reached the constitutional majority required to pass.

Back on Track After Brownback

Governor Laura Kelly ’s predictable, stable leadership paved the way for economic recovery. Check out the recent highlights:

S&P Global Improves Kansas Credit Outlook Under Governor Kelly: “S&P Global, a worldwide credit rating agency, announced it has improved its credit outlook for the State of Kansas to ‘positive’ from ‘stable,’ citing Governor Laura Kelly’s efforts to close the Bank of KDOT, balance the state budget, pay off KPERS debt, and achieve record-low unemployment rates. This increases the likelihood that within the next two years the agency will improve Kansas’ credit rating, which dropped during Governor Sam Brownback’s administration due to his failed tax experiment. S&P affirmed Kansas’ credit rating as AA.” Read the full press release here .

Governor Kelly Announces February Total Tax Collections Exceed Estimates by Nearly $37 Million : “Total tax-only collections for February were $549.8 million. That is $36.8 million, or 7.2%, more than the monthly estimate. Those collections were also $47.3 million, or 9.4%, more than in February 2022.”

“‘Revenues have exceeded estimates for 30 out of the last 31 months – a clear sign that our efforts to make Kansas a place where businesses and families want to call home is paying off,’ Governor Laura Kelly said. ‘These revenues will continue to grow our historic budget surplus, making it possible for our legislature to pass responsible tax cuts that help every Kansan, like my ‘Axing Your Taxes’ plan.’” Read the full press release here .

Governor Kelly Announces Kansas Ranked #1 in Private Investment Per Capita for Second Straight Year: “Kansas attracted the most private business investment per capita of any state in the country in 2022 and will receive the nation’s foremost economic development award, the Governor’s Cup from Site Selection magazine, for the second year in a row.” Read the full press release here .

Governor Kelly Celebrates Second Straight Governor’s Cup Win : “Governor Laura Kelly was joined by Lieutenant Governor David Toland and Kansas business leaders to celebrate the announcement that the state has won the 2022 Site Selection Magazine’s Governor’s Cup. In 2022, Kansas ranked first in the nation in private investment per capita for the second straight year.” Read the full press release here .

Rally for KanCare Expansion

Join Alliance for a Healthy Kansas and other Medicaid expansion advocates for a rally in the Capitol building on March 15th! RSVP here .

Views From the House Floor

HB 2269 : Amending the Kansas cigarette and tobacco products act to raise the minimum age to 21 years old for the sale, purchase or possession of cigarettes, electronic cigarettes or tobacco products. Final Action, passed 68-53 .

HB 2058 : Requiring monthly remittance of gallonage taxes on wine to the secretary of revenue by the holder of a special order shipping license. Emergency Final Action, passed 112-10 .

HB 2059 : Amending the alcoholic liquor or cereal malt beverage common consumption area law to permit rather than require the city ordinance or county resolution creating such an area to block public streets or roadways from motorized traffic and to allow the boundaries to be designated by signage. Emergency Final Action, passed as amended 116-6 .

HB 2170 : Providing sampling rules for alcoholic liquor and cereal malt beverages for spirits distributors, wine distributors and beer distributors in regard to the amount of products used for samples for distributors, retailers and club and drinking establishment licensees. Emergency Final Action, passed as amended 115-7 .

HB 2124 : Allowing businesses to sell cereal malt beverage by the drink on Sundays without requiring that 30% of such businesses’ gross receipts be derived from the sale of food. Emergency Final Action, passed 97 to 25 .

SB 39 : Directing the capitol preservation committee to develop and approve plans for a mural honoring the 1st Kansas (Colored) Voluntary Infantry regiment. Final Action, passed 122-0 .

HB 2290 : Authorizing the affiliation of northwest Kansas technical college and north central Kansas technical college with Fort Hays state university. Final Action, passed 121-1 .

HB 2176 : Creating the Arkansas city area public library district act, requiring an election for the creation of such district and authorizing unified school district No. 470 to levy a tax on behalf of the library district. Final Action, Passed as amended 110-12 .

2023 Legislative Update 7

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 21:29:29 GMT

February 20 - February 27

The House spent Wednesday and Thursday on the floor debating and voting over five dozen bills. Hot button issues like voter suppression and LGBTQ rights sucked the oxygen out of the room, but bipartisan wins around the Ogallala Aquifer gave reason to celebrate.

This week was “Turnaround Week,” which is the deadline for when bills must pass out of their originating chamber, or they die. There are exceptions for bills in “exempt” committees, which are House Fed & State, Calendar & Printing, Tax, and Appropriations. Select bills that did not meet the Turnaround deadline may be “blessed” by the Speaker of the House and given later attention.

Sadly, HB 2028, to provide for an automated process for the expungement of criminal records for not guilty, dismissals and diversions was one of the bills that “died” at Turnaround. Attempts to have it moved above the line or “blessed” were unsuccessful. More about that below.

On Tuesday, Joe Reardon, President of the Greater Kansas City Chamber and Dred Scott, President of the Civic Council were in Topeka to share information with legislators about the exciting things happening in the KC region. Joe provided a wonderful lunchtime presentation at the Capitol about how the KC Region is growing, transforming and impacting the economic landscape throughout the state. Legislators from all over Kansas attended the lunch presentation and continue to talk about the many exciting things shared that are on the horizon for the KC area. Of particular interest is the new airport that opens this week and the World Cup which will no doubt have a far-reaching impact not only to the KC Region but throughout the State. It is an exciting opportunity during the World Cup when the world’s eyes will be on us, and we must be ready to leave a lasting positive impression of Kansas!

Washington Days, the Democrats’ annual conference was held on Friday and Saturday. Congratulations to newly elected KDP Chairwoman Jenna Repass and KDP Vice Chair Shaun Junkins as they take the helm at an exciting, always challenging time with many opportunities! Wishing them the best as they navigate the often-difficult waters of party politics. We are stronger together and if everyone keeps that in mind we will grow as others will want to join us.

Kansas Democratic Party Elects Jeanna Repass

Secretary of State candidate Jeanna Repass was elected chair of the Kansas Democratic Party on Saturday at the party’s annual Washington Days conference. Repass went up against -- or as she put it, “in addition to,” former Lt. Governor and State Treasurer Lynn Rogers.

The duo had a tumultuous few weeks in the lead-up to Washington Days, which was ultimately reflected in the final vote: 122 to 107. However, both Repass and Rogers made visible, intentional efforts to model a unified front. Both repeatedly shook hands, hugged, and celebrated forward progress and an exciting future for the Kansas Democratic Party.

Shaun Junkins was elected as vice chair on a unanimous voice vote. Shaun is a Business Agent for District 70 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in Wichita. District 70 includes several local lodges. It is good for Labor to have a seat at the table in party business.

HB 2028: Automated process for expungement of records

Sadly, HB 2028, to provide for an automated process for expungement of criminal records for those found not guilty or those who have completed diversion did not make it above “the line” for a vote in the House before Turnaround.

I am not sure what the objection could possibly be to this legislation, which began as a bi-partisan effort that the House Judiciary Committee thought worthy of pursuit. The bill is based on a recommendation by the Kansas Judicial Council. Every single issue brought forth has been addressed, and there were no opponents. The bill passed the House Judiciary Committee unanimously last session and again this session yet Republican Leadership still will not allow it to move forward.

This is a policy that would help remove a barrier for employment, housing, education, giving people a second chance and helping meet workforce needs for Kansas businesses, so it simply makes no sense why the Republican leadership will not move this and other similar policies forward.

It is very discouraging for those that work so hard on behalf of many that otherwise would not have a voice in this process to pass legislation that will help improve their lives and quite honestly the lives of all of us.

It is shortsighted when policies that will help people have a better life are not allowed to move forward. We know the key to that is having a good job, a place to live, and access to food and medical care. Essential needs that we all need to survive. I do not understand why the Republican Leadership is so callous when it comes to issues facing so many of our hard-working Kansans by not allowing good policy such as HB 2028 to move forward.

Debating Droboxes

A hotly contested bill removing the 30-day grace period from mail ballots passed the House in a 77-45 vote on Wednesday. The move is a notable pivot from 2017, when the grace period was created in a 123-1 dote. Current Kansas law ensures mail ballots are counted if the ballot is postmarked by Election Day and received by local election officials by 5:00 P.M. on the Friday following the election.

Under the legislation, any ballot received after 7:00 P.M. on Election Day would not be counted. Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab opposed the bill, saying “We’ve been really vocal on supporting drop boxes.” Secretary Schwab has been acknowledged by voters and Democrats statewide for his commitment to touting safe and secure elections in the face of rampant election-related conspiracy theories.

Schwab testified opposite Attorney General Kris Kobach. Kobach argued before the committee that “ballot harvesting” -- the idea that political operatives manipulate dozens or hundreds of absentee ballots before leaving them at dropboxes -- happens with “significant regularity.” There is no evidence of this happening in the state. Current law allows an individual to return only 10 or fewer ballots, in a situation such as a nursing home worker returning ballots for patients.

“This idea that people have lost confidence in elections is because we have a bunch of loonies running around saying it was … fraud without a single bit of evidence to support that case,” said House Democratic Leader Vic Miller, who sponsored the 2017 legislation creating the grace period and is considered an election law expert in the state. “But yes, if you repeat an incorrect statement often enough, unfortunately, some people begin to believe it,” he concluded.

In recent years, voting rights advocates have expressed concern about the increasingly unpredictable timing of ballots delivered by the U.S. Postal System. Opponents to HB 2056 believe the bill will have the most significant effects on rural voters, whose snail mail has been hit the hardest by the shifts at USPS. In some areas of the state, including rural Kansas, mail is often routed to New Mexico, Colorado, or Missouri for processing. However, in Wyandotte and Johnson County, for example, the mail is sent just over the state line and back. This means the bill may have a more disenfranchising effect on some voters than others, based exclusively on geography.

Additionally, the House approved HB 2053 . This would keep drop boxes in Kansas -- all 167 -- but assign the Secretary of State’s office to work with local officials in creating regulatory oversight of the boxes. The bill passed 109-12 , with opponents acknowledging Schwab’s vocal support for drop boxes, but ultimately expressing concern that future Secretaries of State may not share his commitment.

The vote puts the House at odds with the Senate, which voted to remove dropboxes altogether.

The legislation failed to pass with the two-thirds votes necessary to override a veto from Governor Laura Kelly.

‘Eddie the Eagle:’ Free NRA Advertising in the #KSLeg

A hearing was held on HB 2304 the National Rifle Association’s controversial “Eddie the Eagle” gun training program.

Opponents to HB 2304 point to a study from the American Academy of Pediatrics that deemed the program ineffective from nearly 20 years ago, an unpredictable cost to the state, and a lack of need. Schools currently offer firearm safety training approved by the Kansas State Board of Education. Opponents also stated that students should not be responsible for firearm safety; instead, adults and guardians should ensure access to appropriate usage and storage training for firearm owners.

Governor Kelly previously vetoed a similar bill. The governor cited legislative overreach, explaining the program was outside of the legislature’s jurisdiction and curriculum decisions should be left up to the state board of education and local school boards.

Saving Kansas Water

Two years after the creation of the House water committee, the House debated HB 2279 and HB 2302 . The bills put Kansas one step closer to the preservation of the Ogallala Aquifer.

First, what is a “ groundwater management district ?” The Kansas Groundwater Management District Act establishes five GMD's in Kansas. Leaders in each district are responsible for the oversight and managerial duties of their districts. Action is critical; some areas of the aquifer are estimated to only have 10 to 20 years left before complete depletion.

Under HB 2279, GMDs will be required to identify spots in the Ogallala Aquifer with the worst depletion and submit annual written water conservation plans to the legislature. They will provide these to the chief engineer.

The basics of HB 2279:

GMDs have until July 2024 to identify the priority areas of concern. These are places where the aquifer’s depletion is the worst.
GMDs will have until July 2026 to submit plans for reducing water in those areas. The plans will be approved or denied by the state’s chief water engineer.
If the GMDs fail to act, Kansas can intervene and force action. Incentives are in place to help stakeholders avoid this scenario.

HB 2302 assigns 1.231% of state sales tax revenue to support state water plans: the water technical assistance fund and the water projects grant fund. These funds are for water-related infrastructure projects. A portion of the revenue from the sales and compensating use tax will go to the state water plan fund.

Fast Facts on Kansas Water

86% of Kansas farmers agree that water should be saved for future generations.
90% of Kansas farmers agree that water should be conserved or saved.
67% of Kansans are concerned about Kansas running out of water.

Rep. Lindsay Vaughn, who serves on the Water Committee has been at the forefront of water conservation legislation. In a Wednesday floor speech she said, “I was having a conversation with the carrier of the bill the other evening and he asked me, ‘Why do you care about this issue? What makes you passionate?”

She explained, “I feel like there is still hope, there is still an opportunity to save the aquifer for people in my generation and after us in Kansas. This issue has really brought people together and that work has been exemplified in our committee. That is something I’m really proud to be a part of.”

Targeting Trans Youth… Again

The GOP’s fixation on children’s genitalia continues for the third straight year. In a Wednesday floor debate, the House took on HB 2238 -- the so-called “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act,” -- which is about everything except women.

HB 2238 claims to support girls’ athletics in K-12 and college arenas. However, the bill does not provide any funding or resources to women’s athletics. Rather, it is a framework for state-sanctioned discrimination against children who are already prone to suicidal ideation and mental health crises.

The Human Rights Commission, the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, released a denunciation of the legislation calling the bill an “unconscionable, targeted attack on transgender and non-binary Kansans, aimed at preventing them from simply living as their authentic selves for no reason at all, other than discrimination.”

Cathryn Oakley, the HRC’s State Legislative Director and Senior Counsel, said the bill “demonstrates that legislators in Kansas are spending far too much time attacking the LGBTQ+ community and far too little time trying to solve real problems. We ask the Kansas legislature to stop these assaults on LGBTQ+ people and to inform their decisions with facts, not fear and misinformation spread by anti-LGBTQ+ extremists.”

What do you need to know about HB 2238?

The legislation is targeted at TWO transgender kids in the entire state of Kansas.
The bill’s language allows for genital inspections of children as young as 5 years old , without any guidance regarding who is to perform the inspections.
Similar versions of the bill in other legislatures have cost states hundreds of thousands of dollars in litigation costs.
The Kansas State High School Athletic Association (KSHSAA) has a policy in place that works. There is no need to over-legislate and over-regulate.
The economic impact of anti-transgender legislation is significant. For example the NCAA made it abundantly clear that states with this kind of discriminatory legislation will not be considered to host athletic events ,and the World Cup would not be coming to Kansas City if Kansas if previous versions of this bill passed.
Republican governors in other states have vetoed identical legislation, calling it “discriminatory” and “hateful.”

The Trevor Project’s 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health reported:

58% of LGBTQ youth reported experiencing symptoms of depression
…including nearly two-thirds of transgender and nonbinary youth
93% of transgender and nonbinary youth said that they have worried about transgender people being denied access to gender-affirming medical care due to state or local laws.
91% of transgender and nonbinary youth said that they have worried about transgender people being denied access to the bathroom due to state or local laws.
55% of transgender boys have been physically threatened or harmed.
Nearly 1 in 2 transgender girls have been physically threatened or harmed .
86% of transgender boys reported that they have experienced discrimination based on their gender identity.

The bill ultimately passed 82-40 with 2 Republicans voting with Democrats. The Governor has vetoed the legislation for the past two years. The legislature has repeatedly failed to override her veto.

From the House Floor

HB 2089 : Modifying the requirement to report individuals who solicit memberships on behalf of prepaid service plans from semi-annually to annually and upon application for registration and discontinuing payment of annual registration fees for such plans. Passed on a voice vote.
HB 2090 : Authorizing the commissioner of insurance to set the amount of certain fees. Passed on a voice vote.
HB 2284 : Adding fire districts to the definition of "municipality" for purposes of the payment of COBRA premiums under certain circumstances. Passed on a voice vote.
HB 2285 : Updating certain statutory references in Chapter 40 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated. Passed on a voice vote.
HB 2024 : Expanding legal surrender of an infant to include newborn safety devices. Passed on a voice vote.
HB 2097 : Removing the requirement of a documented written demand for premiums as part of a prima facie case against agents or brokers who fail to pay premiums due. Passed on a voice vote.
HB 2098 : Adding certain legal entities to the definition of "person" thereby making such entities subject to penalties for violations of insurance law. Passed on a voice vote.
HB 2094 : Specifying certain requirements necessary to demonstrate fiscal soundness for health maintenance organizations and medicare provider organizations applying for certificates of authority. Passed on a voice vote.
HB 2160 : Exempting the transport of cotton bales from the secured load requirements under certain conditions. Passed on a voice vote.
HB 2082 : Authorizing counties to create a code inspection and enforcement fund and a municipalities fight addiction fund, and expanding the scope of county equipment reserve fund to include other technology expenses. Passed on a voice vote.
HB 2092 : Reapportioning the districts of certain members of the Washburn university board of regents who are appointed by the city of Topeka.
HB 2332 : Updating references and corresponding changes related to 2021 Executive Reorganization Order No. 48 and the transfer of the division of tourism from the department of wildlife and parks to the department of commerce.
HB 2149 : Allowing distinctive license plates to be personalized license plates. Passed on a voice vote.
HB 2298 : Designating a portion of interstate 435 as the Officer Donald Burton Gamblin Jr memorial highway. Passed on a voice vote.
HB 2127 : Adjusting time requirements linked to notice by publication and mailing in the Kansas probate code.
HB 2130 : Increasing certain dollar amounts in the Kansas probate code. Passed on a voice vote.
HB 2131 : Providing that the mission of the judicial council is to study the administration of justice in Kansas and make recommendations for improvements therefore. Passed on a voice vote.
HB 2047 : Increasing the amortization period on loans from the Kansas water pollution control revolving fund. Passed on a voice vote.
HB 2279 : Requiring groundwater management districts to submit annual written reports to the legislature and to provide water conservation and stabilization action plans to the chief engineer.
HB 2302 : Modifying the distribution of moneys into the state water plan fund, creating the water technical assistance fund and the water projects grant fund for water-related infrastructure projects and distributing a portion of the revenue from the sales and compensating use tax to the state water plan fund.
HB 2039 : Exempting disabled veterans from certain requirements and fees relating to hunting and fishing licenses.
HB 2240 : Requiring the clerk of the district court to give notice of qualified residential treatment program placement.
HB 2173 : Ensuring that refrigerants that are approved for use under federal law may be used in Kansas.
HB 2086 : Amending statutes concerning election procedures and election officials.
HB 2087 : Directing political parties to have procedures for the selection of presidential electors.
HB 2056 : Requiring all advance voting ballots to be returned by 7 p.m. on election day.
HB 2133 : Allowing a surcharge when purchases are made with a credit or debit card.
HB 2291 : Providing an exemption from the Kansas food code to permit microbreweries to allow dogs on the premises
HB 2292 : Enacting the Kansas apprenticeship tax credit act to encourage development of apprenticeship programs in Kansas by providing income tax credits for participating businesses that employ apprentices.
HB 2378 : Authorizing the secretary of administration on behalf of the Kansas department for aging and disability services to convey lands in Shawnee county to the Kansas commission on veterans’ affairs.
HB 2238 : Creating the fairness in women's sports act to require that female student athletic teams only include members who are biologically female
HB 2197 : Providing a procedure for the distribution of a first-time home buyer savings account balance upon the death of an account holder, changing the term "transfer on death" to "payable on death" and resolving a conflict when beneficiaries differ on a financial institution's account records and tax forms required by the secretary of revenue
HB 2019 : Establishing conditions for when a driver is an independent contractor for a transportation network company.
HB 2020 : Providing that the employment status of a driver of a motor carrier does not change as a result of the inclusion of safety improvements on a vehicle
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 2034 : Requiring a referral of an alleged victim of child abuse or neglect for an examination as part of an investigation, creating a program in the department of health and environment to provide training and payment for such examinations.
HB 2080 : Authorizing students enrolled in a virtual school to take virtual state assessments.
HB 2081 : Creating the aspiring future teacher of the year scholarship program; such scholarships based on the recipients of the Kansas teacher of the year award backgrounds and attributes; making and concerning appropriations for the program for fiscal years ending June 30, 2024, June 30, 2025, June 30, 2026, June 30, 2027, and June 30, 2028, for the department of education for such scholarships.
HB 2263 : Authorizing pharmacy technicians to administer certain vaccines.
HB 2140 : Increasing the age range of able-bodied adults without dependents required to complete an employment and training program to receive food assistance.
HB 2141 : Requiring custodial and non-custodial parents to cooperate with child support enforcement programs and disqualifying such parents for being delinquent in payments.
HB 2172 : Enacting the uniform trust decanting act.
HB 2322 : Revising the definition of "children with disabilities" for purposes of providing special education to replace emotional disturbance with emotional disability.
HB 2264 : Enacting the no patient left alone act to allow in-person visitation to certain patients at hospitals, adult care homes and hospice facilities.
HB 2191 : Authorizing the children's cabinet to form a 501(c)(3) for fundraising for the Dolly Parton imagination library book gifting program.
SB 11 : Reauthorizing the placement of a life-size version of the "Ad Astra" sculpture on state capitol grounds, transferring the approval authority to the capitol preservation committee and making appropriations for the department of administration for FY 2023.
HB 2114 : Renaming the joint committee on corrections and juvenile justice oversight in honor of Representative J. Russell (Russ) Jennings and requiring the committee to monitor the implementation of juvenile justice reforms.
HB 2335 : Authorizing loans or grants for qualified track maintenance in the rail service improvement program and increasing the transfer from the state highway fund to the rail service improvement fund.
HB 2147 : Requiring any individual or agency selling an abandoned or towed vehicle to acquire a certificate of title from the division of vehicles before the sale and exempting such vehicles from vehicle registration requirements.
HB 2346 : Providing for the back the blue license plate.
HB 2023 : Creating the crime of interference with the conduct of a hospital, providing criminal penalties for violation thereof and increasing the criminal penalties for battery of a healthcare provider who is employed by a hospital.
HB 2338 : Designating sickle cell disease awareness week and requiring KDHE to study and report on topics related to sickle cell disease.
HB 2053 : Authorizing the secretary of state to adopt rules and regulations for the use of remote ballot boxes for the return of advance voting ballots.
HB 2395 : Continuing in existence certain exceptions to the disclosure of public records under the open records act.
HB 2293 : Requiring prosecutors to disclose their intent to introduce testimony from a jailhouse witness and to forward related information to the Kansas bureau of investigation.
HB 2326 : Extending the sunset date on the scrap metal theft reduction act and clarifying that catalytic converters are covered by the act.
HB 2376 : Prohibiting the recording of any restrictive covenant that violates the Kansas act against discrimination and authorizing the removal of such covenants from existing documents, and prohibiting city or county laws prohibiting discrimination that are more restrictive than state law.
HB 2196 : Expanding deferred retirement option program (DROP) membership to all Kansas police and firemen's retirement system members.
HB 2198 : Providing membership affiliation in the Kansas police and firemen's retirement system for certain law enforcement officers and employees of the Kansas department of wildlife and parks.
HB 2184 : Abolishing the judicial council fund; transferring all moneys and liabilities of such fund to the state general fund; repealing the transfer of funds from docket fees to the judicial council fund; and transferring annually unencumbered funds from the publications fee fund to the state general fund.
HB 2408 : Exempting certain services provided in an adult care homes from the provisions of the acts regulating cosmetologists and barbers.
HB 2323 : Providing for the detachment and transfer of fire district property annexed by a city.
HB 2325 : Adding maternity center to the definition of "healthcare provider" for purposes of the healthcare provider insurance availability act.
Sub HB 2121 : Substitute for HB 2121 by the Committee on Judiciary - Extending the suspension of statutory speedy trial time limitations and providing that time during the COVID-19 public health emergency shall not be assessed against the state.
HB 2350 : Creating the crimes of human smuggling and aggravated human smuggling and providing penalties therefor.
HB 2387 : Providing funding for STAR bond districts to replace lost food sales tax revenue, authorizing renovation and construction costs for historic theaters as eligible STAR bond project costs and extending the deadline for the STAR bond report to certain legislative committees.
HB 2398 : Adding the placing of controlled substances into pills into the definition of manufacture, increasing the criminal penalties for manufacturing fentanyl and creating a special sentencing rule to make sentences for distributing fentanyl presumptive imprisonment.
HB 2299 : Directing the secretary for children and families to consider foster parents as prospective adoptive parents under certain circumstances.
HB 2216 : Removing the mandatory term of imprisonment as a penalty for driving with license that is canceled, suspended or revoked for failure to pay fines.
HB 2226 : Extending the time period for notice of excavations and permitting use of virtual whitelining for excavations.
HB 2336 : Increasing bonding authority to $10,000,000 under the surplus property and public airport authority act.
HB 2139 : Creating the crime of abuse of a sports official and providing criminal penalties therefor.
HB 2260 : Increasing the number of medical student loan agreements that may be provided by the university of Kansas school of medicine and prohibiting impediments to switching between residency programs.
HB 2392 : Updating the Kansas code of military justice relating to certain definitions, unlawful acts and punishment requirements thereof.
HB 2340 : Requiring the behavioral sciences regulatory board to process applications within a certain time, decreasing the years of practice required for reciprocity licensure of certain behavioral sciences professions, extending the license period for temporary licenses, establishing new license categories and decreasing continuing education requirements related to diagnosis and treatment.
HB 2288 : Enacting the counseling compact to provide for interstate practice privileges for professional counselors.
HB 2375 : Establishing the temporary candidacy baccalaureate and masters social work licenses and providing requirements and fees therefor.
HB 2390 : Establishing the Kansas overdose fatality review board and excluding tests to detect the presence of fentanyl, ketamine, flunitrazepam or gamma hydroxybutyric acid in a substance from the definition of drug paraphernalia.
HB 2138 : Creating the career technical education credential and transition incentive for employment success act to provide additional state aid to certain school districts for students who obtain career technical education credentials.

Did you know?

All committee hearings and chamber proceedings can be found on the Kansas Legislature’s YouTube page.

Resources

February 20 - February 27

Kansas Democratic Party Elects Jeanna Repass

HB 2028: Automated process for expungement of records

Debating Droboxes

The vote puts the House at odds with the Senate, which voted to remove dropboxes altogether.

The legislation failed to pass with the two-thirds votes necessary to override a veto from Governor Laura Kelly.

‘Eddie the Eagle:’ Free NRA Advertising in the #KSLeg

A hearing was held on HB 2304 the National Rifle Association’s controversial “Eddie the Eagle” gun training program.

Saving Kansas Water

Two years after the creation of the House water committee, the House debated HB 2279 and HB 2302 . The bills put Kansas one step closer to the preservation of the Ogallala Aquifer.

The basics of HB 2279:

GMDs have until July 2024 to identify the priority areas of concern. These are places where the aquifer’s depletion is the worst.
GMDs will have until July 2026 to submit plans for reducing water in those areas. The plans will be approved or denied by the state’s chief water engineer.
If the GMDs fail to act, Kansas can intervene and force action. Incentives are in place to help stakeholders avoid this scenario.

Fast Facts on Kansas Water

86% of Kansas farmers agree that water should be saved for future generations.
90% of Kansas farmers agree that water should be conserved or saved.
67% of Kansans are concerned about Kansas running out of water.

Targeting Trans Youth… Again

What do you need to know about HB 2238?

The legislation is targeted at TWO transgender kids in the entire state of Kansas.
The bill’s language allows for genital inspections of children as young as 5 years old , without any guidance regarding who is to perform the inspections.
Similar versions of the bill in other legislatures have cost states hundreds of thousands of dollars in litigation costs.
The Kansas State High School Athletic Association (KSHSAA) has a policy in place that works. There is no need to over-legislate and over-regulate.
The economic impact of anti-transgender legislation is significant. For example the NCAA made it abundantly clear that states with this kind of discriminatory legislation will not be considered to host athletic events ,and the World Cup would not be coming to Kansas City if Kansas if previous versions of this bill passed.
Republican governors in other states have vetoed identical legislation, calling it “discriminatory” and “hateful.”

The Trevor Project’s 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health reported:

58% of LGBTQ youth reported experiencing symptoms of depression
…including nearly two-thirds of transgender and nonbinary youth
93% of transgender and nonbinary youth said that they have worried about transgender people being denied access to gender-affirming medical care due to state or local laws.
91% of transgender and nonbinary youth said that they have worried about transgender people being denied access to the bathroom due to state or local laws.
55% of transgender boys have been physically threatened or harmed.
Nearly 1 in 2 transgender girls have been physically threatened or harmed .
86% of transgender boys reported that they have experienced discrimination based on their gender identity.

The bill ultimately passed 82-40 with 2 Republicans voting with Democrats. The Governor has vetoed the legislation for the past two years. The legislature has repeatedly failed to override her veto.

From the House Floor

HB 2089 : Modifying the requirement to report individuals who solicit memberships on behalf of prepaid service plans from semi-annually to annually and upon application for registration and discontinuing payment of annual registration fees for such plans. Passed on a voice vote.
HB 2090 : Authorizing the commissioner of insurance to set the amount of certain fees. Passed on a voice vote.
HB 2284 : Adding fire districts to the definition of "municipality" for purposes of the payment of COBRA premiums under certain circumstances. Passed on a voice vote.
HB 2285 : Updating certain statutory references in Chapter 40 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated. Passed on a voice vote.
HB 2024 : Expanding legal surrender of an infant to include newborn safety devices. Passed on a voice vote.
HB 2097 : Removing the requirement of a documented written demand for premiums as part of a prima facie case against agents or brokers who fail to pay premiums due. Passed on a voice vote.
HB 2098 : Adding certain legal entities to the definition of "person" thereby making such entities subject to penalties for violations of insurance law. Passed on a voice vote.
HB 2094 : Specifying certain requirements necessary to demonstrate fiscal soundness for health maintenance organizations and medicare provider organizations applying for certificates of authority. Passed on a voice vote.
HB 2160 : Exempting the transport of cotton bales from the secured load requirements under certain conditions. Passed on a voice vote.
HB 2082 : Authorizing counties to create a code inspection and enforcement fund and a municipalities fight addiction fund, and expanding the scope of county equipment reserve fund to include other technology expenses. Passed on a voice vote.
HB 2092 : Reapportioning the districts of certain members of the Washburn university board of regents who are appointed by the city of Topeka.
HB 2332 : Updating references and corresponding changes related to 2021 Executive Reorganization Order No. 48 and the transfer of the division of tourism from the department of wildlife and parks to the department of commerce.
HB 2149 : Allowing distinctive license plates to be personalized license plates. Passed on a voice vote.
HB 2298 : Designating a portion of interstate 435 as the Officer Donald Burton Gamblin Jr memorial highway. Passed on a voice vote.
HB 2127 : Adjusting time requirements linked to notice by publication and mailing in the Kansas probate code.
HB 2130 : Increasing certain dollar amounts in the Kansas probate code. Passed on a voice vote.
HB 2131 : Providing that the mission of the judicial council is to study the administration of justice in Kansas and make recommendations for improvements therefore. Passed on a voice vote.
HB 2047 : Increasing the amortization period on loans from the Kansas water pollution control revolving fund. Passed on a voice vote.
HB 2279 : Requiring groundwater management districts to submit annual written reports to the legislature and to provide water conservation and stabilization action plans to the chief engineer.
HB 2302 : Modifying the distribution of moneys into the state water plan fund, creating the water technical assistance fund and the water projects grant fund for water-related infrastructure projects and distributing a portion of the revenue from the sales and compensating use tax to the state water plan fund.
HB 2039 : Exempting disabled veterans from certain requirements and fees relating to hunting and fishing licenses.
HB 2240 : Requiring the clerk of the district court to give notice of qualified residential treatment program placement.
HB 2173 : Ensuring that refrigerants that are approved for use under federal law may be used in Kansas.
HB 2086 : Amending statutes concerning election procedures and election officials.
HB 2087 : Directing political parties to have procedures for the selection of presidential electors.
HB 2056 : Requiring all advance voting ballots to be returned by 7 p.m. on election day.
HB 2133 : Allowing a surcharge when purchases are made with a credit or debit card.
HB 2291 : Providing an exemption from the Kansas food code to permit microbreweries to allow dogs on the premises
HB 2292 : Enacting the Kansas apprenticeship tax credit act to encourage development of apprenticeship programs in Kansas by providing income tax credits for participating businesses that employ apprentices.
HB 2378 : Authorizing the secretary of administration on behalf of the Kansas department for aging and disability services to convey lands in Shawnee county to the Kansas commission on veterans’ affairs.
HB 2238 : Creating the fairness in women's sports act to require that female student athletic teams only include members who are biologically female
HB 2197 : Providing a procedure for the distribution of a first-time home buyer savings account balance upon the death of an account holder, changing the term "transfer on death" to "payable on death" and resolving a conflict when beneficiaries differ on a financial institution's account records and tax forms required by the secretary of revenue
HB 2019 : Establishing conditions for when a driver is an independent contractor for a transportation network company.
HB 2020 : Providing that the employment status of a driver of a motor carrier does not change as a result of the inclusion of safety improvements on a vehicle
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 2034 : Requiring a referral of an alleged victim of child abuse or neglect for an examination as part of an investigation, creating a program in the department of health and environment to provide training and payment for such examinations.
HB 2080 : Authorizing students enrolled in a virtual school to take virtual state assessments.
HB 2081 : Creating the aspiring future teacher of the year scholarship program; such scholarships based on the recipients of the Kansas teacher of the year award backgrounds and attributes; making and concerning appropriations for the program for fiscal years ending June 30, 2024, June 30, 2025, June 30, 2026, June 30, 2027, and June 30, 2028, for the department of education for such scholarships.
HB 2263 : Authorizing pharmacy technicians to administer certain vaccines.
HB 2140 : Increasing the age range of able-bodied adults without dependents required to complete an employment and training program to receive food assistance.
HB 2141 : Requiring custodial and non-custodial parents to cooperate with child support enforcement programs and disqualifying such parents for being delinquent in payments.
HB 2172 : Enacting the uniform trust decanting act.
HB 2322 : Revising the definition of "children with disabilities" for purposes of providing special education to replace emotional disturbance with emotional disability.
HB 2264 : Enacting the no patient left alone act to allow in-person visitation to certain patients at hospitals, adult care homes and hospice facilities.
HB 2191 : Authorizing the children's cabinet to form a 501(c)(3) for fundraising for the Dolly Parton imagination library book gifting program.
SB 11 : Reauthorizing the placement of a life-size version of the "Ad Astra" sculpture on state capitol grounds, transferring the approval authority to the capitol preservation committee and making appropriations for the department of administration for FY 2023.
HB 2114 : Renaming the joint committee on corrections and juvenile justice oversight in honor of Representative J. Russell (Russ) Jennings and requiring the committee to monitor the implementation of juvenile justice reforms.
HB 2335 : Authorizing loans or grants for qualified track maintenance in the rail service improvement program and increasing the transfer from the state highway fund to the rail service improvement fund.
HB 2147 : Requiring any individual or agency selling an abandoned or towed vehicle to acquire a certificate of title from the division of vehicles before the sale and exempting such vehicles from vehicle registration requirements.
HB 2346 : Providing for the back the blue license plate.
HB 2023 : Creating the crime of interference with the conduct of a hospital, providing criminal penalties for violation thereof and increasing the criminal penalties for battery of a healthcare provider who is employed by a hospital.
HB 2338 : Designating sickle cell disease awareness week and requiring KDHE to study and report on topics related to sickle cell disease.
HB 2053 : Authorizing the secretary of state to adopt rules and regulations for the use of remote ballot boxes for the return of advance voting ballots.
HB 2395 : Continuing in existence certain exceptions to the disclosure of public records under the open records act.
HB 2293 : Requiring prosecutors to disclose their intent to introduce testimony from a jailhouse witness and to forward related information to the Kansas bureau of investigation.
HB 2326 : Extending the sunset date on the scrap metal theft reduction act and clarifying that catalytic converters are covered by the act.
HB 2376 : Prohibiting the recording of any restrictive covenant that violates the Kansas act against discrimination and authorizing the removal of such covenants from existing documents, and prohibiting city or county laws prohibiting discrimination that are more restrictive than state law.
HB 2196 : Expanding deferred retirement option program (DROP) membership to all Kansas police and firemen's retirement system members.
HB 2198 : Providing membership affiliation in the Kansas police and firemen's retirement system for certain law enforcement officers and employees of the Kansas department of wildlife and parks.
HB 2184 : Abolishing the judicial council fund; transferring all moneys and liabilities of such fund to the state general fund; repealing the transfer of funds from docket fees to the judicial council fund; and transferring annually unencumbered funds from the publications fee fund to the state general fund.
HB 2408 : Exempting certain services provided in an adult care homes from the provisions of the acts regulating cosmetologists and barbers.
HB 2323 : Providing for the detachment and transfer of fire district property annexed by a city.
HB 2325 : Adding maternity center to the definition of "healthcare provider" for purposes of the healthcare provider insurance availability act.
Sub HB 2121 : Substitute for HB 2121 by the Committee on Judiciary - Extending the suspension of statutory speedy trial time limitations and providing that time during the COVID-19 public health emergency shall not be assessed against the state.
HB 2350 : Creating the crimes of human smuggling and aggravated human smuggling and providing penalties therefor.
HB 2387 : Providing funding for STAR bond districts to replace lost food sales tax revenue, authorizing renovation and construction costs for historic theaters as eligible STAR bond project costs and extending the deadline for the STAR bond report to certain legislative committees.
HB 2398 : Adding the placing of controlled substances into pills into the definition of manufacture, increasing the criminal penalties for manufacturing fentanyl and creating a special sentencing rule to make sentences for distributing fentanyl presumptive imprisonment.
HB 2299 : Directing the secretary for children and families to consider foster parents as prospective adoptive parents under certain circumstances.
HB 2216 : Removing the mandatory term of imprisonment as a penalty for driving with license that is canceled, suspended or revoked for failure to pay fines.
HB 2226 : Extending the time period for notice of excavations and permitting use of virtual whitelining for excavations.
HB 2336 : Increasing bonding authority to $10,000,000 under the surplus property and public airport authority act.
HB 2139 : Creating the crime of abuse of a sports official and providing criminal penalties therefor.
HB 2260 : Increasing the number of medical student loan agreements that may be provided by the university of Kansas school of medicine and prohibiting impediments to switching between residency programs.
HB 2392 : Updating the Kansas code of military justice relating to certain definitions, unlawful acts and punishment requirements thereof.
HB 2340 : Requiring the behavioral sciences regulatory board to process applications within a certain time, decreasing the years of practice required for reciprocity licensure of certain behavioral sciences professions, extending the license period for temporary licenses, establishing new license categories and decreasing continuing education requirements related to diagnosis and treatment.
HB 2288 : Enacting the counseling compact to provide for interstate practice privileges for professional counselors.
HB 2375 : Establishing the temporary candidacy baccalaureate and masters social work licenses and providing requirements and fees therefor.
HB 2390 : Establishing the Kansas overdose fatality review board and excluding tests to detect the presence of fentanyl, ketamine, flunitrazepam or gamma hydroxybutyric acid in a substance from the definition of drug paraphernalia.
HB 2138 : Creating the career technical education credential and transition incentive for employment success act to provide additional state aid to certain school districts for students who obtain career technical education credentials.

2023 Legislative Update 6

Sun, 19 Feb 2023 19:32:56 GMT

2022 Legislative Update 12

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.

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:

Did you know?

All committee hearings and chamber proceedings can be found on the Kansas Legislature’s YouTube page.

Resources

My Legislative Facebook Page
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Week 6

February 13 - February 17

HB 2028! Automated process for the expungement of criminal records

Fentanyl Testing Strips:

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.

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

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 Ogallala Aquifer:

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

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

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

2023 Legislative Update 5

Sun, 12 Feb 2023 19:03:10 GMT

2022 Legislative Update 12

Week 5

February 6 - February 10

This week in Topeka, legislation was introduced addressing a slew of critical issues including health care affordability and access; property tax cuts for homeowners and families which includes a constitutional amendment; legalizing adult-use recreational cannabis and providing for ‘cannabis amnesty’ penalizing irresponsible pipeline operators, restoring local control for prevailing wage and more!

Public education committees continue to boil over with controversial legislation on vouchers and so-called school choice. And the Lesser Prairie Chicken -- the GOP’s favorite distraction -- is back in the spotlight.

Thank you to the KCK Public Library and the League of Women Voters for sponsoring a Legislative Coffee on Saturday at the main branch library. Representatives Winn, Oropeza, Robinson and I participated in the forum. Thank you to those that attended. We appreciated the thoughtful questions and discussion. Another Legislative Coffee is scheduled for March 25th at the Bonner Springs City Library.

I want to thank the members of the Clean Slate Coalition that have been working on this legislation for the past 4 years. It is because of their effort and preservice that we have been able to gain support and momentum for this measure.

Restore Local Control for Prevailing Wage!

Working to build support behind restoring local control for the purposes of requiring prevailing wage be paid on local public construction projects. HB 2348, introduced with 38 co-sponsors, would restore local control, meaning that it would be optional and at the discretion of local communities to require prevailing wage be paid if they deem appropriate.

Prevailing wage is the hourly wage, usual benefits, and overtime, paid in the largest city in each county to the majority of workers, laborers, and mechanics. Prevailing wages are established by the Department of Labor & Industries, they are established separately for each county, and are reflective of local wage conditions.

In 1891, Kansas was the first state to pass a “prevailing wage” for its own public works projects with other states following our lead. Unfortunately, in 2013, despite overwhelming opposition from local units of government, the Legislature imposed an unnecessary and unwelcome intrusion in local affairs and violated the spirit of Home Rule for cities, a guarantee in the Kansas Constitution. HB 2348 undoes that action and restores local control to allow local units of government to decide what is best for their communities.

Education Hits a Boiling Point

HB 2218 is an expansion of anti-public education voucher programs. Like voucher programs in years past, HB 2218 funnels taxpayer money into unaccredited private and parochial schools without any oversight or restriction.

What do you need to know about HB 2218?

The bill creates a board of 10 members with nine voting members and one non-voting member that would distribute taxpayer dollars for use in private and parochial schools.

The board -- which is designed to be unelected and nonpublic -- would direct the state treasurer to administer the program. These administrative costs alone are an annual $8.1 million per year -- 5% of the aid given to each student. At every step HB 2218 siphons money away from students, communities, and schools.

The Sunflower State Journal further broke down the financial impact, “The fiscal analysis indicates that for every 1% of the state’s 484,000 public school students participating in the program, or 4,840 students, about $24.6 million would be transferred out of the state budget to pay for private-school tuition.”

The bill would allow parents to obtain about $5,000 from public school funds or use in covering private school or homeschool costs. There are no guidelines mandating the funds go to traditionally accredited schools.

Due to the fiscal irresponsibility, academic questionability, and inequitable provisions in the bill, HB 2218 was opposed by numerous pro-public education advocacy groups including the Kansas National Association of Education the Kansas Association of School Boards, public school officials, and several Kansas State Board of Education members during a Monday hearing of the House K-12 Education Budget Committee.

One opponent, whose child utilizes special education programs in public schools, was clear: “You will be pulling vital resources from the kids who need it.”

Another controversial bill, HB 2236 , lays the groundwork for extensive classroom censorship under the guise of a “parental bill of rights.” Similar legislation was brought forward last year where dozens of teachers, parents, students, school administrators, and more testified in opposition to the bill calling it legislative overreach. Ultimately, Governor Kelly vetoed the bill.

Keeping Homeowners in Their Homes: Property Tax Relief Proposals

Kansas homeowners have been clear about the need property tax relief. I joined with other House Democratic Representatives in introducing a proposal that takes aim at the unfair and burdensome residential property taxes shouldered by homeowners. The plan is expected to save Kansans nearly $700 million annually.

1. Offer an amendment to the Kansas Constitution to reduce the assessment level of Residential Property from 11.5% to 9%.

When the property tax classification amendment to the Kansas Constitution (Article 11, Section 1) was amended in 1992, residential assessed valuation represented 35% of the tax base statewide. In the last 30 years that percentage of the tax base has grown to an astonishing 54%. The time has arrived for some relief to be extended to homeowners. We propose the voters of Kansas be offered an amendment to the Kansas Constitution lowering the assessment rate for residential property from 11.5% to 9%.

Even with this reduction, residential property will still contribute an estimated 48% of the total property taxes in the state.

2. Replenish and enhance the Local Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund (LAVTRF).

The LAVTRF was established so that the State of Kansas would provide direct funding to local units of government for the express purpose of providing property tax relief to property owners. However, for the last twenty years the State has consistently failed to do so. We propose that the LAVTRF be replenished with the annual $54,000,000 required by law (K.S.A. 79-2959) and, for the next four years, enhanced by an equal annual amount of $54,000,000.

3. Amend K.S.A. 79-201x raising the residential property exemption from the statewide school mill levy to $65,000.

In the last legislative session, we raised the residential property exemption for the 20 mill USD general fund levy from $20,000 to $40,000. This resulted in an estimated average property tax reduction of $46 per home.

We propose raising this exemption again—this time from $40,000 to $65,000.

With this change, Property Valuation (PVD) indicates that receipts to the State School District Finance Fund would be expected to decrease by about $55 million, an amount that would be made up through additional appropriations to ensure schools stay fully funded.

Putting a Cap on Insulin & Diabetes Devices

HB 2347 , introduced to help curtail the financial impact of caring for diabetes. It caps the cost of insulin and insulin products for Kansans at $35 per month. The cap would apply to people with or without insurance, with the only exception for those on Medicaid or Medicare because federal insurance already has protective provisions in place for diabetes patients.

According to the American Diabetes Association:

Approximately 255,215 people in Kansas, or 11.4% of the adult population, have diagnosed diabetes. Every year an additional estimated 17,314 people in Kansas are diagnosed with diabetes.

An additional 66,000 people in Kansas have diabetes but don’t know it, greatly increasing their health risk.

Total direct medical expenses for diagnosed diabetes in Kansas were estimated at $1.7 billion in 2017.

Cannabis Legislation

Two pieces of cannabis-related legislation were introduced this week in the House: HB 2363 and HB 2367 .

HB 2363 -- “cannabis amnesty” anyone serving probation, parole, prison or jail sentences, along with other cannabis-related sentencing, would be immediately released. The bill also effectively ends any future prosecution and incarceration for nonviolent crimes related to cannabis use or possession.

HB 2367 creates the adult-use cannabis regulation act. This bill regulates the cultivation, manufacturing, possession, and sale of recreational cannabis in Kansas

Kansans across the state have repeatedly pointed to the economic, health, tourist, and recreational benefits of legalizing recreational and medical access to marijuana. The Kansas House passed the policy in 2021 however it died in the Senate.

Juneteenth

HB 2341 was introduced to create the Juneteenth National Independence Day. Celebrated on June 19th, Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States.

Indigenous Peoples Day

HB 2374 to designate the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day . The bill also includes a recognition that Kansas is founded and built on lands first inhabited by the Indigenous Peoples of the region. Several other states including Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, and Vermont have replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day.

Pipeline Problems

The week HB 2327 , a bill to immediately end property tax exemptions if an oil or natural gas pipeline has a spill or leak was introduced. Inspired by the disastrous Keystone pipeline leak that made national headlines in December, state representatives are demanding accountability.

Rep. Rui Xu, a lead cosponsor of HB 2327, said “If you want state dollars to do a project, then you have to prove to be good stewards of our state’s land. A spill like the Keystone spill obviously does not satisfy that.”

GOP Chickens Vote on the Lesser Prairie Chicken

The Lesser Prairie Chicken, a fixture of #ksleg politics, is back in the spotlight after federal involvement.

On Thursday, House Republicans voted to condemn the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for designating the Lesser Prairie Chicken as a threatened species in Kansas. The species is a Kansas treasure. Without federal protections, the chicken is at risk of further endangerment.

From the House Floor

HB 2070 : Allowing certain nondrug offenders to participate in a certified drug abuse treatment program. Final Action, Passed 123-0 .
HB 2069 : Providing that the service of post-release supervision period shall not toll except as otherwise provided by law. Final Action, Passed 123-0 .
HB 2042 : Authorizing towing by self-storage unit operators of motor vehicles, watercraft or trailers for nonpayment of rent or abandonment and providing for notice to occupants, a right of redemption prior to towing and liability protection for operators. Final Action, Passed 123-0 .
HB 2033 : Changing the criteria used to refer and admit juveniles to a juvenile crisis intervention center. Final Action, Passed 123-0 .
HB 2010 : Updating a statutory cross reference to provide proper jury instruction in cases when a defendant lacks the required mental state to commit a crime. Final Action, Passed 118-0 .
HB 2065 : Allowing a court to change a spouse's name to a name that is different than a maiden or former name during a divorce proceeding. Final Action, Passed 118-0 .
HB 2014 : Designating a portion of United States Highway 69 in Crawford County as the Robert Lessen Memorial Highway. Final Action, Passed 118-0 .

Did you know? All committee hearings and chamber proceedings can be found on the Kansas Legislature’s YouTube page.

Resources

Did you know?!

All committee hearings can be found on the Kansas Legislature’s YouTube page.

Resources

My Legislative Facebook Page
My Twitter Account
My Website
Kansas Legislature Website

Week 5

February 6 - February 10

Restore Local Control for Prevailing Wage!

Education Hits a Boiling Point

What do you need to know about HB 2218?

The bill creates a board of 10 members with nine voting members and one non-voting member that would distribute taxpayer dollars for use in private and parochial schools.

The board -- which is designed to be unelected and nonpublic -- would direct the state treasurer to administer the program. These administrative costs alone are an annual $8.1 million per year -- 5% of the aid given to each student. At every step HB 2218 siphons money away from students, communities, and schools.

The Sunflower State Journal further broke down the financial impact, “The fiscal analysis indicates that for every 1% of the state’s 484,000 public school students participating in the program, or 4,840 students, about $24.6 million would be transferred out of the state budget to pay for private-school tuition.”

The bill would allow parents to obtain about $5,000 from public school funds or use in covering private school or homeschool costs. There are no guidelines mandating the funds go to traditionally accredited schools.

One opponent, whose child utilizes special education programs in public schools, was clear: “You will be pulling vital resources from the kids who need it.”

Keeping Homeowners in Their Homes: Property Tax Relief Proposals

1. Offer an amendment to the Kansas Constitution to reduce the assessment level of Residential Property from 11.5% to 9%.

Even with this reduction, residential property will still contribute an estimated 48% of the total property taxes in the state.

2. Replenish and enhance the Local Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund (LAVTRF).

3. Amend K.S.A. 79-201x raising the residential property exemption from the statewide school mill levy to $65,000.

We propose raising this exemption again—this time from $40,000 to $65,000.

Putting a Cap on Insulin & Diabetes Devices

According to the American Diabetes Association:

Approximately 255,215 people in Kansas, or 11.4% of the adult population, have diagnosed diabetes. Every year an additional estimated 17,314 people in Kansas are diagnosed with diabetes.

An additional 66,000 people in Kansas have diabetes but don’t know it, greatly increasing their health risk.

Total direct medical expenses for diagnosed diabetes in Kansas were estimated at $1.7 billion in 2017.

Cannabis Legislation

Two pieces of cannabis-related legislation were introduced this week in the House: HB 2363 and HB 2367 .

HB 2367 creates the adult-use cannabis regulation act. This bill regulates the cultivation, manufacturing, possession, and sale of recreational cannabis in Kansas

Juneteenth

HB 2341 was introduced to create the Juneteenth National Independence Day. Celebrated on June 19th, Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States.

Indigenous Peoples Day

Pipeline Problems

GOP Chickens Vote on the Lesser Prairie Chicken

The Lesser Prairie Chicken, a fixture of #ksleg politics, is back in the spotlight after federal involvement.

From the House Floor

HB 2070 : Allowing certain nondrug offenders to participate in a certified drug abuse treatment program. Final Action, Passed 123-0 .
HB 2069 : Providing that the service of post-release supervision period shall not toll except as otherwise provided by law. Final Action, Passed 123-0 .
HB 2042 : Authorizing towing by self-storage unit operators of motor vehicles, watercraft or trailers for nonpayment of rent or abandonment and providing for notice to occupants, a right of redemption prior to towing and liability protection for operators. Final Action, Passed 123-0 .
HB 2033 : Changing the criteria used to refer and admit juveniles to a juvenile crisis intervention center. Final Action, Passed 123-0 .
HB 2010 : Updating a statutory cross reference to provide proper jury instruction in cases when a defendant lacks the required mental state to commit a crime. Final Action, Passed 118-0 .
HB 2065 : Allowing a court to change a spouse's name to a name that is different than a maiden or former name during a divorce proceeding. Final Action, Passed 118-0 .
HB 2014 : Designating a portion of United States Highway 69 in Crawford County as the Robert Lessen Memorial Highway. Final Action, Passed 118-0 .

Did you know? All committee hearings and chamber proceedings can be found on the Kansas Legislature’s YouTube page.

Resources

Did you know?!

All committee hearings can be found on the Kansas Legislature’s YouTube page.

Resources

My Legislative Facebook Page
My Twitter Account
My Website
Kansas L e gislature Website

2023 Legislative Update 4

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 15:31:09 GMT

2022 Legislative Update 12

Week 4

January 30 - February 4

Our work continues to be in standing committees as we hear bills for consideration to pass on to the full House. A major announcement was made this week when Governor Laura Kelly and the State Finance Council approved a follow-up megaproject to Panasonic.

I'm excited to report that HB 2028, which will provide for a streamlined, automated process for the sealing/expungement of criminal records from public view, passed the House Judiciary Committee unanimously.

Many thanks to the Kansas City, Kansas Chamber of Commerce for hosting the Wyandotte County Legislative Delegation Luncheon! We appreciate members of the Chamber taking the time to visit with us in Topeka and discuss many of the issues under consideration.

Greg Kindle and Monica Brede with the Wyandotte County Economic Development Council were in Topeka for the Kansas Economic Development Association Day on the Hill. I enjoyed joining them for lunch and catching up on legislation that is moving through the process to get their input on how it will impact our community.

“Clean Slate” HB 2028: Automated process for expungement of records

The House Judiciary Committee unanimously approved HB 2028, the “Clean Slate” bill, which now advances to the full House for consideration. The bill is drafted based on the recommendations of the Kansas Judicial Council's Criminal Law Advisory Committee. It will provide for an automated process for sealing of criminal records from public view, referred to as expungement.

Other states have adopted various measures of Clean Slate legislation to help remove barriers for returning citizens. Clean Slate legislation will help thousands of Kansans who are eligible for expungement however lack the time and resources to get their record expunged manually.

Prevailing Wage

Paying prevailing wage is something I have championed since I was elected to the legislature. This year members of the Wyandotte County Legislative Delegation will once again introduce a bill to restore local control for requiring prevailing wage be paid on public construction projects. I

Appreciate Andy Martin, Workforce Development Business Representative with IUOE Local 101 putting together a very nice informational piece on prevailing wage to help inform legislators on this issue.

First and foremost, prevailing wage is a local control issue. In 1891, Kansas was the first state to pass a “prevailing wage” for its own projects. In 2013, the Kansas Legislature stripped local governments of their right to incorporate prevailing wage requirements into public projects. Advocates for prevailing wage claim reinstatement would restore local control and return discretion to communities.

Prevailing-wage laws do not have a major impact on government contracting costs. They do however support a highly skilled and safe construction workforce that delivers construction projects more cost efficiently and improves the overall economic health of communities.

Adopting prevailing wage requirements would be optional and at the discretion of local communities if they deem appropriate. This is not a mandate; it merely gives local government units the ability to decide what’s best for them.

Labor in the House

This week House Democrats heard from the Working Kansas Alliance , “a coalition of union and non-union groups dedicated to protecting the rights of the hard-working Kansas families that fuel our State’s economy at every turn.” The group collectively represents over 500,000 Kansans.

The caucus heard from SMART TD (Sheet Metal, Rail, and Transportation), KOSE (Kansas Association of State Employees), and the Tri-County AFL-CIO, one of nearly 500 state and local labor councils of the AFL-CIO.

The group laid out their legislative priorities:

Prevailing Wage
Economic Development
Tax Relief for Working Families
Support Public Education Funding
Medicaid Expansion
Public Employee Rights, Pay, & Benefits
Fair Share
Raising the minimum wage
Workers’ rights and the freedom to unionize
Workplace Safety
Payday Loan Reform
Worker’s Comp., the UI Nominating Committee & UI Benefits
Medical Marijuana Legalization

The CHIPS Act Expands to Kansas: Integra Technologies

On Thursday, the State Finance Council approved an economic incentive agreement for Integra Technologies . Integra plans to invest in a large-scale semiconductor manufacturing facility in Wichita. The plant is expected to create 5,000 high-paying jobs. In addition, Integra hopes to secure incentives through the federal CHIPS act, which aims to create a domestic supply chain of semiconductors.

“As the second-largest private investment in Kansas history, this project will be transformative for our state’s economy, providing over 5,000 high-paying jobs that will help more Kansans create better lives for themselves and their children,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Integra’s investment is further proof that we have put Kansas on the map, establishing our state on the forefront of innovation and national security.”

Last year’s APEX incentive -- the largest private investment in Kansas history -- brought a $4 billion battery manufacturing plant to DeSoto, Kansas. The batteries, for electric vehicle creation, are in high demand. The Panasonic plant promises 4,000 well-paying jobs and $2.5 billion in economic activity and is expected to be supported by the new semiconductor plant.

“The semiconductors we work on are in multiple space applications, such as the Mars Rover and Hubble Telescope; more than 100 Department of Defense programs of record; as well as commercial applications that power everyday life,” Integra Technologies President and CEO Brett Robinson said. “On behalf of our employee-owners, we are especially grateful for Governor Kelly, Lt. Governor Toland, and Kansas legislative leadership on the State Finance Council for supporting Integra with its premier economic development program, positioning us to transform domestic Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test services while expanding in our home state.”

“A $1.8 billion semiconductor plant is planned for Wichita through another Kansas megaproject deal,” KCUR , 2/2/2023

So-Called School Choice

The Republicans in the House have launched another round of attacks on public education.

In the K-12 Education Budget committee this week, legislation was put forward which will effectively function as a tax scam. Under the guise of “school choice,” the bill would strip public schools of their funding, one student at a time.

The legislation expands tax credits given to parents who choose private schools over public schools. Rep. Jarrod Ousley said public schools are “the fabric of our nation.” Taxpayer money belongs in public schools.

Here is a link to an article about committee’s debate on School Choice:

“School-choice debate heats up in Kansas,” Washington Post , 1/31/2023

Adoption Bill

A bill was introduced to repeal the so-called “Kansas Adoption Protection Act,” which allows religious adoption agencies to discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community. The bill, which is certainly not about protecting adoption, was passed in 2018 after a late-night vote.

Back to Brownback Flat Tax

Immediately after releasing HB 2061 , the bill’s sponsors received a wave of backlash for the fiscal irresponsibility of the proposal. HB 2061, an aggressive, expensive “flat tax,” would cost Kansas more than $3 billion over the next three years.

House Democratic Leader Vic Miller released a statement saying, “This legislation will pull us right back into the Brownback dumpster fire, famous for making Kansas a late-night television punchline.

Under this bill, Kansans making $250,000 or more would get an average of $5,000 in tax cuts and Kansans making $25,000 or less would get an average of $143 back.”

Governor Laura Kelly, who has made headlines for rehabilitating the state’s coffers after Brownback nearly ran the state’s finances into the ground, said the proposal “would do more damage more quickly than the Brownback tax experiment of 2012 and 2013.”

Across the Rotunda: The Senate Democrats

Senator Pat Pettey has a hearing next week in Senate Education on her bill addressing the teacher shortage facing Kansas schools. Senate Bill 66 would enact the Interstate Mobility Compact to recognize equivalent teacher licenses across member states.

The Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs is hearing this session’s iteration of the “Eddie the Eagle” bill on Wednesday, which would put the National Rifle Association’s curriculum in our classrooms. Governor Laura Kelly vetoed similar legislation in 2021. The Senate Tax Committee also has a hearing on Thursday on the Convention of States, which has the potential of allowing a group of unelected “delegates” to design a completely new form of government.

Senate Tax also has hearings on two bills addressing taxes for retirees. The first, SB 52 , would increase the income limit for the exemption of Social Security benefits from state income taxes. The second, SB 33 , would exempt ALL Social Security benefits from state income taxes.

From the House Floor

HB 2015 : Authorizing the designee of an employing agency or entity to petition the court for an order requiring infectious disease testing. Passed on Final Action, 116-6 .
HB 2016 : Clarifying how property held under a transfer-on-death deed is distributed when one beneficiary predeceases the grantor. Passed on Final Action, 122-0 .
HB 2017 : Enacting the uniform family law arbitration act. Passed on Final Action, 122-0 .
HB 2018 : Permitting a will or a copy of a will filed within six months after the death of the testator to be admitted to probate at any time. Passed on Final Action, 120-2 .

Did you know? All committee hearings and chamber proceedings can be found on the Kansas Legislature’s YouTube page.

Resources

Did you know?!

All committee hearings can be found on the Kansas Legislature’s YouTube page.

Resources

My Legislative Facebook Page
My Twitter Account
My Website
Kansas L e gislature Website

Week 4

January 30 - February 4

“Clean Slate” HB 2028: Automated process for expungement of records

Prevailing Wage

Appreciate Andy Martin, Workforce Development Business Representative with IUOE Local 101 putting together a very nice informational piece on prevailing wage to help inform legislators on this issue.

Labor in the House

The group laid out their legislative priorities:

Prevailing Wage
Economic Development
Tax Relief for Working Families
Support Public Education Funding
Medicaid Expansion
Public Employee Rights, Pay, & Benefits
Fair Share
Raising the minimum wage
Workers’ rights and the freedom to unionize
Workplace Safety
Payday Loan Reform
Worker’s Comp., the UI Nominating Committee & UI Benefits
Medical Marijuana Legalization

The CHIPS Act Expands to Kansas: Integra Technologies

“A $1.8 billion semiconductor plant is planned for Wichita through another Kansas megaproject deal,” KCUR , 2/2/2023

So-Called School Choice

The Republicans in the House have launched another round of attacks on public education.

Here is a link to an article about committee’s debate on School Choice:

“School-choice debate heats up in Kansas,” Washington Post , 1/31/2023

Adoption Bill

Back to Brownback Flat Tax

Under this bill, Kansans making $250,000 or more would get an average of $5,000 in tax cuts and Kansans making $25,000 or less would get an average of $143 back.”

Across the Rotunda: The Senate Democrats

From the House Floor

HB 2015 : Authorizing the designee of an employing agency or entity to petition the court for an order requiring infectious disease testing. Passed on Final Action, 116-6 .
HB 2016 : Clarifying how property held under a transfer-on-death deed is distributed when one beneficiary predeceases the grantor. Passed on Final Action, 122-0 .
HB 2017 : Enacting the uniform family law arbitration act. Passed on Final Action, 122-0 .
HB 2018 : Permitting a will or a copy of a will filed within six months after the death of the testator to be admitted to probate at any time. Passed on Final Action, 120-2 .

Did you know? All committee hearings and chamber proceedings can be found on the Kansas Legislature’s YouTube page.

Resources

Did you know?!

All committee hearings can be found on the Kansas Legislature’s YouTube page.

Resources

Read her full remarks to the committee here .

2023 Legislative Update 3

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 22:57:26 GMT

2022 Legislative Update 12

Week 3, January 23-27

The Kansas Legislature kicked off the week with Governor Kelly’s State of the State address. The celebratory event set the tone for a week of action as the Governor highlighted her legislative priorities for the 2023 session. Governor Kelly called on us, members of the Kansas Legislature, to work across the aisle -- to meet her in the middle – to take on the state’s challenges. We will indeed need to work together to build on the progress Kansas has made over the last four years.

I enjoyed seeing so many visitors in Topeka this week! Loved seeing so many from home in Topeka for the Governor’s State of the State, Local Government Days, Law Enforcement Days, Labor Lobby Day to name a few!

On Thursday I attended a lunch and learn hosted by Health Forward and their partners to inform lawmakers about the work and needs of Community Health Workers. There was an excellent group of panelists that talked about the gap in services, cost savings and helping people access needed services. There are many barriers that people encounter in navigating systems to access services. CHW’s provide a vital service in helping connect people to improve their lives.

You can learn more about the work Health Forward is doing to make our communities healthier places to live and raise a family by reaching out to McClain Bryant Macklin, JD MBA, Director, Policy and Strategic Initiatives at Health Forward Foundation .

Many thanks to Mary Votypka, School Counselor at Central Middle School and Dawn Cook for visiting with me at the Capitol, for School Mental Health Advocacy Day. The advocacy day was a unified effort between School Psychologists, School Social Workers, School Nurses, and School Counselors to increase awareness and create a unified voice to advocate for students and schools to increase mental health support. Appreciate Mary and Dawn being a part of this effort to help educate legislators.

A very cool way to end the week with a visit to Joseph Edward Macklin's multimedia company to see his studio space and the opportunities for real world learning experiences he is providing to students in the KC area. Representative Linda Featherston, Senator Pat Pettey and GKC Chamber’s David Pruente joined me for the tour! Founder (and KCK native) Joseph ‘Jo Blaq’ Macklin and his team train students in audio engineering, coding, graphic design, performance (and more). Students participate in the program as part of their school day. They have shown school attendance rate improvement from 76% to 96%. Hopefully some of our students in Kansas will be able to take advantage of this RWL opportunity. To learn more about Joe and his multimedia company at www.distrkct.com .

Governor Laura Kelly delivers the State of the State Address

Governor Laura Kelly gave her annual State of the State address on Tuesday, January 24 to a House chamber filled with legislators, Kansas State Supreme Court justices, honored guests, and more. “Long gone are the days of Kansas making headlines for failure and mismanagement…”

You may watch the address here , read a full transcript here , and see a photo gallery here .

“In state of the state address, Laura Kelly warns Republicans away from conservative agenda,” Topeka Capital-Journal , 1/24/2023
“KS Gov. Kelly warns against politics in classrooms, renews calls for medical marijuana,” Wichita Eagle , 1/24/2023

The House Rules Debate

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives debated HR 6004 , the rules that will govern the House for the next two years.

Attempts were made in the Rules & Journal Committee to alter the House Rules for purposes of transparency and accountability. Unfortunately, those amendments that would have prohibited the body from beginning debate after midnight and mandated that every vote be recorded failed. Ultimately, HR 6004 passed 79-41 .

I voted NO on HR 6004 because the transparency and accountability measures offered were not adopted.

“Kansas House tangles on procedural rules before preserving late-night debates, bill bundling,” Kansas Reflector , 1/26/2023
“This Kansas rep wanted to run for House speaker on a transparency platform. The GOP shut him down.” Kansas Reflector , 1/9/2023

Hearing on HB 2028! Automated process for the expungement of criminal records

On Wednesday a hearing was held in the House Judiciary Committee on HB 2028, to allow for an automated process for expungement or sealing of criminal records from public view.

The hearing went very well with Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree and Marilyn Harp fielding many of the questions. Very personal and compelling written testimony was submitted by Jermaine Wilson, former Mayor Pro Tem of Leavenworth, who had his record expunged seven years ago.

The business community, including KC Chamber Adam Timmerman provided testimony in support of HB 2028 consistent with the Chamber’s efforts on second chance hiring policies to help individuals with employment, housing, and educational opportunities.

Coalition members Wesley McKain, Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, KS Public Health Department, Lindsie Ford, Public Defender, on behalf of State Board of Indigent Defense Services and Todd Thompson, on behalf of KS County and District Attorneys Assoc all provided testimony in support of HB 2028.

Attorney Ross Stewart and Stacey Knoll, Executive Director, Kansas African American Affairs Commission also testified in support. There were no opponents to HB 2028.

The “Clean Slate Coalition” has been meeting for several years to move this issue forward. Expungement is one of the policies that helps remove barriers for individuals to access housing, employment and educational opportunities.

Taiwanese Economic and Cultural Office Delegation Visit

It was an honor to have dinner with the Taiwanese Economic and Cultural Office delegation led by Director General Bill S.C. Huang and Deputy Director Leanne Kao and Natalia S.Y. Wang, Consular Officer. I very much appreciate Senator Mary Ware inviting me. We had such interesting and insightful conversation, and it was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the economic and cultural partnerships between Kansas and Taiwan with much potential for growth. In 2021 Taiwan was fifth in Kansas Ag exports by country.

Our Greater KC Chamber’s World Trade Center hosted a business roundtable last December featuring the Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Denver. The event highlighted the available opportunities, industry outlooks, and best practices for business success between Kansas City and Taiwan. Melissa Miller, Director of our World Trade Center – Kansas City, and can provide more information about the work WTCKC does to connect our regional businesses to the global community. The KC Chamber is one of only three chambers in the U.S. to operate a licensed World Trade Center.

A New Mural: Recognizing and Honoring the 1st Kansas (Colored) Voluntary Infantry

On Thursday, January 26, a hearing was held for HB 2088 . in the Veterans & Military Affairs Committee . The bill directs the capitol preservation society to develop and approve plans for a mural honoring the 1st Kansas (Colored) Voluntary Infantry regiment. The 1st Kansas Colored Infantry was the first African American unit to serve in the Civil War.

In Rep. Winn’s remarks, she spoke about the invaluable and selfless contributions of the free and ex-slaves who fought in the Civil War, saying, “HB 2088 is about serving the United States of America.”

The committee hearing may be watched in full here .

Legislative Modernization

For decades, Kansas legislators have been paid $88.66 per day, plus an additional $157 per day for meals and lodging costs during the legislation session. This low pay, in addition to the difficulty of traveling out of town for three to four months per year, creates a very difficult environment for many people to serve and limits the voices in the legislative body. This year, there appears to be some bipartisan momentum to address legislative compensation to make it possible for more people to consider serving in the Kansas Legislature. The problem affects the ability of both parties to recruit talented qualified leaders.

Across the Rotunda: The Senate Democrats

There are three bills of interest with hearings in Senate committees in the coming week. The first, on Wednesday, is Senate Bill 50 , which would prohibit social media companies from developing terms of service that permit censorship of speech. This bill was introduced by three senators who are regularly fuzzy with facts on social media.

On Thursday, the Kansas Film and Digital Media Industry Production Development Act , has a hearing in Senate Commerce on Thursday. It would create an incentive program to attract filmmaking projects to Kansas.

Also on Thursday, Senate Tax will hear a bill that establishes tax credits for contributions to anti-abortion counseling centers or residential maternity facilities.

Bills to Watch

HB 2163 : Requiring statutory due process procedures for a school district's non-renewal or termination of a teacher contract.
HB 2169 : Permitting a prosecution for childhood sexual abuse to be commenced at any time, permitting victims of childhood sexual abuse to bring a civil action for recovery of damages caused by such abuse at any time and reviving claims against any party for such damages that occurred on or after July 1, 1984.
HB 2143 : Establishing requirements for school district bullying policies and procedures for investigating complaints.
HB 2126 : Authorizing the over-the-counter purchase of ivermectin tablets and hydroxychloroquine tablets.
HB 2138 : Creating the career technical education credential and transition incentive for employment success act to provide additional state aid to certain school districts for students who obtain career technical education credentials.
HB 2139 : Creating the crime of abuse of a sports official and providing criminal penalties therefor.
HB 2140 : Increasing the age range of able-bodied adults without dependents required to complete an employment and training program to receive food assistance.
HB 2141 : Requiring custodial and non-custodial parents to cooperate with child support enforcement programs and disqualifying such parents for being delinquent in payments.
HB 2112 : Enacting the Representative Gail Finney foster care bill of rights.
HB 2115 : Prohibiting the use of restraints during hearings under the revised Kansas juvenile justice code unless deemed appropriate by the court.
HB 2124 : Allowing businesses to sell cereal malt beverage by the drink on Sundays without requiring that 30% of such businesses’ gross receipts be derived from the sale of food.

Did you know?!

All committee hearings can be found on the Kansas Legislature’s YouTube page.

Resources

Read her full remarks to the committee here .

Week 3, January 23-27

You may watch the address here , read a full transcript here , and see a photo gallery here .

“In state of the state address, Laura Kelly warns Republicans away from conservative agenda,” Topeka Capital-Journal , 1/24/2023
“KS Gov. Kelly warns against politics in classrooms, renews calls for medical marijuana,” Wichita Eagle , 1/24/2023

“Kansas House tangles on procedural rules before preserving late-night debates, bill bundling,” Kansas Reflector , 1/26/2023
“This Kansas rep wanted to run for House speaker on a transparency platform. The GOP shut him down.” Kansas Reflector , 1/9/2023

Also on Thursday, Senate Tax will hear a bill that establishes tax credits for contributions to anti-abortion counseling centers or residential maternity facilities.

Bills to Watch

HB 2163 : Requiring statutory due process procedures for a school district's non-renewal or termination of a teacher contract.
HB 2169 : Permitting a prosecution for childhood sexual abuse to be commenced at any time, permitting victims of childhood sexual abuse to bring a civil action for recovery of damages caused by such abuse at any time and reviving claims against any party for such damages that occurred on or after July 1, 1984.
HB 2143 : Establishing requirements for school district bullying policies and procedures for investigating complaints.
HB 2126 : Authorizing the over-the-counter purchase of ivermectin tablets and hydroxychloroquine tablets.
HB 2138 : Creating the career technical education credential and transition incentive for employment success act to provide additional state aid to certain school districts for students who obtain career technical education credentials.
HB 2139 : Creating the crime of abuse of a sports official and providing criminal penalties therefor.
HB 2140 : Increasing the age range of able-bodied adults without dependents required to complete an employment and training program to receive food assistance.
HB 2141 : Requiring custodial and non-custodial parents to cooperate with child support enforcement programs and disqualifying such parents for being delinquent in payments.
HB 2112 : Enacting the Representative Gail Finney foster care bill of rights.
HB 2115 : Prohibiting the use of restraints during hearings under the revised Kansas juvenile justice code unless deemed appropriate by the court.
HB 2124 : Allowing businesses to sell cereal malt beverage by the drink on Sundays without requiring that 30% of such businesses’ gross receipts be derived from the sale of food.

Did you know?!

All committee hearings can be found on the Kansas Legislature’s YouTube page.

Resources

2023 Legislative Update 2

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 18:39:38 GMT

2022 Legislative Update 12

Week 2, January 14-20

We had a shorter week than usual as the legislature was not in session on Monday in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. A day of reflection and a day of service as we honor the legacy of MLK.

The Kansas Association of Community College Trustees hosted coffee and donuts at the Capitol. I appreciated the opportunity to visit with Don Ash, KCKCC Trustee, who attended the event. So good to hear about the many wonderful things happening at KCKCC including the success with the new student housing and the progress being made on the downtown campus.

Randy Callstrom, President/CEO of Wyandot Behavioral Health Network, was also in Topeka for the Kansas Association of Community Mental Health Centers Legislative Reception. That same day Rep. Melissa Oropeza and I attended a lunch and learn at the Kansas Health Institute about suicides in Kansas. There is much work to be done in the area of mental health and we very much appreciate the insight and expertise Randy provides as we try to address and serve the mental health needs of Kansans.

Clean Slate Legislation

Last week the House Judiciary Committee accepted my request for the introduction of HB 2028 which will provide for an automated process for the sealing of criminal records from public view, referred to as expungement.

A hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday, January 25, 2023, in the House Judiciary Committee which meets at 3:30 pm in room 582-N at the Capitol. I want to thank all the members of the Clean Slate Coalition, that has been meeting for the past 3 years, for their work to move this issue forward.

HB 2028 is legislation that has been before the House Judiciary Committee before and was passed out of committee unanimously last session however failed to make it above the line in the House due to time. The bill is drafted based on the recommendations of the Kansas Judicial Council, Criminal Law Advisory Committee.

50th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade

Sunday, January 22 is the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Last August, we all witnessed the undeniable rejection of the anti-abortion constitutional amendment, with nearly 600,000 Kansans choosing to protect the right to reproductive healthcare, From rural towns to urban centers. Kansans could not have been more clear -- the government has no right to say what a woman does with her body. In November, Kansans overwhelmingly retain the Kansas State Supreme Court justices who proclaimed a woman’s right to bodily autonomy is protected by the Kansas Constitution.

Axing Taxes on Food, Hygiene Products, & More

Governor Kelly renewed her push to immediately eliminate the state sales tax on food as a part of a broader “Axing Your Taxes” plan. Rep. Tom Sawyer (Wichita) introduced the original #AxeTheFoodTax bill in 2022, and as the ranking member on the House Tax Committee , Rep. Sawyer will again urge the legislature to cut food tax to 0% by April 1, 2023.

Democratic Leader Vic Miller (Topeka) is pushing for a full elimination of the state sales tax on hygiene products. Taking a tag-team approach, they’ve introduced two bills: One focused on feminine hygiene products and diapers, and one that expands the reach of the bill to include other more generic hygiene products, such as toilet paper, toothbrushes, and shampoo.

There are also plans to introduce legislation to cut the state sales tax on over-the-counter medications.

House Rules

The House Rules & Journal committee took under consideration a number of provisions that would significantly alter how legislators are permitted to communicate with one another on the House floor, how bills may be debated and proposed, and more. Ranking Member Rep. Boog Highberger in pushing for amendments that increase transparency and accountability stated, “I don't think we can achieve democratic results with an undemocratic process.”

The Kansas Legislature has been criticized for its failure to provide the public and media transparent access to the legislative process. "I spent six years in city government before being elected to the House. I know that if we tried to do things there the way they are done here, our constituents would kick us all out, and we would deserve it-- that's why House Democrats are committed to making House procedures more fair and transparent,” he explained.

The House is expected to vote on the proposed changes next week. You may read the document here .

Across the Rotunda: In The Senate

The Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee held hearings on two back-to-school sales tax holidays, SB 21 , which institutes a two-day sales tax holiday for school supplies. Governor Kelly’s proposed sales tax holiday also received a hearing.

Next Tuesday, a bill providing restricted driving privileges for certain individuals with suspended drivers licenses has a hearing in Senate Transportation.

Next Week

Governor Laura Kelly will deliver her State of the State Address on January 24th at 6:30 pm. You can watch Governor Kelly’s State of the State address live on YouTube through the Kansas Legislature’s YouTube page .

On Tuesday, January 24, the K-12 Education Budget Committee will host a hearing on HB 2030 , a bill to allow nonpublic school students to participate in activities regulated by the Kansas State high school activities association. Additionally, the committee will have a hearing on HB 2060 , which establishes the special education and related services task force.

The K-12 Education Budget committee will have another hearing on Wednesday, January 25. This hearing is over HB 2048, which is an expansion of voucher programs.

Bills to Watch

HB 2005 : Creating a traffic infraction for operating a vehicle while fatigued.
HB 2009 : Providing for sales tax exemption for feminine hygiene products and diapers.
HB 2012 : Requiring offenders on probation, parole or postrelease supervision to complete a citizenship curriculum.
HB 2030 : Authorizing nonpublic school students to participate in activities regulated by the Kansas state high school activities association and allowing nonpublic school students who enroll part time in a public school to participate in nonpublic school activities.
HB 2034 : Requiring a referral of an alleged victim of child abuse or neglect for an examination as part of an investigation, creating a program in the department of health and environment to provide training and payment for such examinations.
HB 2036 : Creating a property tax exemption for retired and disabled veterans.
HB 2044 : Amending the definition of "race" in the Kansas act against discrimination to include traits historically associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles.
HB 2046 : Requiring all persons to be 18 years of age to be eligible to give consent for marriage and eliminating exceptions to such requirement.
HB 2049 : Changing the length of the nurse aide course required for unlicensed employees in adult care homes to 75 hours.
HB 2050 : Updating income eligibility requirements for the state children's health insurance program.
HB 2051 : Establishing the advisory commission on Asian-American Pacific Islander affairs.
HB 2060 : Establishing the special education and related services funding task force.
HB 2061 : Providing an income tax rate of 5% for individuals and corporations, decreasing the surtax for entities subject to the privilege tax and providing that future income tax rate decreases be contingent on exceeding revenue estimates.

Did you know?!

All committee hearings can be found on the Kansas Legislature’s YouTube page.

Resources

My Legislative Facebook Page
Follow me on Twitter
Kansas Legislature Website

2023 Legislative Update 1

Mon, 16 Jan 2023 19:26:51 GMT

2022 Legislative Update 12

Week 1, January 9-13

It was a celebratory week as the Kansas Legislature returned to Topeka for the 2023 Legislative Session. The House kicked off the year with Governor Laura Kelly’s inaugural events, electing new House Leadership, swearing-in new and returning House members and a joint session with the Senate to hear the State of the Judiciary delivered by Kansas State Supreme Court’s Chief Justice Marla Luckert.

This session I have been appointed to serve on the following standing committees: House Appropriations Committee, House Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. I also serve on the Joint Committee for Information Technology “JCIT” and the Information Technology Executive Committee “ITEC”.

I am looking forward to serving with our new House members from Wyandotte County, Rep. Marvin S. Robinson, Rep. Melissa Oropeza, Rep. Lynn Melton and Rep. Mike Thompson as well as our returning House members Rep. Louis Ruiz and Rep. Valdenia Winn and Rep. Tim Johnson who gained a portion of Wyandotte County in re-districting.

Governor Kelly’s Second Term: “Guided by civility and kindness, even when we disagree.”

Governor Laura Kelly and Lt. Governor David Toland were inaugurated and sworn into office on Monday, January 9, 2023 on the south steps of the Capitol building. The governor’s State of the State address, originally scheduled for the 9th, has been postponed to January 24th.

“Years from now, if we’re remembered for one thing, let it be this: at a time when national politics was defined by hostility and division, here in Kansas, we chose civility and unity,” Kelly said. “And the people we serve and the state we love are better off for it.”

The Governor’s Budget Recommendations: Axing Your Taxes 2.0

On Thursday, January 12, Governor Kelly announced her budget recommendations for fiscal year 2024. Continuing with her first term’s successful, balanced approach -- and a noteworthy $2 billion budget surplus -- the governor’s recommended budget includes fully funding schools, tax cuts for families, and keeps Kansas in a solid fiscal position without compromising state functions.

Highlights from the Governor’s Budget Recommendations

Axes the state sales tax on groceries, diapers, and feminine hygiene products by April 1, 2023
Implements a 4-day, “back-to-school” sales tax holiday for teachers and parents
Invests in early childhood education and childcare
Keeps the “Bank of KDOT” closed for the second year in a row
Funds $220 million in infrastructure investments, including broadband and transportation
Adds over $5 million to increase placement rates for foster homes and support foster kids transitioning to adulthood
Provides funding for schools to purchase naloxone (Narcan) for prevention of opioid overdoses in K-12 schools
Creates a micro internship program through the Kansas Board of Regents for workforce development
Allocates $20 million for cybersecurity upgrades to KDOL and more

Read more about Governor Kelly’s budget recommendations and view the full presentation:

Governor Kelly’s Budget Recommendation FY 2024, Adam Proffitt, Director of the Budget, 1/12/2023
“Here are 6 ways Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly wants to spend a $2 billion budget surplus,” High Plains Public Radio, 1/13/2023
“Kansas governor’s budget ends food sales tax, expands Medicaid and offers 5% raise to workers,” Kansas Reflector, 1/12/2023
“The Kansas Legislature has the state's $2 billion surplus to wrangle over this year,” KCUR, 1/9/2023

State of the Judiciary

On Wednesday, January 11th, Kansas Supreme Court Justice Marla Luckert delivered the State of the Judiciary Address in a joint session with the House and Senate. Justices of the Kansas State Supreme Court joined Legislature for the State of the Judiciary. Here is a link to Chief Justice Marla Luckert’s speech that was delivered in the House Chamber.

The chief justice asked lawmakers to support specialty courts, behavioral health services, and pay raises for judges and court employees, saying, “Judges across the state report that they cannot find attorneys to appoint when the law requires them to do so,” Luckert said, “and your neighbors struggle to find an attorney to help with legal issues.”

Across the Rotunda: The Senate Democrats:

In the Senate, two bills were introduced to reduce Kansans’ taxes. The first would eliminate the state sales tax on groceries, diapers, and feminine hygiene products effective April 1, 2023. The second would create an annual, four-day back-to-school tax holiday. That bill is scheduled for a hearing in Senate Tax next Thursday.

In Remembrance:

Flags were flown at half-staff this past week in honor and remembrance of former Kansas Attorney General Robert Stephan, the longest-serving attorney general in Kansas.

“Robert Stephan dies at 89. He was Kansas' longest-serving attorney general.” Topeka Capital-Journal, 1/3/2023

Did you know!

All committee hearings can be found on the Kansas Legislature’s YouTube page.

Resources

My Legislative Facebook Page

My Twitter Account

My Website

Kansas Legislature Website

2022 Legislative Update 12

Mon, 11 Apr 2022 16:15:11 GMT

2022 Legislative Update 12

The Legislature adjourned for a three week “Spring Break,” while Governor Kelly reviews bills and decides which to sign, allow into law, or veto.

Legislators will return on April 25 for the “veto session,” to consider either overriding or sustaining the Governor’s vetoes as well as finishing up business that remains from the first part of the session.

Many thanks to Emeline, Selah and Maggie for serving as Legislative Pages. Also want to thank Cade Fowler for his help this session as our legislative intern.

Corruption, Subpoenas, More Subpoenas

The week ended with a bang on Friday morning. Rumors flooded the building that a substantial number of House Republicans, conservative PACs, activists, and consultants were subpoenaed by the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission in an investigation on potential illegal activity. Republicans were called out for the appearance of retaliation when they brought forth -- without forewarning -- a bill to fire executive director Mark Skoglund in a conference committee.

The same day, another representative alluded to a potential FBI investigation akin to an investigation conducted under former Gov. Sam Brownback regarding Medicaid contract renewals. It is a violation of federal law for lobbyists to induce legislators to introduce legislation concerning the Medicaid program with promises of campaign contributions.”

“Kansas legislators waded into ethical morass with ill-conceived effort to oust Mark Skoglund,” Topeka Capital-Journal ’s Editorial Advisory Board, 04/08/2022

“Kansas Statehouse subpoenas, pay-to-play allegations, consultants’ feud disrupt end of session,” Kansas Reflector , 04/03/2022

Freeze on Kansas Medicaid contracts approved after combustible debate and corruption allegations,” Topeka Capital-Journal , 04/02/2022

“Legislators walk back effort to oust ethics panel director. Kansas Chamber confirms it was subpoenaed by commission.” Topeka Capital-Journal , 04/01/2022

"Kansas governmental ethics leader under fire amid law license questions. Legislature eyes response.” Topeka Capital-Journal , 03/31/2022

Sports Betting and a Late-Night Gamble

In a surprise, late-night development, sports betting almost didn’t pass through the House. After much handwringing, it passed by a slim margin in the middle of the night. The Senate did not take action on the bill before adjournment.

If approved, Kansas will join 33 other States that have legalized sports betting. During the late-night debate it was revealed that a provision had been inserted to use 80% of the proceeds from sports betting to establish a fund to build a facility for a professional sports team. The fund established would be under the authority of the Legislative Finance Council which consists of the Governor and House and Senate Leadership This fueled rumors of a deal for the Kansas City Chiefs to move to Wyandotte County.

While negotiations may be happening behind the scenes to build a professional sports stadium in Wyandotte County for the Kansas City Chiefs, it is important that local officials are involved in those discussions and negotiations to ensure a benefit to our community as well as the State.

“Kansas Sports Betting Bill Stalled At Finish Line For Three Weeks,” Legal Sports Report , 04/5/2022

“Kansas City Chiefs Move Almost Killed Kansas Sports Betting Bill,” Legal Sports Betting , 04/06/2022

“Sports betting clears big hurdle. But an attempt to lure the Kansas City Chiefs almost backfires.” Topeka Capital-Journal , 04/02/2022

29 Tax Bills, but no #AxeTheFoodTax

Under Governor Kelly’s responsible fiscal leadership, the state has an historic amount of revenue flooding the state coffers.

House Tax Committee worked to negotiate a tax package that appeased most of the chamber and the Senate. In doing so, provisions of over 29 different bills went into HB 2239 . It was a record, although not a record legislators should necessarily celebrate. Despite hesitancy over the size and breadth of the tax package, it passed 103-10.

Notably, no food sales tax cut was included. In fact, there has been no opportunity whatsoever for the body to vote on a food sales tax cut despite statewide energy and excitement behind the initiative. It’s clear: Republicans don’t want to allow a vote on HB 2487 , the bipartisan bill calling for an immediate 0% state tax on food because they don’t want to give the “win” to Governor Kelly in an election year. Keep up the pressure -- the legislative session isn’t over yet.

“$90 million in tax cuts approved by Kansas Legislature — but no axe the food sales tax,” Topeka Capital-Journal , 04/02/2022

“Kansas set to slash taxes again, this time with Dems joining,” Associated Press , 04/4/2022

“Kansas tax reform bundle sent to governor amassed from shards of 29 different bills,” Kansas Reflector , 04/5/2022

“Kansas legislators approve 5% pay raise for state workers in budget, increases KPERS funding,” Topeka Capital-Journal , 04/01/2022

The Legislature, Transgender Athletics

When the House could have been debating #AxeTheFoodTax, it instead took up bullying trans youth. SB 160, the anti-transgender youth bill, was extensively discussed and debated by Democrats and Republicans alike.

In the leadup to the debate, two points were repeated: The bill opens the door to genital inspections on children as young as five, and trans youth already face higher than average rates of suicide and attempted suicide. Isolating and alienating them from peers is harmful to their education, mental health, and development. The Kansas Reflector’s podcast episode, “Kansas LGBTQ lawmakers challenge anti-trans bill,” highlights many of the most resounding moments.

While the bill passed, it failed to receive a veto-proof majority.

Gut and Go

The night of the anti-trans youth debate, Kansans searched the legislative website for SB 160 . They were surprised and confused to find not a bill on transgender girls in athletics, but instead a bill on fisheries.

This is what’s known as a “gut and go,” an anti-transparency political maneuver meant to avoid deadlines, public hearings, and sometimes debates. To put it simply, the contents of the original bill are stripped and replaced with any assortment of other legislation. In this case, the fisheries went by the wayside for the bigotry to prevail without public input.

When Assistant Democratic Leader tried to pass legislation prohibiting gut and go lawmaking -- which is unconstitutional in neighboring Missouri – the former Senate President said, “If they’re going to outlaw gut and gos, then we need a much longer session.” The practice makes it difficult for even the most engaged and physically present lobbyist to track a bill and can make it nearly impossible for members of the public .

Plenty of gut and go legislation has been crafted and passed this session and in the past. Read more about the controversial practice of gut and go’s:

“How the Kansas Legislature could solve its ‘gut and go’ problem,” Burdett Loomis for the Kansas Reflector , 08/27/2020

“The Kansas Legislature’s addiction to gut-and-go should make everyone sick,” C.J. Janovy for the Kansas Reflector , 08/14/2020

“In Kansas, maligned ‘gut and go’ tactic gets laws enacted,” Associated Press , 03/02/2018

“How Kansas lawmakers keep you from finding out what they’re doing — until it’s too late,” Kansas City Star , 12/01/2017

“The Gut and Go Exposed,” Mainstream Coalition , 04/03/2015

Redistricting Trial Begin s

The much-anticipated trial on the congressional redistricting maps finally started in Kansas City, Kansas. It will wrap up early next week.

“Redistricting trial zooms in on how hotly contested congressional maps affect Lawrence, northeast Kansas,” Topeka Capital-Journal , 04/06/2022

“Nerves and adrenaline’ as Kansas congressional redistricting trial begins,” Kansas Reflector , 04/04/2022

“Heated legal battle over Kansas congressional map begins; Supreme Court likely the final destination,” Topeka Capital-Journal , 04/04/2022

ICYMI:

“Gov. Laura Kelly signs bipartisan bill creating disability savings program,” Kansas Reflector , 04/08/2022
“Attorneys debate potential for Kansas election law to chill voter registration efforts,” Kansas Reflector , 04/07/2022
“Who asked for this disastrous Statehouse session? Certainly not Kansas voters.” Opinion: Clay Wirestone, Kansas Reflector , 04/04/2022
“Kelly signs legislation authorizing Gold Star family memorial at Capitol,” Kansas Reflector , 04/04/2022
“Kansas Legislature send parents' bill of rights to Gov. Laura Kelly after heated debate,” Topeka Capital-Journal , 04/02/2022
“Kansas Legislature sends sanctuary city ban to Gov. Laura Kelly with enough votes to override a veto,” Topeka Capital-Journal , 03/30/2022
“Kansas lawmaker raises concern about legality, ethics of novel investment tool,” Topeka Capital-Journal , 03/30/2022
“Kansas refuses to enforce federal COVID vaccine mandate. CMS will take over, cut $350K in funding,” Topeka Capital-Journal , 03/29/2022

All committee hearings and chamber proceedings can be found on the Kansas Legislature’s YouTube page .

Resource s

My Legislative Facebook Page
Follow me on Twitter
Kansas Legislature Website

2022 Legislative Update 11

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 15:59:45 GMT

2022 Legislative Update 11

Last week was packed as we approach First Adjournment.

The Legislature debated and passed dozens of bills. House Democrats fought for Medicaid expansion on the 12-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, and special education was fully funded for 22 minutes. The Legislature passed the “Freestate 3” map, drawing new House districts. The “Sanctuary City” bill advanced. Native American representatives made history on the House floor. Next week Conference Committees begin meeting next with first adjournment on Friday April 1st.

This is the last week to answer the 2022 Legislative Survey. I will post the results from the survey in the Legislative newsletter that I will soon mail to your homes. I will post the newsletter here as well. Be sure to answer my 2022 Legislative Survey .

Medicaid Expansio n

It is shameful that on the 12-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, the Kansas House struck down a budget amendment from Rep. Henry Helgerson to expand Medicaid. 49 legislators voted to expand -- including 11 Republicans who bucked their leadership’s orders to vote “No.” See who voted to expand Medicaid here . The amendment was part of the broader state budget , which passed on a final action vote of 73-49.

Republicans in the Legislature have a common refrain to explain their rejection of Medicaid expansion: “We don’t want to give free health-care to able-bodied adults who refuse to work.” This position isn't supported by the facts. More than two-thirds of those eligible for Medicaid expansion work or are in working families, according to Alliance for a Healthy Kansas.

Combatting Medicaid Expansion Misinformation

Since January 1, 2014, Kansas has lost $5,419,631,900. This year, Kansas will lose an additional $1.3 billion from the federal government.

It costs Kansas $68 million this year not to expand.

An estimated 150,000 Kansans fall into a health coverage gap.

Medicaid expansion will create 23,000 new jobs -- and bring in extensive tax revenue.

By law, 90% of the costs of expanding Medicaid will be funded by the federal government.

Kansas has more hospitals at risk of closing than any other state, with 67% of rural hospitals facing closure.

Two-thirds of those eligible for Medicaid expansion work or are in working families.

With Potential Legal Ramifications, Republicans Limit Changes to State’s Medicaid Program

An attempt was made to block the passage of a potentially illegal change to the state’s KanCare program. Through a no-bid process, the proposal extended a $4 billion contract of the three insurance companies that serve as managed care organizations (MCO’s) for the KanCare program. The members expressed concern about the legality of the action and feared punitive action could be taken against the state’s Medicaid programs. With support from the majority of the committee, a legal opinion was requested from the Attorney General, who has not responded.

Unfortunately, the bill was inserted into the overall budget. KDHE is prohibited from negotiating contracts with private insurance companies, without approval from legislative leaders. In January, Kansas Department of Aging and Disability secretary Laura Howard wrote , “Ultimately, this may lead to delays in implementing life-saving programs and programs that protect rights of persons with disabilities.”

22 Minutes of Support for Special Education

In a rare moment of bipartisan teamwork, the House passed a budget amendment proposed by House Democrat Jarrod Ousley to add $68 million to special education funding on a 58-54 vote . The amendment was the first step in a 5-year plan to hit the statutorily-required 92% funding level. Current funding levels are at 70%. In a move that caused whiplash, Republicans immediately voted to reverse the funding decision. See who voted to strip special education of funding here . Read more about the vote in the Kansas Reflector .

Rep. Ousley wrote , “Today for roughly 22 minutes, the Kansas House supported the initial steps to meet our statutory obligation to fund special education… But then the members of the Republican Majority leadership called for an amendment to reconsider, and they began to whip votes to repeal the just passed amendment and strip the SPED funding back out of the budget. Citing concerns regarding the State's ability to fund it, despite having billions in surplus this year, they stripped the SPED funding, once again violating Kansas Statute that requires the legislature to provide these funds. The final vote count was 50-70.

Thank you to my fellow representatives on both sides of the aisle who recognized the need to provide an equitable and adequate education for our students with disabilities, and put our legal and moral obligation first, despite pressure to do otherwise. I am sorry we could not keep the good thing we had this afternoon.

House and Senate Redistricting Maps Approved

Rarely in the House does the chamber stand to applaud legislation, but members of both parties rose in a standing ovation to celebrate the passage of the ‘Freestate 3’ redistricting map on Wednesday, March 23.

Following the August redistricting tour , a tense congressional redistricting process, and days of intense negotiations, the final House legislative districts in Freestate 3 were widely supported. As the Kansas Reflector reported , “One after another Republican and Democratic legislators grabbed a microphone to praise the work of Rep. Chris Croft, the Overland Park Republican who led the special redistricting committee through months of mapmaking.” Croft notably ended every redistricting meeting with a catch phrase, “One team, one Kansas.”

Redistricting is intense. It is a detail-oriented, time-consuming process requiring immense effort from staff and legislators alike. Legislative staff and statehouse researchers spent months learning mapping software. Legally required population benchmarks dictate the basic outline of the map, and from there, the cartographers get creative.

"I know there are some of you who aren't happy, some of you who think we could have done better," House Redistricting Committee Ranking Member Tom Burroughs said . "But it wasn't for a lack of effort."

One notable outlier from the celebrations was hard right-wing Rep. Tatum Lee, who was drawn into a district with fellow Republican Jim Minnix.

“Dictators don’t like dissenters,” Lee said , referring to GOP leadership.

Attorney General’s Sanctuary City Bill

HB 2717 was introduced at the request of Attorney General Derek Schmidt in response to a local ordinance adopted by the Unified Government of Kansas City/Wyandotte County authorizing municipal photo identification cards for people regardless of documentation status to improve access to public services.

This is yet another encroachment on local control. The Safe and Welcoming Ordinance was adopted after a five-year process with a huge amount of input from the community, including police and political leadership. Safe and welcoming is the kind of local solution to a local problem that we should hold up as an example. Democracy in action. The state should not come in and upset all this careful work.

The ability to provide proof of identity is taken for granted for many of us. For undocumented residents, the inability to provide proof of identity impacts nearly every aspect of their lives. From borrowing books, enrolling children in school, renting a house or apartment, opening a bank account to reporting crime.

Unfortunately the bill did pass the House 84 to 38 and is now headed to the Senate for consideration.

Native American Women Make History in Women’s History Month

Native American Representatives Dr. Ponka-We Victors-Cozad, Christina Haswood and Stephanie Byers made history this week when all three stood at the front of the House chamber during chamber proceedings. Rep. Dr. Victors-Cozad chaired the Committee of the Whole, the first time in Kansas history a Native American woman has done so. Rep. Haswood carried a bill to return land to the Shawnee Tribe and Rep. Byers rose in support of the bill. It passed unanimously.

Other Legislation Passed by the House

SB 434 : Creating exemptions in the open records act for records that contain captured license plate data or that pertain to the location of an automated license plate recognition system. Emergency Final Action, Passed 122-0.

HB 2340 : Increasing the minimum age to 21 to purchase or possess cigarettes and tobacco products. Emergency Final Action, Passed 79-43.

HB 2492 : Submitting claims against the state by the joint committee on special claims against the state. Emergency Final Action, Passed 116-6. Applying licensure provisions for real estate brokers and salespersons to trusts and authorizing the Kansas real estate commission to issue cease and desist orders.

SB 12 : Requiring the Kansas department for children and families to implement performance-based contracts. Emergency Final Action, Passed 117-5.

HB 2502 : Authorizing retail liquor stores to sell and deliver alcoholic liquor and cereal malt beverages to a caterer, public venue, club or drinking establishment located in any county. Emergency Final Action, Passed 112-10.

HB 2716 : Concerning the authorization of educational benefits for spouses and dependents of deceased, injured or disabled public safety officers and employees and certain deceased, injured or disabled military personnel and prisoners of war; definitions; increasing the limitation on reimbursements to Kansas educational institutions. Emergency Final Action, Passed 122-0.

HB 2495 : Prohibiting the disclosure of personal information about a person's affiliation with an entity that is exempt from federal income taxation under section 501(c) of the federal internal revenue code. Emergency Final Action, Passed 107-13.

SB 150 : Defining and prohibiting certain deceptive lawsuit advertising practices and restricting the use or disclosure of protected health information to solicit individuals for legal services. Emergency Final Action, Passed 75-47.

Sub SB 450 : Eliminating the crediting to the Kansas public employees retirement fund of 80% of the proceeds from the sale of surplus real estate, authorizing state educational institutions to sell and convey real property given to such state educational institutions as an endowment, bequest or gift and authorizing the state board of regents to adopt policies relating to such sale and conveyance. Emergency Final Action, Passed 117-5.

Sub HB 2504 : Allowing the printing of the international symbol of access for disabled veteran distinctive license plates and certain parking privileges for disabled veterans who meet certain physical disability definitions. Emergency Final Action, Passed 122-0.

SB 405 : Authorizing the state historical society to convey certain real property to the Shawnee Tribe. Emergency Final Action, Passed 122-0.

HB 2697 : Making changes to the process for evaluating and treating people who are undergoing evaluation for competency to stand trial and allowing such evaluation and treatment at various facilities. Emergency Final Action, Passed 122-0.

HB 2596 : Authorizing the board of education of a school district to contract with transportation network companies to provide certain transportation services. Emergency Final Action, Passed 122-0.

Sub SB 563 : Proposing state senatorial redistricting plan liberty three. Emergency Final Action, Passed 112-9.

H Sub Sub SB 267 : Appropriations for FY 2022, FY 2023, FY 2024, and FY 2025 for various state agencies. Final Action, substitute passed as amended; 73-49.

H Sub Sub HB 2512 : Making appropriations for the Kansas state department of education for FY 2022, FY 2023 and FY 2024, establishing requirements relating to academic achievement and third-grade literacy, authorizing credits to be earned through alternative educational opportunities, requiring KSHSAA members and employees to report child abuse and neglect, requiring boards of education of school districts to consider district needs assessments and academic assessments when approving district budgets, authorizing part-time enrollment for certain students, establishing an alternative graduation rate calculation for virtual schools, providing virtual school state aid for credit deficient students and amending the age of initial eligibility for the tax credit for low income students scholarship program. Final Action, substitute passed as amended; 76-46.

SB 493 : Prohibiting cities and counties from regulating plastic and other containers designed for the consumption, transportation or protection of merchandise, food or beverages. Final Action, passed as amended, 74-48.

HB 2609 : Allowing restricted driver's license holders to drive to and from worship services for any religious organizations at age 15. Final Action, Passed 95-27.

HB 2717 : Prohibiting any municipality from preventing the enforcement of federal immigration laws, requiring municipal law enforcement agencies to provide written notice to each law enforcement officer of the officer's duty to cooperate with state and federal agencies in the enforcement of immigration laws and requiring any municipal identification card to state on its face that it is not valid for state identification. Final Action, passed as amended; 84-38.

Sub HB 2737 : Proposing state representative redistricting plan free state 3f. Final Action, substitute passed; 112-10.

SB 161 : Providing for the use of personal package delivery devices on sidewalks and crosswalks, exempting such devices from motor vehicle regulation and limiting additional municipal regulation. Final Action, passed as amended; 75-47.

Sub HB 2615 : Allowing K-12 students to transfer to and attend school in any school district in the state. Final Action, substitute passed as amended; 63-59.

SB 199 : Providing for short-term, limited-duration health plans. Final Action, passed as amended; 73-49.

HB 2631 : Enacting the career technical education credential and transition incentive for employment success act to provide additional state aid for school districts based on students obtaining a credential. Final Action, passed as amended; 122-0.

SB 367 : Requiring officers to file copies of receipts with the court when property is seized under a search warrant and providing requirements and procedures for destruction or disposition of dangerous drugs and return or disposition of weapons. Final Action, Passed 122-0.

SB 313 : Designating a portion of United States highway 69 as the Senator Tom R Van Sickle memorial highway. Emergency Final Action, passed as amended; 122-0.

SB 448 : Adopting the national association of insurance commissioner's amendments to the unfair trade practices act excluding commercial property and casualty insurance producers, brokers and insurers from prohibitions on giving rebates as an inducement to sales. Emergency Final Action, Passed 122-0.

Sub SB 300 : Amending the Kansas racketeer influenced and corrupt organization act to add a person who has engaged in identity theft or identity fraud to the definition of "covered person" and add identity theft and identity fraud to the definition of "racketeering activity." Emergency Final Action, Passed 121-1.

H Sub SB 261 : Prohibiting the use of identifiable meat terms on the labels of meat analogs when such labels do not include proper qualifying language to indicate that such products do not contain meat. Emergency Final Action, substitute passed; 96-26.

SB 417 : Establishing minimum and maximum permit renewal fees for certain solid waste disposal areas and processing facilities. Emergency Final Action, Passed; 120-2.

HB 2644 : Designating the Sandhill plum as the official state fruit. Emergency Final Action, Passed 115-7.

Sub HB 2447 : Permitting testimony to be presented using a two-way electronic audio-video communication device during a preliminary hearing. Emergency Final Action, substitute passed; 120-2.

SB 200 : Expanding the pharmacist's scope of practice to include initiation of therapy for influenza, strep throat or urinary tract infection, pursuant to a statewide protocol adopted by the collaborative drug therapy management advisory committee. Emergency Final Action, passed as amended; 119-3.

SB 336 : Updating certain investment limitation requirements to provide increased options for Kansas domiciled life insurance companies investing in equity interests and preferred stock. Emergency Final Action, passed; 121-1.

HB 2253 : Updating certain provisions of the prescription monitoring program act relating to program data, storage and access, increasing the membership of the advisory committee and providing for setup and annual maintenance fees for program data integration. Emergency Final Action, Passed as amended; 121-1.

HB 2632 : Requiring a referral of an alleged victim of child abuse or neglect for a examination as part of an investigation, creating a program in the department of health and environment to provide training and payment and defining child abuse review and evaluation providers, networks, examinations and referrals and child abuse medical resource centers. Emergency Final Action, passed as amended; 95-27.

SB 346 : Allowing for the on-farm retail sale of milk and milk products, authorizing the secretary of agriculture to declare an imminent health hazard, extending certain milk and dairy license fees and establishing certain standards for milk. Emergency Final Action, passed as amended; 119-3.

SB 141 : Enacting the Kansas uniform directed trust act. Emergency Final Action, Passed; 122-0.

SB 343 : Updating the term "hearing impaired" to "hard of hearing" in statutes related to persons with hearing loss. Emergency Final Action, passed as amended; 122-0.

SB 446 : Designating bridges on U.S. highway 166 and K-66 highway as Veterans Memorial Bridge. Emergency Final Action, passed as amended; 122-0.

SB 483 : Increasing criminal penalties for theft and criminal damage to property involving remote service units such as automated cash dispensing machines and automated teller machines. Emergency Final Action, passed; 122-0.

H Sub SB 19 : Implementing the 988 suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline in Kansas. Emergency Final Action, substitute passed; 114-8.

HB 2600 : Authorizing the state board of regents to sell and convey certain real property in the city of Emporia, Lyon county, Kansas, on behalf of Emporia state university. Emergency Final Action, passed as amended; 122-0.

SB 215 : Transferring the authority for postsecondary driver's education programs and driver training schools from the state board of regents to the department of revenue. Emergency Final Action, passed as amended; 122-0.

H Sub SB 28 : Enacting the pharmacy benefits manager licensure act and requiring licensure rather than registration of such entities. Emergency Final Action, substitute passed; 120-2.

SB 419 : Allowing certain employees from the department of corrections to attend the Kansas law enforcement training center and including special agents of the department of corrections in the definition of law enforcement officer under the Kansas law enforcement training act. Emergency Final Action, passed 122-0.

SB 440 : Establishing when an occupational therapist may treat a patient without referral from a physician and requiring occupational therapists to maintain professional liability insurance. Emergency Final Action, passed; 121-0.

Sub SB 34 : Requiring review of administrative rules and regulations every five years. Emergency Final Action, passed as amended; 88-34.

SB 453 : Requiring adult care home certified aides who take training courses to demonstrate certain skills to successfully complete such training courses and requiring licensed nurses to teach and evaluate such training courses. Emergency Final Action, passed as amended; 122-0.

SB 330 : Authorizing the construction of a memorial honoring Kansas gold star families. Emergency Final Action, passed; 122-0.

SB 331 : Updating the version of risk-based capital instructions in effect. Emergency Final Action, passed as amended; 121-1.

SB 451 : Requiring an individual to maintain enrollment on a tribal membership roll to receive a free permanent hunting license. Emergency Final Action, passed as amended; 122-0.

SB 479 : Authorizing a permanent memorial commemorating the Kansas suffragist movement to be placed in the state capitol and establishing the Kansas suffragist memorial fund. Emergency Final Action, passed as amended; 122-0.

HB 2734 : Reinstating the social worker applicant option for board-approved postgraduate supervised experience and allowing master's and clinical level licensees to take the baccalaureate addiction counselor test. Emergency Final Action, passed; 122-0.

All committee hearings and chamber proceedings can be found on the Kansas Legislature’s YouTube page .

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2022 Legislative Update 10

Mon, 21 Mar 2022 15:02:58 GMT

2022 Legislative Update 10

Much of the focus of last week was on the House redistricting maps and #AxeTheFoodTax. Following up on the rally earlier in March, a resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine passed the House with near unanimous bipartisan support.

This week, we will be on the House Floor all day Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday voting on bills as we approach first adjournment on April 1st.

Redistrictin g

After a long week of negotiations between House Democrats and House Republicans, the House Redistricting committee met Friday morning to work the “ Freestate 3 map .” A number of amendments were added to adjust districts. The research department of the legislature will work all day Friday and likely some of the weekend to bring on Monday an updated version. The new bill number is likely to be Sub HB 2737.

#AxeTheFoodTa x

After a lengthy meeting , the House Tax committee voted on Tuesday to pass out HB 2711 . HB 2711 cuts the state sales tax on food to 3.5% on July 1, 2022. It will go down an additional 1.2% for every year the state meets certain budget benchmarks. If HB 2711 passes a full vote of the House, the state sales tax on food may hit 0% in a few years. Read more about the hearing here .

Legislation Passed by the Hous e

HCR 5032 : Honoring Ukrainians fighting against the Russian invasion. Passed on Final Action: 119-4

HB 2674 : Requiring a forfeiture of an appearance bond to be set aside in certain circumstances. Final Action, Passed as Amended: 121-2

HB 2541 : Crediting docket fees to the state general fund instead of the judicial branch docket fee fund; crediting marriage license fees and drivers' license reinstatement fees to the state general fund instead of the judicial branch nonjudicial salary adjustment fund. Passed on Final Action: 111-2

HB 2676 : Authorizing counties to create a code inspection and enforcement fund and expanding the scope of the equipment reserve fund to include other computer and electronic technologies. Final Action, Passed as Amended: 112-11

HB 2582 : Directing the Kansas department for children and families to share certain information with investigating law enforcement agencies. Final Action, Passed as Amended: 122-1.

HB 2712 : Establishing the Kansas commission for the United States semiquincentennial. Emergency Final Action, Passed 119-1.

SB 408 : Increasing the criminal penalties for multiple thefts of mail. Emergency Final Action, Passed as Amended: 117-3

SB 400 : Substitute for SB 400 by Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance - Updating certain requirements and conditions relating to the creation, modification and termination of trusts in the Kansas uniform trust code and updating the definition of resident trust for tax purposes. Emergency Final Action, Passed as Amended: 120-0

SB 366 : Specifying that the crime of burglary includes, without authority, entering into or remaining within any locked or secured portion of any dwelling, building or other structure, with intent to commit another crime therein. Emergency Final Action, Passed as Amended: 120-0

HB 2528 : Removing inflatable devices that are owned and operated by a nonprofit organization from the requirements of the Kansas amusement ride act. Final Action, Passed as Amended: 86-34

SB 335 : Exempting certain business entities that provide health insurance in the state but are not subject to the jurisdiction of the commissioner of insurance from payment of the annual premium tax. Final Action, Passed as Amended: 120-0

SB 348 : Exempting the practice of threading from the practice of cosmetology. Final Action, Passed as Amended: 110-10

SB 392 : Terminating the transfer of remaining unencumbered moneys in the securities act fee fund exceeding $50,000 to the state general fund. Final Action, 120-0

All committee hearings and chamber proceedings can be found on the Kansas Legislature’s YouTube page .

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Be sure to answer my 2022 Legislative Survey . We will soon be voting on many of these questions, and I want to know your feelings on the most important legislation before I cast my vote. Your opinion matters to me. The Survey only takes a few moments to answer.

2022 Legislative Update 9

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 16:53:31 GMT

2022 Legislative Update 9

The week was cut short due to inclement weather. House Representatives fled Topeka on Wednesday evening in anticipation of heavy snowfall.

Here's a quick run-down for the week:

The Convention of States failed on a final action vote.

A rally was held in the rotunda to oppose anti-transgender youth policy.

An amendment was proposed to give 82,000 KPERS retirees a cost-of-living adjustment increase amid rampant inflation.

Teachers and college students may now receive grants or scholarships if they take a computer science course, and all K-12 schools are recommended to offer a technology class.

Janet Stanek was confirmed by the Senate as the new KDHE Secretary, replacing former secretary Lee Norman.

A watered down #AxeTheFoodTax bill gets a final action vote next week in the House Tax committee.

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.

The Kansas Legislature Meets the U.S. Constitution: Convention of States

Republicans in the Kansas Legislature have called repeatedly for a Convention of States , which convenes ⅔ of the states -- 37 -- to amend the U.S. Constitution. HCR 5027 is the application for a Convention of States.

On Tuesday, March 8, the House debated the Convention of States . The vote was far from party lines. During the debate, it was highlighted for the body that as-written, the resolution allows for a vote to codify the right to an abortion and room to compromise the Second Amendment .

Numerous Republican representatives indicated they felt HCR 5027 was poorly written, ill-timed, short-sighted, or otherwise “dangerous.”

On a Final Action vote, HCR 5027 failed to muster the ⅔ support required for passage.

The “Punching Down on Suicidal Children Act,” AKA the Anti-Transgender Youth Sports Bill

The “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” (SB 484) -- a misleading and manipulative title for a discriminatory bill targeted at children was again brought forward. A rally was held in the first-floor rotunda of the statehouse to oppose the bill with speakers from Equality Kansas, a nurse practitioner from Wichita and the LGBTQ caucus.

There was a hearing on the bill following the rally in the Senate Education Committee .

There were 108 written opponents to the bill, including medical doctors, religious leaders, state representatives, parents, students, activists, attorneys, Title IX experts, and professors.

Proponents repeatedly said women are genetically inferior to men, and thus transgender youth participation in sports was an aberration of Title IX. KU Law Professor Kyle Velte and ACLU ’s Aileen Berquist disagree . In fact, a 2020 U.S. Supreme Court decision found Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 granted transgender individuals protection against discrimination.

SB 484 passed out of the Senate Committee on Education on Tuesday, March 8 and heads to the full senate for a vote.

SB 484 is not only harmful to LGBTQ youth, but to the overall economy. Last year when this issue came to a head, the NCAA spoke out aggressively against the efforts, promising to prevent any current or future events from happening in Kansas. The Office of the Attorney General indicated the bill was likely to be challenged on constitutional grounds, which could take nearly half a decade to make its way through the court system -- federal or state. And if a case challenging the bill made it to the U.S. Supreme Court, then litigation costs and time would increase. The OAG further indicated the “specialized civil liberty components of the litigation” is likely to require hiring specialized outside counsel to defend the bill, again raising the taxpayer costs of SB 484.

Clay Wirestone with the Kansas Reflector wrote an opinion piece on the bill: “Anti-trans sports bill sprouts from ignorance. We owe Kansas kids respect and support.”

Kay Facts on Transgender Youth from The Trevor Project :

● 86% of LGBTQ youth said that recent politics have negatively impacted their well-being.

● More than 50% of transgender and nonbinary youth have seriously considered suicide in the past 12 months.

● Transgender and nonbinary youth who reported having pronouns respected by most or all people in their lives attempted suicide at half the rate of those who did not have their pronouns respected.

● 1 in 5 transgender youth has attempted suicide.

● More than 3 in 4 transgender and nonbinary youths reported symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder in the last 2 weeks.

● Over 60% of transgender and nonbinary youths reported engaging in self-harm in the past 12 months.

You may find your state senator at www.ksleglookup.org . It is critical that state elected officials understand Kansans oppose bigoted and discriminatory legislation. If SB 484 passes the Senate and crosses to the House, we promise to fight. But we need your help. Tell your state senator to vote NO on SB 484.

KPERS Retirees, We Hear You.

In a debate over SB 421, which applies $1 billion from the State General Fund to the KPERS system, Democrats introduced an amendment to give 82,000 KPERS retirees a cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase. A one-time, lump sum payment of $238 million would sustain the COLA increase in perpetuity. KPERS retirees have not received an adjustment for cost of living since 1998 -- over 24 years. Despite pleas from constituents for assistance, Republicans voted down the amendment.

Inflation is rising and gas prices average over $4 per gallon. This affects everyone, but particularly those on a fixed income, such as retirees. These Kansans spent their careers -- often many decades -- improving and supporting the state. The least the Legislature can do is ensure they are able to live comfortably in retirement by adjusting their KPERS payments for cost of living.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, $1 in 1998 is roughly equivalent to $1.74 in 2022. The vote on the amendment is yet another example of Republicans sidelining the needs of Kansas families over issues of partisanship.

Computer Science Courses For All

On a 115-4 vote, the House passed legislation to promote instruction in computer science among prospective and current teachers . Each high school in Kansas must offer at least one computer science course by the start of the 2023-2024 school year. Alternatively, the school may file a report with the state explaining their plan moving forward.

The Kansas Board of Regents received $1 million for $1,000 scholarships for college students seeking a teaching degree, if they take a computer science course. $1 million is also going to the Kansas Department of Education. This money is in the form of grants for teachers who are already teaching but wish to further develop their computer science skills.

On Wednesday, March 9, Janet Stanek was confirmed by the Senate to be the new Kansas Department of Health & Environment Secretary. Stanek was appointed Secretary in November.

Other Legislation Passed by the House

HB 2548 : Implementing additional reporting requirements for informational technology projects and state agencies and requiring additional information technology security training and status reports. Passed on final action, 116-3.

HCR 5027 : Applying to the Congress of the United States to call a convention of the states. Passed 78-42. Failed to achieve ⅔ majority on final action.

SB 2 : Allowing consumption of beer, wine or other alcoholic liquor on the Kansas state fairgrounds; increasing the number of temporary permits an applicant may receive from four to 12 permits per year; limiting what cities, counties or townships may charge for a temporary permit to not more than $25 per day; and crediting a portion of moneys collected from the liquor drink tax and the liquor enforcement tax to the state fair capital improvements fund. Passed on emergency final action, 87-31. Nonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Sens. Olson, Hilderbrand, and Faust-Goudeau.

HB 2462 : Removing the standing committee membership requirements for members of the joint committee on state-tribal relations. Passed on a voice vote.

SB 421 : Transferring $253,866,022 from the state general fund to the Kansas public employees retirement fund during fiscal year 2022 and eliminating certain level-dollar KPERS employer contribution payments. Passed on emergency final action, 113-5.

SB 286 : House Substitute for Substitute for SB 286 - Continuing the governmental response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Kansas by extending the expanded use of telemedicine, the suspension of certain requirements related to medical care facilities and immunity from civil liability for certain healthcare providers, certain persons conducting business in this state and covered facilities for COVID-19 claims until January 20, 2023. Passed on emergency final action, 102-17.

HB 2466 : Substitute for HB 2466 by Committee on Education - Establishing the promoting advancement in computing knowledge act to increase the availability of computer science education in Kansas schools. Passed on a voice vote.

This Week

#AxeTheFoodTax gets a final vote in the House Tax committee on March 15. However, HB 2711 isn’t what Democrats or Governor Laura Kelly want.

House Bill 2711 calls for a 3.5% state sales tax on food commencing July 1, 2022. There is a possible yearly decrease of 1.2% if there is $100,000,000 in the budget stabilization fund starting July 1, 2023.

As written, the bill excludes bottled water, candy, dietary supplements, vending machine food, soft drinks, and tobacco from exemptions.

Reach out to members of the committee and demand they oppose HB 2711. Demand they pass a food sales tax cut to 0%, not 3.5%.

ICYMI:

● Did you know? All committee hearings and chamber proceedings can be found on the Kansas Legislature’s YouTube page .

● “House Adopts Bill Broadening Health Care Providers’ Immunity to Lawsuits Amid COVID-19,” Kansas Reflector , 03/09/2022

● “KDHE, Revenue Department to Waive Fees for Victims of Latest Wildfires," Kansas Reflector , 03/08/2022

● “Kansas Lawmakers Seek Solution to Confusion Over Delta-8 and Medical Marijuana,” Topeka Capital-Journal , 03/03/2022

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2022 Legislative Update 8

Mon, 07 Mar 2022 15:29:38 GMT

2022 Legislative Update 8

We had a light week on the floor after returning from a four-day break, but Committtees were quite busy. The week started with a legislative coup in the House Committee on Water. #AxeTheFoodTax caused division in the House Committee on Taxation. As news about Ukraine continued to flood the airwaves, legislators donned Ukraine flags on their lapels. The week closed out with a rally where community members and legislators listened to speeches from Ukrainian exchange students.

A Rally for Ukraine: “Is this our punishment for pursuing a fair democratic system?”

On Thursday, March 3, dozens of bipartisan legislators took to the statehouse stairs to slam Russia’s unprovoked and violent invasion of Ukraine. The somber event’s descriptions of ongoing, violent war -- shared by Ukrainian foreign exchange students who’ve been in talks with their families and friends back home -- contrasted with the quiet, sunny morning.

I appreciate Reps. Chuck Schmidt and Boog Highberger spearheading the rally. Rep. Highberger read a resolution to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine and call for additional U.S. support of Ukrainians. More than 50 House members of both parties signed the resolution, which was read aloud at the rally.

Accompanying the legislators at the rally were Ukrainian students Elina, Mykola, and Andrew. They stood with the group, held a moment of silence and played the Ukrainian national anthem.

Mykola's speech began with a description of his hometown. “I came from Uman, a city in the heart of Ukraine. A city with deep history and culture that was built over hundreds of years, where not only Christians but Jews and people all over the world from different nations and beliefs once walked along the streets and prayed in our temples.”

He continued, “The way I described it, that city does not exist anymore. My hometown has been mercilessly bombed for the last eight days. My heart is heavy… It is hard to believe, until you hear your parents’ and best friends’ trembling voices, telling you they want to wake up from this nightmare.” Mykola put into perspective the torturous reality his family lives in. “My parents are collecting bottles for Molotovs, and my grandparents are baking bread at night to feed soldiers in the morning.”

Elina of Kherson, Ukraine began, “Nine days, 216 hours since my home country, Ukraine, was invaded by the Russian Federation.” She says her 11-year old brother asked her, “Am I going to see you again?” Her neighborhood school was bombed and completely destroyed. The day before, 44 babies were born in basements due to lack of hospital access. She calls for help, “In this fight we need support from the United States and European Union countries. Please, stand with Ukraine, close the sky and continue your sanctions against the terrorists’ country. They are violating our independence, rights, and committing crimes against humanity.”

Both speeches ended with a loud and powerful “Glory to Ukraine!” and much cheering.

Rep. Clarke Sanders, minced no words in a short speech as he said there are three things he’s certain Democrats and Republicans can agree on: “No. 1, what Vladimir Putin has done is evil. No. 2, the courage and resolve shown by the people of Ukraine is amazing. No. 3, Putin needs to get the hell out of Ukraine now.”

The rally follows a week of statements from Kansas politicians of all political parties. Governor Laura Kelly , Senator Jerry Moran and others condemned the Russian invasion and called for global security.

The full speeches from the rally are below.

Water Bill Gets Shut Down: “I think they’re shooting themselves in the foot.”

The House Committee on Water spent the last year studying the state’s water crisis with one goal in mind: Saving Kansas water. After developing a working knowledge of the most pressing issues and considering expert input, the Committee crafted a reform bill to create a cabinet-level position, restructure state agencies, and more.

In what could be described as a legislative coup, the plan was scrapped after industry heavyweights lobbied to maintain the status quo: “We got railroaded by an agriculture group.” Chairman Highland said after the state’s largest agricultural groups attempted to lobby him, he “knew the amendment was coming.” Over half of the committee members voted to gut the bill. “I’m not the loser; I think the state of Kansas is the loser today,” he said.

#AxeTheFoodTax Update

House Democrats called months ago for a state sales tax on food of 0%, pointing to the excellent state of the economy. Many said the Legislature can always find money in the budget for corporate welfare -- even in times of severe economic crisis -- so giving back to hardworking Kansas families in such a strong economy should be easy. Unfortunately, like many things in the Legislature, cutting the state sales tax on food has proven not so simple.

The House Committee on Taxation is considering HB 2711 , which would slightly reduce the overall sales tax and gradually lower the tax on food, and HB 2720 , which would entirely eliminate the sales tax on food on Aug. 1. The House Democrats’ plan, HB 2487 , appears to have stalled.

Read more about the Committee’s discussions in the Kansas Reflector .

Fast Facts About the Food Tax

The food tax has been in place since 1937.
It has been raised 10 times, most recently under former Governor Brownback in 2015.
The average Kansas family will save $500 per year under the House Democrats’ plan.
Kansas has the second-highest food tax in the nation, behind Mississippi. The 2015 vote to raise the tax secured Kansas’s spot as second highest.
Taxes on food are regressive. Low-income families, disproportionately families of color, spend nearly twice as much of their income on food at home than the highest 20% of earners.
Research estimates a cut to food taxes resulted in a 39% decrease in food insecurity. Food insecurity is strongly associated with poor health in both children and adults. This results in higher health care costs, higher rates of mental health crises as adults, and more. All of this costs the state money. Cutting the food tax to 0% is fiscally responsible and improves quality of life.

Kansas Takes the Eco-Devo Gold Medal

Governor Laura Kelly announced Kansas won Site Selection Magazine’s 2021 Governor’s Cup for the state with the most economic development investment per capita in the country. This is the first time in state history that Kansas has received this national economic development award.

“The Governor’s Cup demonstrates the extraordinary economic strengths of Kansas and the confidence of the business community to make major investments in our state,” Governor Kelly said. “It’s also proof of our efforts to secure a strong foundation for economic growth by staying focused on the issues that Kansans elected us to take care of – like fully funding our public schools, strengthening our roads, bridges, and high-speed internet – have paid off.”

Other Legislation Passed by the House

SB 358 : Amending the public water supply project loan program's definition of "project" to remove the definition's current exclusion of projects that are related to the diversion or transportation of water acquired through a water transfer. Passed emergency final action, 121-0.

SB 101 : Approving the operation and use of electric-assisted bicycles and regulating the use thereof. Passed emergency final action, 86-35. Nonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Senator Petersen, Senator Claeys and Senator Hawk as conferees.

SB 62 : Amending the standards for school-administered vision screenings for students, establishing the Kansas children's vision health and school readiness commission and allowing schools to maintain emergency albuterol kits. Emergency final action, passed as amended, 115-6.

Coming Up This Week: The Legislative Bully Pulpit Targets LGBTQ+ Youth

A quick refresher: Last year, the Legislature passed the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act,” a discriminatory bill with a deeply manipulative and misleading title. The bill was anything but fair; it exclusively targeted Kansas kids who are transgender, prohibiting them from participation in athletics and subsequently alienating them from peers.

In addition to the emotional hurt caused to trans youth by the bill, opponents pointed to the immense economic hit that would follow passage of such a bill. The NCAA, for example, was explicit: Promulgating the Act would remove Kansas from consideration for any NCAA-affiliated events now or in the future. Despite passing both chambers, Republicans failed to override Governor Laura Kelly’s veto of the bill. It was dead, or so Kansans thought.

On Monday, March 7, the Senate Committee on Education will try again to ban transgender students from sports. Before the hearing, Equality Kansas is hosting a rally with the LGBTQ+ caucus, Read about the rally and how to attend here .

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Full Speeches of Ukrainian Students at the Kansas Capitol

Full names of the students have been withheld to protect their families who may remain in Ukraine.

Speech by Mykola

My name is Mykola. I am from Uman, a city at the heart of Ukraine. A city with deep history and culture, built over hundreds of years, where not only Christians but Jews, Muslims and people all over the world from different nations and beliefs once walked along the streets and prayed in our temples. Let me tell you how it is now.

The way I described it, that city does not exist anymore. My hometown has been

mercilessly bombed by Russia for the last 8 days. My heart is heavy.

Kindergartens, schools and theaters are burned to ashes. Where people are taking turns to sleep in basements, being afraid to miss the incoming bombing siren. It is hard to imagine, until you run from explosions yourself. It is hard to believe, until your hear your parents' and best friends' trembling voices, telling you they want to wake up from this nightmare. But this is the reality. Most of Ukrainian big cities have been actively bombed. Not only military objects, but apartment buildings and central squares. Many have died due to cluster and vacuum bombs. The lethal weapons used against Ukrainians are inhumane. Is this our punishment for pursuing a fair democratic system?

This is a war provoking the whole world. That's why it is so important to

understand what we fight for. Doesn't this country stand for "life, liberty and the

pursuit of happiness?" That’s exactly what Ukrainian children and civilians are dying for right now. These are basic fundamental human rights - it is unbelievable to me, that my parents have to fight for it. However, people are as united as ever. A small example: my parents are collecting bottles for Molotovs, and my grandparents are baking bread at night, to feed soldiers in the morning. Military enlistment departments have lines of volunteers, there is not enough space for everyone.

Fighting for the motherland has been inspirational.

Even though I believe that nobody should experience this, I hope this gives some

perspective on what life is like for 44 million Ukrainians for the last 8 days. This is

not life. This is surviving. We are extremely grateful for the whole world to unite

and support us in these troubled times, but this can't go on. Urgent action is needed now. Glory to Ukraine.

Speech by Elina

9 days. 216 hours since my home country, Ukraine, was invaded by the Russian Federation. We have lost hundreds of civilians and Ukrainian soldiers. Is it the price we should all pay for wanting to be independent and develop our beautiful country? It has not started February 24 at 5:40 a.m.; it all started in 2014. Putin ordered Russian troops to Crimea when our country was drowning in blood after all the happenings in Maidan. As a consequence of Putin’s aggression, thousands of families fell apart, some Ukrainian women will never see their sons, husbands, and fathers. Is that the price we should all pay for wanting peace and a bright future for our motherland?

Being so far away, I can still feel the suffering of the people of Ukraine. Innocent people who wanted nothing but peace and to live in an independent country, now hide in basements while Russians destroy our cities. They kill Ukrainian troops and civilians who are protecting our land. There is plenty of evidence that it is not a ‘special operation to rescue Ukrainian people from Nazis and benderovts,’ it is a war. We don’t need your [Russia’s] help, help yourself [Russia] now when the entire world cut you off.

"Am I going to see you again?" That was the question asked by my brother on the first day of war. What am I feeling being so far away? I'm heartbroken to see my hometown, Kherson, attacked by Russians. They make attacks on the civil buildings, kill civilians.

They claim they don't attack civil buildings. It's a lie. The school in my neighborhood was completely destroyed, some people had been hiding there. Ukrainian women give birth in basements. Yesterday, 44 children were born in the basement in my hometown.

I don't have Russian friends. I don't consider Russians as my friends and people who I would ever be able to become friends with. From my perspective, they are all responsible for everything that is going on in Ukraine now. In 2014, Ukrainian students and people made our 4th president leave the country with shame because he didn't sign documents that would let us become a member of EU and NATO. And Russians can't stop their dictator? They have 144.1 million people in their population.

In this fight we need support from the United States and European Union countries. Please, stand with Ukraine, close the sky and continue your sanctions against the terrorist's country. They are violating our independence, rights, and committing crimes against humanity. We will never forget and never forgive. We will fight until the end, and we will win because we are Ukrainians.

Thank you for your attention. Glory to Ukraine!

2022 Legislative Update 7

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 22:32:17 GMT

2022 Legislative Update 7

Last week in the Legislature, Representatives spent nearly six hours on the floor passing more than two dozen bills. A full list of the bills is below.

It was “Turnaround Week,” which is the deadline for when bills must pass out of their originating chamber or they die. There are exceptions for bills in “exempt” committees, which are House Fed & State, Calendar & Printing, Tax, and Appropriations. Select bills that did not meet the Turnaround deadline may be “blessed” by the Speaker of the House and given later attention.

The Legislature returns from a short break on Tuesday, March 1.

LCC is Lawyering Up

The Legislative Coordinating Council -- the governing body of the Legislature, consisting of elected caucus leadership from each chamber -- voted Wednesday to retain Grave, Garrett, LLC, based in Kansas City, Mo., to fight the lawsuits brought over the gerrymandered Ad Astra 2 map . House Democratic Leader Tom Sawyer and Senate Democratic Leader Dinah Sykes were the only legislators to oppose the move. Each expressed concern with the process.

The congressional redistricting maps have never been challenged in state court; federal courts have historically handled the cases. Democrats believe the map brazenly divides communities of interest and breaks up minority centers for political gain. Leader Sawyer, who has participated in five redistricting processes, called the map “the most gerrymandered map he has ever seen,” in Kansas.

Criminalizing Classroom Material: The “Parental Bill of Rights”

Public schools can’t catch a break. The so-called Frankenstein Education Bill, blocked from passage last year by a bipartisan coalition, is back with a vengeance. The conservative Heritage Foundation is spearheading a national reckoning over public education prompted by the latest buzzword issue: critical race theory.

The House K-12 Budget Committee pushed through HB 2662 , which establishes the “Parental Bill of Rights and Academic Transparency Act.” The bill also creates a misdemeanor offense to “deter exposure of students to obscene materials in schools.”

Catch up on the dirty (but not obscene) details:

“Parents' Rights or Burden on Teachers? Kansas Lawmakers Spar Over School Transparency Bills,” Topeka Capital-Journal , 02/22/2022

“KC Area Teachers Feel Under Attack as KS, MO Lawmakers Pursue Parents Bill of Rights,” Kansas City Star , 02/22/2022

“Rep. Jarrod Ousley Argues New Education Bills Undermine SMSD and Other Public Schools,” Shawnee Mission Post , 02/21/2022

Opinion: “Lawmakers are Pushing to Muzzle Teachers. Kansans Who Love Unvarnished Fact Must Push Back,” Max McCoy for the Kansas Reflector , 02/20/2022

“Education Committees Clash Over Legitimacy of Bill of Rights Legislation for Kansas Parents,” Kansas Reflector , 02/17/2022

“Kansas Legislators, Wichita Teacher's Union at Odds Over Transparency Bill,” KAKE , 02/15/2022

“Faith Leaders and Educators Urge Lawmakers to Reject Bills Undermining Kansas Schools,” Kansas Reflector , 02/15/2022

“School Voucher Proposal is Filled With Hidden Costs for Students — and Kansas’ Budget,” State Treasurer Lynn Rogers, Kansas City Star , 02/06/2022

Views From the House Floor

Filing a Campaign Report? Technology Now Required

Passed on a 90-31 vote, HB 2579 requires electronic filing of all campaign filing reports moving forward. Exceptions shall be determined by the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission executive director.

Supporters of the move point to cost-savings benefits as the Commission staff will spend less time, and thus less money, manually reviewing filings. Some suggest “it’s time to move into the 21st century.” Opponents claim this shifts the burden from paid staff to unpaid volunteers that serve as campaign treasurers. Not everyone is well-versed in technology and paper filings work well. There are other ways the Commission could work to encourage more to file electronically than by mandating it by law.

Knock, Knock. Who’s There? Civil Rights.

A spirited debate over no-knock warrants took place on Tuesday, February 22. Republican Representative Brett Fairchild attempted to amend HB 2299 , which expands the window in which an officer can execute a search warrant, with an end to no-knock search warrants. Fairchild’s amendment called for police to be properly uniformed and announce their presence and knock before entering a home.

While the amendment failed on a 84-35 vote, members of both parties spoke to the issue during an impassioned and thought-provoking debate. Republican opponents to the amendment conceded that the issue was worth consideration and suggested a compromise may be possible in the future.

Democrats pointed to incidents of misidentified residencies and accidental shootings. One Representative highlighted the dangers facing law enforcement officers when they don’t announce their presence, referring to a 1995 Topeka drug raid in which a police officer was shot and killed while executing a no-knock warrant.

Rep. Barbara Ballard gave a moving speech in which she set the scene, “[You are] in your bed, late at night, sleeping, or at least minding your own business, and you’re killed.” She continued, explaining, “We accidentally went to the wrong house,” was not enough to console the family of someone killed. Another Representative urged the body to remember there isn’t always a violent criminal on the other side of the door, pointing to an example of a family raided by police due to a misunderstanding over hydroponic supplies to grow tomatoes.

A Bipartisan Effort: Easing Restrictions on Food & Child Care Assistance

Closing out a full day of general orders, the House debated HB 2525 . A bipartisan group of Representatives made a case to remove non-cooperation with child support from requirements for food and childcare assistance eligibility, and exempting adults enrolled in school from the 20-hour-per-week work requirement.

In practice, the bill would allow parents to access food assistance without pursuing child support or working 20 hours per week while also enrolled in school. Proponents claimed that a victim of domestic violence would not be forced to reconnect with their abuser in order to obtain food or childcare assistance, preventing the parent or legal guardian and child from danger or further abuse. Proponents also pointed to young, single parents still in high school. It was said, “They might not be working for an income, but they are working as they raise a newborn and attend classes.”

The bill failed 66-53. Some Republicans voted in favor of the bill and all Democrats supported it.

Regulating Rules & Regs

A constitutional amendment to provide legislative oversight of rules and regulations adopted by the executive branch hit the House floor for a final action vote on Monday, February 21. It passed 85-39. All constitutional amendments must pass the House and Senate with a two-thirds vote in each chamber before it is put to a vote on the ballot. The Senate Judiciary Committee has a hearing scheduled for Wednesday, March 2.

Leading up to Monday’s vote, the House attempted to pass HCR 5014, but failed to meet the required two-thirds threshold. After a motion to reconsider and much fanfare, it gained the necessary support to move forward.

During the proceedings , House Democratic Leader Tom Sawyer attempted to amend HCR 5014 with medicinal marijuana. Additional amendments were brought forward including a proposed amendment to expand Medicaid. All amendments failed.

Other Legislation Passed by the House

HB 2594 : Exempting certain modifications on antique vehicles from vehicle identification number offense seizures and dispositions. Passed on final action, 120-0.

HB 2607 : Clarifying the time limitations for habeas corpus claims. Favorable for passage.

HB 2517 : Transferring the responsibility to certify drug abuse treatment providers that participate in the certified drug abuse treatment program from the department of corrections to the Kansas sentencing commission. Favorable for passage.

HB 2496 : Enacting the uniform family law arbitration act. Favorable for passage.

HB 2547 : Authorizing technology-enabled fiduciary financial institution insurance companies within the captive insurance act and providing for the requirements and operations thereof. Favorable for passage.

HB 2597 : Providing for four distinctive license plates for the Kansas department of wildlife and parks. Favorable for passage.

HCR 5022 : Proposing a constitutional amendment requiring that a sheriff be elected in each county; exception. Favorable for passage.

HB 2568 : Amending the Kansas mortgage business act by providing for mortgage business work at remote locations, license and registration renewal or reinstatement procedures, surety bond requirements and evidence of solvency and net worth and requiring notice when adding or closing branch offices. Favorable for passage.

HB 2456 : Establishing the Kansas kids lifetime combination hunting and fishing license. Favorable for passage.

HB 2595 : Making certain antique vehicle titling procedures applicable to vehicles having a model year of 1960 or later instead of 1950 or later. Favorable for passage.

HB 2574 : Establishing a time limitation for awarding compensation for mental health counseling and increasing certain compensation award amounts by the crime victims compensation board. Passed on final action, 121-0.

HB 2529 : Allowing veteran license plate applicants to use either a DD214 form, a military veteran identification card or veteran health identification card for proof of veteran status. Passed on final action, 120-1.

HB 2516 : Requiring an offender who raises error in such offender's criminal history calculation for the first time on appeal to show prejudicial error, requiring the journal entry used to establish criminal history to be attached to the criminal history worksheet and authorizing the court to correct an illegal sentence while a direct appeal is pending. Passed on final action, 121-0.

HB 2510 : Updating certain investment limitation requirements to provide increased options for Kansas domiciled life insurance companies investing in equity interests and preferred stock. Passed on final action, 121-0.

HB 2579 : Requiring electronic filing of campaign reports by candidates for state office unless an exemption is granted for cause. Passed as amended on final action, 90-31.

HB 2299 : Allowing a search warrant to be executed within 10 days from the date of issuance. Final action, passed as amended, 119-2.

HB 2483 : Providing for the Daughters of the American Revolution distinctive license plate. Passed on final action, 105-16.

HB 2559 : Creating the Kansas cotton boll weevil program and requiring the program to levy an assessment upon Kansas produced cotton and monitor and mitigate the risk of boll weevils. Passed as amended, 83-37.

HB 2608 : Removing provisions authorizing criminal restitution to be enforced as a civil judgment and authorizing judicial districts to contract for collection services for criminal restitution. Passed on final action, 117-4.

HB 2567 : Increasing certain registration and title fees on vehicles for services performed by county treasurers and the division of vehicles and decreasing certain fees related to administrative costs and disposition of such fees. Final action, passed as amended 114-6.

HB 2688 : Requiring that licensed farm wineries be issued a cereal malt beverage retailer license if the statutory requirements for such retailer license are satisfied.

HB 2481 : Authorizing KP&F participating service credit purchase for certain in-state nonfederal governmental employment. Passed on final action, 121-0.

HB 2515 : Creating a mechanism to seek relief from the Kansas offender registration act requirements for drug offenders and allowing expungement of offenses when such relief is granted. Passed on final action, 120-1.

HB 2386 : Establishing requirements for the payment and reimbursement of dental services by a dental benefit plan. Final action, passed as amended 118-3.

HB 2703 : Making changes to employment security law provisions regarding the employment security fund and employer contribution rates, the definition of employment to conform with federal law and various updates to the my reemployment plan program, including making the program mandatory with certain exceptions, and providing that the secretary of commerce may require participation by claimants in reemployment services. Passed on final action, 121-0.

HB 2633 : Providing for the City of Hutchinson distinctive license plate. Final action, passed as amended 108-13.

HB 2110 : Requiring insurance coverage for PANS and PANDAS by the state health care benefits program and requiring the state employee health care commission to submit an impact report on such coverage to the legislature. Final action, passed as amended 113-8.

HB 2563 : Concerning the Kansas seed law and the commercial industrial hemp act; relating to labeling; seeds treated with certain substances; definitions; labeling; unlawful actions; certain registrations; inspections; live plant dealers; and testing services. Final action, passed as amended 113-8.

ICYMI:

“Lawsuits Filed in Kansas Over Controversial Redistricting Map,” KWCH , 02/14/2022

“Kansas Governor Signs APEX Bill, says 'It Makes us an Economic Powerhouse’,” KCTV 5 , 02/10/2022

Did you know? All committee hearings and chamber proceedings can be found on the Kansas Legislature’s YouTube page.

Resources

2022 Legislative Update 6

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 03:15:00 GMT

2022 Legislative Update 6

Ad Astra Lawsuit Filed

On Monday, February 14 two lawsuits were filed over the gerrymandered Ad Astra map. The suits claim the map contradicts the Kansas Constitution and the Legislature’s redistricting guidelines. Both lawsuits were filed on behalf of 16 residents in Wyandotte, Johnson and Douglas counties -- arguably the counties with the most blatant gerrymandering.

In the Press:

Groups file suit over Republican-authored congressional maps in state court, arguing racial, partisan gerrymandering, Topeka Capital-Journal , 02/14/2022
Kansas redistricting map dilutes voices of minority voters, ACLU charges in newly filed lawsuit, KCUR , 02/14/2022
Voting rights groups launch court battle over new Kansas congressional map, Kansas Reflector , 02/14/2022
Democrats, ACLU sue over new Kansas congressional districts, Associated Press , 02/14/2022

Proposed Constitutional Amendment Defeated?

A call of the House did not garner the 2/3rds votes required to pass HCR 5014 . The proposed Constitutional Amendment would have allowed legislative veto of Rules and Regulations. This upsets the balance between the branches of government and there are statutory ways to deal with issues that might arise.

Legislation Passed by the House

HB 2489 : Amending provisions of the technology-enabled fiduciary financial institutions act relating to fees and assessments, examinations, disclosures to consumers and requiring such institutions to be mandatory reporters for purposes of elder abuse. Passed by the House 120-0.
HB 2537 : Requiring the insurance department to hold a hearing in cases involving an order under the Kansas administrative procedure act. Passed by the House 120-0.
SB 337 : Converting the conditional charter issued for the pilot program under the technology-enabled fiduciary financial institutions act to a full fiduciary financial institution charter. Passed 119-1.
HCR 5014 : Proposing a constitutional amendment that provides for legislative oversight of rules and regulations adopted by executive branch agencies and officials. Passed by the House 77-42. Failed to reach ⅔ majority in Final Action vote, 80-33.
HB 2540 : Authorizing the construction of a memorial honoring Kansas gold star families. Passed by the House 113-0.
HB 2458 : Designating a portion of U.S. highway 56 as the PFC Shane Austin memorial highway. Passed by the House 113-0.
HB 2476 : Providing for the silver star and bronze star distinctive license plates. Passed by the House 113-0.
HB 2478 : Designating a portion of United States highway 166 as the SGT Evan S Parker memorial highway. Passed by the House 113-0.
HB 2591 : Repealing the state general fund and conservation fee fund transfers to the abandoned oil and gas well fund. Passed by the House 112-0.
HB 2560 : Extending certain penalties, fees and maximum amounts of fees and the expiration dates of certain programs of the Kansas department of agriculture. Passed by the House 101-11.

Resources

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2022 Legislative Update 5

Mon, 14 Feb 2022 20:27:43 GMT

2022 Legislative Update 5

This week was packed with action. The Legislature voted to override the Governor’s veto of congressional map “Ad Astra 2.” The largest private sector investment in Kansas history, APEX, passed. ABLE, a savings program, is now updated to meet federal regulations and allow for people with disabilities to save more money without losing benefits. A hygiene product tax exemption had a hearing, and a bill was introduced to update Kansas’s nondiscrimination policy.

On Monday a hearing was held in House Judiciary on the Clean Slate Bill, HB 2575. The hearing went very well with Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree and Kansas Legal Services Marilyn Harp fielding many of the questions. Jermaine Wilson, Mayor Pro Tem of Leavenworth, who had his record expunged 7 years ago, provided very personal, compelling testimony. The business community including KC Chamber John Jenks also provided testimony in support of HB 2575 consistent with their efforts on second chance hiring policies to help individuals with employment, housing and educational opportunities.

It was wonderful to visit with so many people who were at the Statehouse for a variety of legislative events. KCK Firefighters were in Topeka for the annual KSFFA BBQ and the Kansas State Council of Fire Fighters Legislative Reception. The KCK Chamber of Commerce presented at the delegation’s Tuesday luncheon. There were legislative events with the Kansas Realtors, Kansas Tourism, Groundwater Management Districts and Kansas Black Legislative Day at the Capitol. A highlight was spending time with students from Wyandotte High School (my alma mater) and Turner High School. The students were visiting legislators to talk about Jobs for America’s Graduates “JAG”.

Veto Override: Buckle in, Kansans. We're going to court.

On Wednesday, February 10, the House voted to override Governor Kelly’s veto of SB 355, the Ad Astra congressional map. The House Democrats unanimously voted to sustain the veto. The final vote was 85-39. You can watch the speeches here .

What’s next? A court challenge is likely. Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, echoing many House Democrats, said of the map, “Republicans diluted voices of the most populous and diverse region of the state for partisan gain.”

What the press is saying:

“As legislators successfully overturn veto of Kansas Congressional maps, fight heads to the courts,” Topeka Capital Journal , 02/09/2022
“Kansas Republicans advance new congressional maps. Democrats say the plan cheats voters,” KCUR , 02/09/2022
“Kansas House completes override of Gov. Kelly’s veto of congressional redistricting map,” Lawrence Journal-World , 02/09/2022

Investing in the Future of Kansas

House Substitute for SB 347, also known as APEX, passed Tuesday, February 8 on an 80-41 vote. The project is considered a big achievement and is being called it the “biggest private sector investment in the state’s history” in a press release . Kansas is one of two states competing for the mega-project.

The unnamed company is expected to invest $4 billion. APEX creates a refundable tax credit of up to 15% to be paid back over 10 years, payroll reimbursement of up to 7.5%, and a relocation incentive fund. A study by Wichita State University estimates that eventually the project may generate $2.5 billion annually in new economic activity, as reported by the Kansas Reflector .

People With Disabilities Are Now ABLE to Save More

The House passed ABLE , Achieving a Better Life Experience, 118-3 on Wednesday. The bill amends a law governing the savings program to make it compliant with the federal Internal Revenue Code and regulations. It allows people with disabilities and their families to save private money without violating federal means-tested benefit requirements.

Staying Clean Could Get Cheaper

In the spirit of #AxeTheFoodTax, HB 2461 exempts hygiene products from sales tax. The bill had a hearing Monday, February 7 in the House Taxation committee.

If passed, the bill would cut the sales tax on antiperspirants, cotton swabs, dental floss, deodorants, diapers, menstrual cups, mouthwash, panty liners, sanitary napkins, shampoo, soaps and cleaning solutions, suntan lotions, suntan screens, tampons, toilet tissues and toothpaste. More items may be added through amendments during the legislative process.

Expanding LGBTQ Protections

HB 2665 was introduced to add gender identity or expression and sexual orientation to the KAAD, which provides housing, employment, and public accommodation protections for all Kansans. Currently, 21 Kansas cities include nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ residents and visitors.

Other Legislation Passed by the House

HCR 5023 : Denouncing price gouging and market manipulation in the natural gas marketplace and supporting investigations into the extraordinary price increases of wholesale natural gas during the extreme cold weather event of February 2021. Passed the House 114-2.
HB 2473 : Removing the requirement that all district court judges in Douglas County serve on the board of trustees of the law library. Passed the House 121-0.

Legislation to Watch

HB 2661 : Authorizing a permanent memorial on statehouse grounds commemorating the Kansas suffragist movement.
HB 2660 : Directing the capitol preservation committee to develop and approve plans for a mural honoring the 1st Kansas (Colored) Voluntary Infantry regiment in the Civil War.
HB 2671 : Requiring statutory due process procedures for a school district's non-renewal or termination of a teacher contract.

This Week

HB 2652 : Continuing the governmental response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Kansas by extending the expanded use of telemedicine, the authority of the board of healing arts to grant certain temporary emergency licenses, the suspension of certain requirements related to medical care facilities and immunity from civil liability for certain healthcare providers, certain persons conducting business in this state and covered facilities for COVID-19 claims until January 20, 2023. Hearing scheduled for Monday, February 14th.
HB 2585 : Requiring all advance voting ballots be returned by 7 pm on election day. Hearing scheduled for Tuesday, February 15th.
HB 2648 : Requiring a criminal conviction for civil asset forfeiture, remitting proceeds from civil asset forfeiture to the state general fund and removing provisions making motor vehicles with altered vehicle identification numbers contraband. Hearing scheduled for Wednesday, February 16th.
HB 2640 : Creating a new process for criminal forfeiture of property with a value of less than $100,000 that is used in the commission of certain crimes or is proceeds derived from certain crimes. Hearing scheduled for Wednesday, February 16th.

ICYMI

School voucher proposal is filled with hidden costs for students — and Kansas’ budget, State Treasurer Lynn Rogers, Kansas City Star .
Save the Turtles: The House Agriculture committee heard a bill to protect the state reptile, the ornate box turtle
Did you know? All committee hearings and chamber proceedings can be found on the Kansas Legislature’s YouTube page.

Resources

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2022 Legislative Update 4

Wed, 09 Feb 2022 00:56:58 GMT

2022 Legislative Update 4

“For those reasons, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto Senate Bill 355.”

Governor Laura Kelly announced early Friday evening she vetoed the deeply controversial “ Ad Astra 2 ” map. Governor Kelly pointed to the blatant racial gerrymandering in the third congressional district and the placement of Lawrence in the largely rural Big First. Read the full press release here .

Frankenstein Education Bill 2.0

Last year, a coalition of House Democrats and Republicans successfully defeated the so-called Frankenstein Education Bill, a conglomeration of mismatched policies damaging to public education.

This week in the House K-12 Education Budget committee, hearings were held on bills to expand school choice and introduce vouchers . Opponents to the bills included State Treasurer Lynn Rogers, various public education stakeholders and superintendents, nonpartisan groups and parents. Testimony from the meeting can be found here . Aaron Rife, Wichita State Professor of Education, wrote of the school choice myth in the Wichita Eagle .

School Choice?

“School Choice” appears simple but the consequences are complex. First of all, the name itself is misleading; “school choice” suggests parental empowerment but in reality, turns public investment of education into private consumption of public resources. Families can “shop” for schools, ultimately pitting more privileged districts and schools against systems in impoverished or rural areas. Opponents highlight problems in the policy:

● Some schools will be overwhelmed by the growth in student population and unable to manage the influx while maintaining high standards.

● In the current version of the bill, no transportation options are provided to low-income students. If a parent sends their child to an out-of-district school, they must also provide transportation. This is not feasible for many of the families that school choice advocates claim will benefit most -- low-income families working multiple jobs, who may only have one car.

● Exacerbated racial segregation is reflected in school choice programs in Arizona, Florida, and Indiana.

Vouchers: Coupons for Schools?

“Vouchers” is a deceptive label for a policy framed by Republicans as uniquely beneficial to low-income, underrepresented, or disabled students. They claim vouchers provide access to a parochial school or other private educational institution via public subsidies, serving to supplement the educational opportunities of lesser-resourced communities. This is misleading as redirecting tax dollars to private schools depletes resources from the public system to the detriment of teachers, students, and communities.

APEX: Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion

The building was abuzz with talk of “Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion,” colloquially known as APEX. The Senate passed SB 347 last week. It was heard in the House Commerce Labor and Economic Development Committee this week. Numerous amendments were introduced. The House Committee will likely work SB 347 early next week which would provide the needed tool to attract megaprojects to Kansas. The business has not yet been publicly announced.

Key points to know:

● An economic development project worth $4 billion could bring 4,000 jobs to Kansas.

● The effort is led by Governor Laura Kelly and Lt. Governor David Toland.

● This one “megaproject” will bring five new suppliers to Kansas.

Resources

Did you know? All committee hearings can be found on the Kansas Legislature’s YouTube page.

Resources

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2022 Legislative Update 3

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 17:43:55 GMT

2022 Legislative Update 3

#AxeTheFoodTax Gets a Hearing

The House Democrats’ food tax cut bill, HB 2487 , received a hearing on Tuesday, January 25. The bill cuts the state sales tax on food to 0% from 6.5%. The tax has been in place since the 1930s and raised 10 times, most recently under former Governor Sam Brownback. If the bill passes, the average Kansas family will save $500 per year.

Last year, the legislature again cut corporate taxes. Now it is time for hardworking families to see tax relief.

House Republicans Pass Gerrymandered Map “Ad Astra 2”

On Wednesday, January 26, the “ Ad Astra 2 ” map passed the House on a 79-37 vote one day after a four-hour debate . Now the map is in Governor Kelly’s hands.

All House Democrats opposed the map. From the date of introduction to passage was only five days, leaving little time for the public to study the map and submit feedback to the committee. Considering the promises from Republican leadership of “unprecedented transparency,” this was a disappointing timeline.

Ad Astra 2 places Lawrence into the Big First, a heavily rural district with stark differences in economy, geography, socioeconomic status, racial makeup, and partisanship, among other demographics. Lawrence was carved with meticulous attention out of Douglas county -- no other parts of Douglas were moved. It is noteworthy that of the 650+ pieces of testimony received throughout the redistricting process, not a single member of the public called for Lawrence to join the first congressional district. Many of us saw this as a textbook example of gerrymandering.

The map also contradicts public input regarding the third congressional district. Hundreds of Kansans demanded the metro cores of Wyandotte and Johnson county stay intact; despite this clear plea, House Republicans hacked the counties in half. A line was drawn through Wyandotte county to carve up neighborhoods – generally following I-70 dividing the county north/south. The boundaries divide the community along racial lines, another clear-cut example of prohibited gerrymandering.

Clean Slate Legislation

The House Judiciary Committee accepted my request, and the “Clean Slate” bill has been introduced. The bill was drafted based on the recommendations of the Kansas Judicial Council, Criminal Law Advisory Committee. It will provide for an automated process for sealing of criminal records from public view, referred to as expungement.

Other states have adopted various measures of Clean Slate legislation to help remove barriers for returning citizens.

Clean Slate legislation will help thousands of Kansans who are eligible for expungement however lack the time and resources to get their record expunged manually.

“Save the Turtles”: The Ornate Box Turtle

A bill to prohibit the unlawful collection or possession of the ornate box turtle had a hearing on Thursday, January 27 in the Agriculture committee. Kansas designated the ornate box turtle the official state reptile in 1986. “Save the turtles” could be heard passing through the halls after the committee adjourned.

Happy Kansas Day!

Kansas Day was Saturday, January 29th. There were events across the state to celebrate the great state of Kansas.

Resources

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2022 Legislative Update 2

Sun, 23 Jan 2022 12:06:11 GMT

2022 Legislative Update 2

During week 2, legislators came together in bipartisan cooperation to extend Governor Kelly’s emergency declaration. House Democrats and Republicans released the first iterations of congressional redistricting maps. Additionally, three constitutional amendments were formally put forward to legalize marijuana and expand Medicaid.

Committee are beginning to get busy as bills are assigned and hearings scheduled to consider and advance legislation forward. My committee assignments include ranking member on the House Local Government Committee, Member of the House Judiciary Committee and a Member of the House Commerce, Labor and Economic Development Committee. I also serve on the Joint Committee on Information Technology “JCIT” as well as the Information Technology Executive Council “ITEC”.

There have been several visitors making their way to the Statehouse this session. Please let me know if you are coming. It is always good to see people from home.

Responding to the COVID-19 Surge with Bipartisan Cooperation

To kick off the week, Democrats and Republicans hastily passed HB 2477 , a bill extending Governor Laura Kelly’s emergency declaration following pleas from hospitals and nursing homes. It passed on emergency final action 106-5 without much fanfare in the House. She signed the bill into law on Friday afternoon.

Redistricting: Blue Stem, Ad Astra, Buffalo 2, and Sunflower

On Tuesday, January 18 the House Redistricting Committee brought forth the first iterations of congressional redistricting maps. Redistricting Committee Ranking Member Tom Burroughs introduced a map in support of the League of Women Voters, deemed the “ Buffalo 2 ” map. Three other maps were introduced by Republican Reps. Chris Croft and Kyle Hoffman.

In the “ Ad Astra ” map, presented by Redistricting Chairman Chris Croft, Johnson and Wyandotte Counties are notably divided. This was a concerning map and ignored input from Kansans. People from all across the state submitted over 500 pieces of testimony during the Redistricting Listening Tour in August, and more than half were crystal clear: the Third Congressional District needs to keep Johnson and Wyandotte counties intact at its core.

Other maps that were introduced and considered are “ Prairie Dog ” and “ Mushroom Rock .”

#YesWeCannabis, Expanding Medicaid

Three constitutional amendments, which I co-sponsored, were formally introduced this week. The amendments mandate the legislature to write policy to expand Medicaid and legalize marijuana, both recreationally and medicinally.

Kansans widely support legalizing marijuana and expanding Medicaid. However, Republican obstruction has for years delayed the adoption of these modern, quality of life policies. Kansas does not allow for ballot initiatives, and by introducing the legislation through constitutional amendment, the public is given the power to override legislative obstruction. If passed, Kansans would vote on these policies on the November 2022 ballot.

Overwhelmingly, those of you who live in House District 32 and who have answered my 2022 Legislative Survey have told me to work towards legalizing all cannabis for all purposes, recreational and medical. If you haven't already, please take a moment to answer my Legislative Survey . Response has been good, but I'd like to hear from many more of my constituents on the most important issues in 2022.

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2022 Legislative Update 1

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 17:44:52 GMT

2022 Legislative Update 1

On Monday, January 10, legislators returned to Topeka for the 2022 Legislative Session. Members reported to their first rounds of committee meetings, attended Governor Laura Kelly’s State of the State address, attended Chief Justice Marla Luckert’s State of the Judiciary address and introduced the #AxeTheFoodTax bill.

In the 2022 Legislative Session, my committee assignments are:

House Local Government Committee (Ranking Democrat);
Joint Committee on Information Technology (Ranking Democrat);
House Judiciary Committee; and
House Commerce, Labor and Economic Development Committee.

In the House Judiciary Committee, we both heard and worked the bill to temporarily put in law the two executive orders issued by the Governor to provide flexibility to health care providers due to COVID-19. The testimony provided was very compelling and concerning. Our health care providers are tired, stressed and at a breaking point. We all must do what we can to ease the stress to keep our health care systems functioning.

It was an honor to participate in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr March at the Statehouse. The event, organized and hosted by the Kansas African American Affairs Commission, included a program in the rotunda with Governor Kelly reading and signing a proclamation in honor of MLK day.

If you are a constituent or live in KCK, please be sure to answer my 2022 Legislative Survey so that I know what is important to you this session.

#AxeTheFoodTax Introduced

Ending the week on a strong note, House Democrats introduced the #AxeTheFoodTax bill, HB 2487 , that would cut the state sales tax on food from 6.5% to 0%. A coalition of House Democrats and Republicans cosponsored the bill. HB 2487 will save Kansas families an average of $500 per year.

The sales tax on food has been in place since the 1930s and raised 10 times. Removing the tax will provide families some relief. No longer will Kansas have the second-highest state tax on food in the nation.

Governor Kelly’s State of the State Address and Emergency Declaration

On Tuesday, January 11, Governor Kelly gave her fourth State of the State addres s . The Governor discussed her vision for Kansas and put forward her budget, making good use of the nearly $3 billion in excess revenue. The state recorded the strongest surplus in four decades.

Highlights from the Governor’s budget include:

1. Cutting the state food sales tax to 0% and issuing one-time tax rebates to give single tax filers $250 and joint filers $500;

2. A 5% pay increase for all state employees;

3. Maintaining full funding of public education;

4. Restoring funding to higher education, expanding scholarships and freezing tuition at four-year universities;

5. Paying down state debts;

6. Strengthening access to mental health care, including for regional crisis services, hospital beds, and suicide prevention;

7. Expanding Medicaid;

8. Equipping the National Guard with the tools and resources needed to combat events like the recent natural disasters; and

9. Fully funding the state water plan, providing irrigation technology and other resources to support rural communities and the agricultural industry.

The Governor urged lawmakers to expand and extend a recent 15-day disaster declaration meant to address the surge in COVID-19 infections from the Omicron variant. Hospitals and health care workers, including care providers in nursing homes, are overwhelmed. She issued two executive orders: No. 22-01 provides temporary relief from certain restrictions and requirements governing the provision of medical services, and No. 22-02 seeks to alleviate staffing stresses faced by nursing homes.

This Week

Redistricting is top-of-mind for many legislators. We expect to see the first maps on Tuesday, It is so important to continue to call for fair maps and no and gerrymandering

Additionally, lawmakers may seek to extend Governor Kelly’s disaster declaration.

Kansas State Library

If learning a new language is one of your New Year’s Resolutions, Mango Languages is for you!

With Mango, you can learn from your own computer or smartphone. This online service https://kslib.info/Mango provided by the State Library of Kansas is easy to use. Choose from more than 70 languages such as Spanish, French, Korean- even Swahili. Mango uses real life situations and conversations. Mango also includes over 20 English as a second language courses. Use as a Guest or register to hold your place (and for smartphone use).

Resources

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2022 Legislative Survey

Mon, 03 Jan 2022 18:10:24 GMT

Take a moment to answer the 2022 Legislative Survey

Your opinion matters to me. Our government works best with your input on the important issues we face as a community and as a state. Please take a few moments to answer the 2022 Legislative Survey.

2021 Veto Session Update

Thu, 20 May 2021 15:29:00 GMT

2021 Veto Session Update

The 2021 Kansas Veto Session ended in the early hours on Saturday, May 8th after once again suspending the midnight rule and working into the night to complete our work. The Legislature will return on Wednesday, May 26th for Sine Die, the official end of the 2021 Legislative Session.

Medical Cannabis

During the Veto Session, the Kansas House passed H Sub for SB 158 which would allow Kansans’ access to medical cannabis. A sweeping number of states have passed legislation legalizing medical cannabis, while Kansas has fallen behind. Recent polling indicated that 65% of Kansans support medical cannabis. It is essential that we provide Kansans’ access to this treatment option. The bill will now go to the Senate on a motion to concur before it can head to the governor’s desk and state law.

SB 50: Return to the Brownback Years

The House voted to override Governor Kelly’s veto of Senate Bill 50, returning Kansas to the Brownback Era. Former Governor Brownback’s failed tax experiment harmed the Kansas economy and state public schools. This experiment was soundly rejected by a bipartisan group in the legislature in 2017 after the measure almost bankrupted the state. But today Republicans have revived the plan. SB 50 will give tax cuts to multinational corporations while Main Street businesses and working families suffer. At a crucial point in our state recovery from Covid-19, we must do all we can to not jeopardized Kansas’ economic stability.

Monday on the Floor

On Monday the House considered 5 veto overrides and 4 budget line-item vetoes.

· HB 2166 - Adds several types of license plates; adds reporting requirements for organizations sponsoring distinctive license plates; amends requirements for distinctive license plate development, continuing distinctive license plates, and personalized license plate backgrounds; and requires an annual payment of a $10 firefighters training fee for each new or renewed firefighter license plate starting January 1, 2022. The new distinctive license plates to be issued on and after January 1, 2022, are military branch license plates and five license plates for which royalty fees will be paid: Braden’s Hope for Childhood Cancer, proud educator, Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA), Delta Sigma Theta (DST), and the Love, Chloe Foundation (Foundation) license plates. The bill also authorizes Gadsden flag license plates, for which a fee applies. Overridden 86-37.

· HB 2332 - Creates and amends law concerning addresses maintained for registered voters, solicitation of advance voting ballot applications, alteration of election laws, and the crime of election tampering. Overridden 86-37.

· HB 2183 - Amends and creates law pertaining to elections and voting, including on advance mail ballots, registered voter information reporting, assistance with the return of advance ballots, advance ballot return deadlines, the authority of the Secretary of State, duties of election officials, electioneering, and election funding. The bill also creates the crime of false representation of an election official. Overridden 85-35.

· HB 2058 - Amends law related to the recognition and issuance of a concealed carry license (license), creates two concealed carry license classes, and creates the Kansas Protection of Firearms Rights Act. Overridden 84-39.

· SB 50 - Requires the collection and remittance of certain taxes by marketplace facilitators. The bill also amends income tax law regarding fraudulent unemployment benefits, itemized and standard deductions, business income related to 2017 federal legislation, corporation return filing, net operating losses, and the business expensing deduction. Overridden 84-39.

Below are the specific line-item vetoes on HB 2007 .

· Section 30(c). Section requiring LCC approval for all fed. coronavirus state relief funds—FY 2022. Overridden 86-38.

· Section 87(a). Youth Services Aid & Assistance SGF account, proviso requiring DCF to spend $300,000 on HOPE Ranch Pilot Program. Overridden 84-40.

· Section 163(a). State university capital renewal initiative. Overridden 84-40.

· Section 80(e). Language to set the monthly protected income level for purposes of determining the person’s client obligation at an amount equal to 300% of federal supplemental security income for any person in Kansas receiving services from a program of all-inclusive care for the elderly. Overridden 104-20.

Tuesday on the Floor

On Tuesday, the House took Final Action on two conference committee reports. Both bills passed on Final Action. Below are the results from final action being taken on these conference committee reports:

· CCR SB 60 - SB 60 would amend law in the Kansas Criminal Code (Code) related to jurisdictional application, psychological or psychiatric examinations of crime victims, the spousal exception in the crime of sexual battery, and the crime of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, and would create the crime of sexual extortion. Passed on Final Action 118-3.

· CCR SB 47 - Create and modify law related to income tax. Passed on Final Action 107-14.

Wednesday on the Floor

On Wednesday, the House took final action on 5 conference committee reports, and one motion to concur. The five bills and motion to concur passed on Final Action.

Below are the results from Final Action being taken on these conference committee reports and motion to concur.

· CCR HB 2026 - Would establish a certified drug abuse treatment program for certain persons who have entered into a diversion agreement pursuant to a memorandum of understanding and amend law related to supervision of offenders and the administration of certified drug abuse treatment programs. It also would amend law to change penalties for crimes involving a riot in a correctional facility and unlawfully tampering with a monitoring device. Passed on Final Action 121-0.

· CCR HB 2077 - Would amend law related to the Kansas Criminal Justice Reform Commission, Kansas Closed Case Task Force, and the Kansas Crime Victims Compensation Board. The bill would be in effect upon publication in the Kansas Register. Passed on Final Action 115-6.

· CCR HB 2079 - Would create the Kansas Fights Addiction Act, which would address the use of funds received from opioid litigation by municipalities; amend law to transfer certain duties from the Secretary of State to the Attorney General; and amend law related to notices offering help to victims of human trafficking. Passed on Final Action 78-42-1.

· CCR HB 2121 - Would amend the penalties for the crime of mistreatment of a dependent adult or elder person, define the term “absconds from supervision,” amend law regarding sureties and delivery of a person arrested, amend law concerning proof of identity documents accepted for the issuance of a replacement driver’s license, and require the Secretary of Corrections to develop guidance for parole officers to use while supervising offenders on parole and post release supervision. Passed on Final Action 121-0.

· CCR HB 2158 - Would amend statutes regarding the State Child Death Review Board (Board), Advisory Committee on Trauma, law in the Kansas Code for Care of Children concerning investigations for child abuse or neglect, family foster home licensing and eligibility for childcare assistance, and would establish the Joint Committee on Child Welfare System Oversight (Joint Committee). The bill would be effective upon publication in the Kansas Register. Passed on Final Action 121-0.

· HB 2187 - First time Homeowner’s act. Motion to concur. Passed on Final Action 119-2.

Thursday on the Floor

On Thursday, the House took final action on 2 bills. Below are the results from Final Action taken on these bills.

· H Sub for SB 158 - Creating the Kansas medical marijuana regulation act. Passed on Emergency Final Action 79-42.

· HB 2056 - Regulating the sale and distribution of kratom products as a part of and supplemental to the Kansas food, drug, and cosmetic act. Passed on Emergency Final Action 97-24.

Friday on the Floor

On Friday, the House took action on 7 Conference Committee Reports and 1 House Bill. Below are the results from Final Action taken on these bills.

· CCR SB 78 - Would amend several provisions in the Insurance Code and would codify the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Credit for Reinsurance Model Regulation (Model Regulation) into statute. Amendments to the Insurance Code would pertain to credit for reinsurance, service contracts, surplus lines insurance, the Standard Nonforfeiture Law for Individual Deferred Annuities (Standard Nonforfeiture Law), the Utilization Review Organization Act and oversight of utilization review organizations, and risk retention groups. The bill would also amend the Insurance Company Holding Act, the Professional Employer Organization (PEO) Registration Act, the effective date for the risk-based capital (RBC) instructions promulgated by the NAIC, and certain coverage and oversight requirements in the Health Care Provider Insurance Availability Act (HCPIAA). Passed on Final Action 113-7.

· CCR SB 29 - Would amend law in the Insurance Code governing specially designed policies and short-term policies to update references to short-term limited duration (STLD) policies. Passed on Final Action 68-51.

· CCR SB 159 - Includes adjusted funding for fiscal year (FY) 2021, FY 2022, and FY 2023 for state agencies. The bill also includes various claims against the state. The bill does not include funding for K-12 education, which is contained in HB 2134. Passed on Final Action 98-21.

· HB 2224 - Expanding the definition of "infectious disease" in certain statutes related to crimes in which bodily fluids may have been transmitted from one person to another. Passed on Final Action 112-7.

· CCR HB 2137 - Would amend various provisions in the Kansas Liquor Control Act (KLCA) and the Club and Drinking Establishment Act (CDEA) concerning the sale, transfer, and licensure requirements related to alcoholic liquor. Passed on Final Action 101-18.

· CCR HB 2134 - Would make appropriations for the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) for FY 2021, FY 2022, and FY 2023; limit remote learning hours based on emergency circumstances of the individual student and school district; provide a different calculation for school finance related to remote learning; direct school districts to use needs assessment to ensure improvement in student academic achievement; amend the Kansas Challenge to Secondary School Students Act as it relates to dual and concurrent enrollment; amend law regarding the providing of the ACT, pre-ACT, and WorkKeys assessment to Kansas students; expand the Tax Credit for Low Income Students Scholarship Program; and direct KSDE to collaborate with the Department for Children and Families (DCF) to create a Kansas foster care children annual academic report card. Passed on Final Action 107-9.

· CCR SB 273 - Would create the COVID-19 Small Business Relief Act (Act). Passed on Final Action 68-42.

· CCR HB 2313 - Would provide for property tax reimbursements in the event of shutdowns or restrictions due to disaster emergency declarations, extend the 20-mill statewide school finance levy, expand the motor vehicle property tax exemption for National Guard members, modify pro tempore membership provisions for the State Board of Tax Appeals (BOTA), and require the Legislative Division of Post Audit to study the impact of governmental and nonprofit organizations competing with for-profit businesses. Passed on Final Action 108-3.

Additionally, the House did not take any motions to reconsider 2 previously vetoed bills by Governor Kelly. The vetoes were then considered sustained. Below are the two bills that the Governor’s veto was sustained on.

· HB 2039 - The bill requires, beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, students enrolled in an accredited public, private, or parochial high school to pass a civics test, or series of tests, as part of the Kansas required courses of instruction for graduation. The bill also amends law regarding personal financial literacy education in state curriculum standards. No motion to reconsider vetoed bill; Veto sustained.

· HB 2089 - Creates law related to firearm safety education programs conducted in public school districts. The bill establishes these provisions as the “Roy’Ale Act.” The bill allows a local board of education (local school board) to provide firearm safety education programs. The State Board of Education (State Board) is directed to establish curriculum guidelines for a standardized firearm safety education program, which the bill requires to include accident prevention. No motion to reconsider vetoed bill; Veto sustained.

Kansas State Library

Summer Reading for All! Get ready for summer reading! The State Library has downloadable books for all ages: audiobooks, e-books, and digital storybooks are available to all Kansas residents. Some of the benefits of downloadable books:

· You don’t have to worry about lost books at the end of the summer. Once a book is finished, it automatically returns to its digital home.

· E-books are basically indestructible.

· No heavy bag of books to take on trips.

· It’s easy to try something new- biographies, classics, fantasy, self-help.

Visit kslib.info/digitalbooks to learn more. New users will want to check the “Instructions & Devices” link. Choose your device and you’ll see which services work with it along with an instructions link. Most resources will need a Kansas Library eCard, which you may get at any public, school, or academic library in Kansas. Need help with setup? Call 785-296-3296 or email kslc@ks.gov .

Resources

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2021 Legislative Update 13

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 10:17:06 GMT

2021 Legislative Update 13

The Legislature returned on Tuesday, April 6, to work bills that were sent to conference along with bills worked by either the House or Senate. Last week the House concurred with the Senate’s amendments on multiple bills and adopted several Conference Committee Reports. The House passed two bills on Emergency Final Action, adopted 36 Conference Committee Reports and concurred with Senate Amendments on 14 bills. In total, 52 bills passed on Final Action. The Kansas Legislature adjourned the evening of April 9 until the Veto Session where both the House and Senate will vote to override or sustain the bills that the Governor vetoes over the next couple of weeks.

I was very honored to be a part of the bill signing ceremony for HB 2008, Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. My friend and floor seat mate, Representative Dr. Ponka-We Victors, worked on this legislation for several years and this year was joined by Representative Christina Haswood in introducing and having signed into law by Governor Laura Kelly HB 2008. It was my privilege to carry this legislation on the House Floor last year (died in Senate due to short session) and again this year. Congratulations to Ponka-We and Christina! And many thanks to Sara Rust-Martin, the Attorney General's Office and others that helped support MMIP and move this legislation forward!

Budget

The House and Senate passed a nearly $20 billion state budget on the last day of regular session which is now on its way to the Governor. I voted against the bill as it does not provide funding for public education and is structurally unbalanced.

Explanation of vote:

MR. SPEAKER: I vote no on HB 2007. There's still no funding for K-12 education in this budget. This will inevitably put us at risk of going back to the courts. We must ensure we constitutionally fund education to avoid this. Furthermore, this budget is fiscally irresponsible and will set the state up for a budget crisis while not taking advantage of federal aid for Medicaid Expansion. Leaving the budget in the red after $360 million costs in PPP tax conformity and forgoing nearly $460 million in federal aid dollars is a clear neglect in offering the state significant budget relief while also providing healthcare for 160,000 + Kansans.

Tuesday on the Floor

On Tuesday, the House took final action on three bills. SB 16 was a consent calendar item that passed its third day on the Consent Calendar. The House also concurred with the Senate’s amendments on HB 2071. Lastly, the House adopted the Conference Committee Report for S Sub HB 2104. All three of the bills passed on final action, below are the descriptions and results of those votes.

· SB 16 : Removing the requirement that certain entities submit certain reports to the division of post audit. Passed on Final Action 117-0.

· HB 2071 : Increasing the criminal penalties for stalking a minor. Passed on Final Action 119-0.

· CCR for S Sub HB 2104 - would amend law related to the list of eligible county appraisers, the qualifications of county and district appraisers, appraisal standards, Board of Tax Appeals (BOTA) administration and membership, property valuation appeals, judicial review of property tax disputes, BOTA membership, and school district budget certification. Passed on Final Action 77-42.

Wednesday on the Floor

On Wednesday, the House adopted four Conference Committee Reports and concurred with Senate amendments on four bills. All eight of these bills passed on Final Action, below you will find the descriptions of each along with the results on Final Action.

· HB 2247 : as amended, would designate portions of highway in Johnson, Marshall, and Norton counties as memorial highways and would designate certain bridges in Cowley, Riley, and Seward counties as memorial bridges. Passed on Final Action 122-0.

· HB 2165 : as amended, would amend the definition of an antique vehicle for purposes of vehicle registration. Passed on Final Action 117-5.

· HB 2167 : as amended, would add two exceptions to law requiring a license plate to be attached to the rear of a motor vehicle. The bill would allow concrete mixer trucks the option to display a license plate on the front of the vehicle rather than on the rear of the vehicle and would require a dump truck with a gross weight of 26,000 pounds or more to display a license plate on the front of the vehicle. The requirement for a dump truck to display a license plate on the front of the vehicle would not apply to a vehicle registered as a farm truck. Passed on Final Action 122-0.

· HB 2245 : as amended, would add law authorizing the Division of Vehicles (Division), Department of Revenue, to collect emergency contact information and would provide for the use of such information by law enforcement agencies. Passed on Final Action 122-0.

· CCR for SB 103 : would amend the Kansas Power of Attorney Act (Act) to state a power of attorney executed on or after July 1, 2021, would be deemed sufficient if in substantial compliance with the form set forth by the Judicial Council and would direct the Judicial Council to develop such form. The bill would state the amendments made by the bill would apply prospectively and would not affect the validity of a power of attorney executed prior to July 1, 2021. Passed on Final Action 123-0.

· CCR for SB 106 : as amended, would enact the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA) and repeal the Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (ULONA), as well as other current laws regarding notaries. Throughout RULONA, some provisions from ULONA and other current law are continued, reorganized, or updated without substantive changes. The bill also would update references to ULONA in other areas of statute. This brief summarizes the RULONA structure and notes provisions containing substantive changes or additions to ULONA and other current law provisions. Passed on Final Action 123-0.

· CCR for SB 107 : would enact the Uniform Fiduciary Income and Principal Act [UFIPA] and repeal the Uniform Principal and Income Act (1997) [UPIA]. Throughout the UFIPA, some provisions from UPIA are continued, reorganized, or updated without substantive changes. The bill also would amend one statute within the Kansas Uniform Trust Code (UTC). This brief summarizes the UFIPA structure and notes provisions containing substantive changes or additions to UPIA provisions. Passed on Final Action 123-0.

· CCR for SB 122 : would amend various sections within the Kansas Rules of Evidence (Rules). Passed on Final Action 115-8.

Thursday on the Floor

Thursday was a very busy day! The House passed two bills on General Orders and then passed both on Emergency Final Action. The House also adopted sixteen Conference Committee Reports and concurred with Senate amendments on seven bills. All twenty-three of these bills passed on Final Action, below you will find the descriptions of each along with the results on Final Action.

· H Sub for SB 91 : Providing liability protection for businesses, municipalities and educational institutions that participate in high school work-based learning programs and providing that schools are responsible for injuries to students participating in such programs. Passed on General Orders and passed on Emergency Final Action 123-0.

· HB 2366 : Requiring prosecutors to disclose their intent to introduce testimony from a jailhouse witness and to forward information to the Kansas bureau of investigation. Passed on General Orders, and passed on Emergency Final Action 123-0.

· CCR for SB 36 : would amend procedures related to certain vehicle identification number (VIN) checks and transfer of ownership of certain salvage vehicles; prohibit a motor vehicle from being towed out of Kansas without the consent of the driver or owner of the vehicle; and make technical changes, including changes to remove outdated language. Passed on Final Action 118-4.

· CCR for SB 67 : would create law regarding the right-of-way for funeral processions and for certain vehicles involved in utility repairs. Passed on Final Action 119-3.

· CCR for SB 95 : would amend a requirement regarding odometer readings upon assignment of a vehicle title and would amend the definitions for “all-terrain vehicle” (ATV) and “recreational off-highway vehicle” (ROV). Passed on Final Action 116-6.

· CCR for SB 127 : would amend laws related to driver’s licenses. Passed on Final Action 122-0.

· CCR for SB 26 : would update statutes related to the regulatory authority of the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) with regard to motor carriers. Passed on Final Action 123-0.

· CCR for SB 38 : would establish a pesticide waste disposal program and add and amend law regarding the roles of the Division of Conservation within the Kansas Department of Agriculture and the State Conservation Commission. Passed on Final Action 120-3.

· CCR for SB 142 : would update personal flotation device requirements while aboard or being towed by a watercraft vessel. The bill would also update the reference in current law to the guidelines of the American Fisheries Society. Passed on Final Action 109-14.

· CCR for SB 143 : would update and rearrange definitions regarding grain and grain warehouses, clarify when applications for licenses should be made, remove a reference regarding an independent public accountant, clarify the fee for a functional unit license, increase the maximum fee caps for storage fees, increase the allowable examination period for grain warehouses, and make technical changes. Passed on Final Action 115-8.

· CCR for SB 175 : would make appropriations for the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) for FY 2021, FY 2022, and FY 2023; create the Student Empowerment Act Program; require in-person instruction of students and allow for only 240 remote learning hours in a school year; charge school districts to use needs-assessment to ensure improvement in student academic achievement; provide a different calculation for school finance related to remote learning; reauthorize the 20-mill tax property levy and the exemption of a portion of resident property from that levy; and expand the Tax Credit for Low Income Students Scholarship Program. Passed on Final Action 64-59. Failed in the Senate 20-20.

· HB 2201 : Decreasing the Eisenhower legacy transportation program alternate delivery project threshold, authorizing the usage of federal stimulus funds and KDOT bonding authority. Passed on Final Action 95-27.

· HB 2401 : Authorizing the secretary of corrections to enter agreements for public-private partnerships for projects for new or renovated buildings at correctional institutions for education, skills-building and spiritual needs programs; establishing a nonprofit corporation to receive gifts, donations, grants and other moneys and engage in fundraising projects for funding such projects for education, skills-building and spiritual needs programs. Passed on Final Action 120-2.

· CCR for HB 2066 : would shorten the period of time in which regulatory bodies are required to issue occupational credentials to military servicemembers or military spouses seeking to establish residency in Kansas and provide for expedited credentialing of non-military prospective residents. Passed on Final Action 105-17.

· CCR for HB 2243 : would make several changes to law governing the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS or the Retirement System) pertaining to a study performed by the KPERS Board of Trustees, authorization of the allotment for the KPERS Death and Disability Program and a moratorium on payments in FY 2021 by all employers, provisions in the Kansas Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) Act relating to participating members’ election and extension of their DROP periods, and administration of certain KPERS benefits and the application of certain federal Internal Revenue Code provisions on the Retirement System (“guidepost” section). Passed on Final Action 122-0.

· CCR for HB 2166 : would add several types of license plates; would add reporting requirements for organizations sponsoring distinctive license plates; would amend requirements for distinctive license plate development, continuing distinctive license plates, and personalized license plate backgrounds; and would require an annual payment of a $10 firefighters training fee for each new or renewed firefighter license plate starting January 1, 2022. Passed on Final Action 81-41.

· HB 2203 : Establishing the asbestos remediation fund for fees collected as part of the Kansas asbestos control program. Passed on Final Action 121-1.

· HB 2254 : Increasing the monetary cap on irrevocable prearranged funeral agreements to $10,000. Passed on Final Action 122-1.

· HB 2391 : Changing the secretary of state's business filings provisions including instituting biennial business report filings and making other changes to business filing provisions, information requirements and fees, removing exemptions from the open records act for tax records no longer kept by the secretary of state, permitting the public recording of UCC filings with improperly included social security numbers and repealing certain obsolete statutes including blanket music license filing provisions. Passed on Final Action 123-0.

· HB 2058 : Allowing reciprocity to recognize out-of-state licenses to carry a concealed handgun. Passed on Final Action 80-43.

· HB 2089 : Standardizing firearm safety education training programs in school districts. Passed on Final Action 79-44.

· CCR for HB 2244 : would amend the Commercial Industrial Hemp Act (Act) to transfer registration and regulation of industrial hemp processors currently regulated by the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) to the State Fire Marshal (Fire Marshal). The bill would also amend law regarding the disposal of industrial hemp; the definition of “hemp products”; unlawful marketing, selling, or distributing hemp products without registration or licensure; and an exception for transportation of industrial hemp between producers and processors. Passed on Final Action 101-22.

· CCR for HB 2183 : as amended, would amend and create law pertaining to elections and voting, including advance mail ballots, registered voter information reporting, assistance with the return of advance ballots, advance ballot return deadlines, the authority of the Secretary of State, duties of election officials, electioneering, and election funding. The bill would also create the crime of false representation of an election official. Passed on Final Action 80-42.

· CCR for HB 2332 : would create and amend law concerning addresses maintained for registered voters, solicitation of advanced voting ballot applications, alteration of election laws, and the crime of election tampering. Passed on Final Action 83-38.

· CCR for SB 55 : as amended, would create the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act (Act) and require interscholastic, intercollegiate, intramural, or club athletic teams or sports that are sponsored by public educational institutions to be designated based on biological sex. Passed on Final Action 76-43.

Friday on the Floor

On Friday, the House adopted 15 Conference Committee Reports and concurred with Senate amendments on one bill. All sixteen of these bills passed on Final Action, below you will find the descriptions of each along with the results on Final Action.

· CCR for HB 2390 : would review, amend, and add exceptions to the Kansas Opens Records Act (KORA) and would create and amend law regarding the filing of fraudulent liens. Passed on Final Action 121-2.

· CCR for HB 2074 : Senate Sub. for HB 2074 would enact the Technology enabled Fiduciary Financial Institutions Act (Act), which will be part of and supplemental to Chapter 9 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated (the Kansas Banking Code). On July 1, 2022, the bill would require the State Bank Commissioner issue a charter to The Beneficient Company and establish a fidfin fiduciary institution pilot program with an economic growth zone designated in Harvey County. The bill would also establish an income and privilege tax credit beginning in tax year 2021 for trust banks in an amount equal to such fiduciary financial institution’s qualified charitable distributions during such taxable year if the trust bank maintained such fiduciary financial institution’s principal office in an economic growth zone. Passed on Final Action 103-20.

· CCR for SB 86 : would create the Kansas Extraordinary Utility Costs Loan Deposit Program (Program), which would provide incentives for the making of loans to eligible borrowers for the extraordinary natural gas costs incurred during the extreme winter weather event of February 2021. The total aggregate amount of loans issued under the Program, which would be administered by the State Treasurer, could not exceed the amount of unencumbered funds certified by the State Treasurer and directed to be reinvested by provisions of this bill (Section 17). The bill would also amend law governing the investment of state moneys to add Program loans and applicable interest rates and modify provisions governing the City Utility Low-interest Loan Program. Passed on Final Action 117-6.

· HB 2102 : Updating egg repackaging requirements for retailers. Passed on Final Action 122-1.

· CCR for SB 170 : would enact the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT), and provide for the interjurisdictional authorization of psychologists across state boundaries to practice telepsychology using telecommunication technologies and to provide temporary in-person, face-to-face psychology services. The bill would enact the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (PT Compact) and amend the Physical Therapy Practice Act (Act). The PT Compact would provide interstate practice authority for physical therapists (PTs) in compact states. The PT Compact would provide for the creation of a Physical Therapy Compact Commission, with each member state represented by one delegate, and would outline the voting and meeting requirements. Passed on Final Action 119-4.

· CCR for SB 238 : Sub. for SB 238 would amend and update the Pharmacy Act of the State of Kansas (Act) with regard to the powers, duties, and functions of the State Board of Pharmacy (Board). The bill would also amend the Emergency Medical Services Act (EMS Act) to clarify the oversight provided by medical directors with regard to emergency medical services and to provide an alternate procedure for appointment of a medical director. Passed on Final Action 116-7.

· CCR for HB 2218 : HB 2218 would amend law governing the implementation and administration of the State Health Care Benefits Program (State Employee Health Plan [SEHP]) to add language regarding the role of the State Employees Health Care Commission (Commission), modify the membership requirements of the Commission, and specify additional reporting information to be provided by the Commission to the Legislature. Passed on Final Action 123-0.

· CCR for HB 2007 : HB 2007 includes adjusted funding for fiscal year (FY) 2021 and FY 2022 for state agencies and FY 2021 and FY 2022 capital improvement expenditures for a number of state agencies. An overview of the Governor’s amended budget recommendations for FY 2021 and FY 2022, as adjusted by Governor’s Budget Amendments (GBAs) No. 1 and 2, is below. Passed on Final Action 71-52.

· CCR for HB 2039 : As amended, would amend law related to civics and financial literacy education. Passed on Final Action 72-51.

· CCR for HB 2021 : HB 2021, as amended, would authorize the Kansas Development Finance Authority (KDFA), on and after July 1, 2021, to issue bonds, not to exceed $10.5 million, for the purpose of financing the construction of a state veterans home facility located in northeast Kansas, including, but not limited to, in Douglas, Jefferson, Leavenworth, Shawnee, and Wyandotte counties. Additionally, the bill would amend a statute that established tuition waiver grants of the State Board of Regents (State Board) for dependents and spouses of public safety officers and those who died in or as a result of military service on or after September 11, 2001. Passed on Final Action 119-3.

· CCR for HB 2064 : HB 2064 would establish the Kansas Promise Scholarship Act (Act), which would provide scholarships for students to attend an “eligible postsecondary educational institution.” The Act would be administered by the State Board of Regents (Board). Passed on Final Action 118-4.

· CCR for HB 2114 : HB 2114 would create the Kansas Senior Care Task Force, create and amend law regarding elder and dependent adult abuse multidisciplinary teams, and amend law regarding abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of adults. Passed on Final Action 115-7.

· CCR for HB 2208 : Senate Sub. for HB 2208 would enact the Rural Emergency Hospital Act (Act) and create a category of licensure to enable certain Kansas hospitals to receive federal health care reimbursement as rural emergency hospitals; establish certification for certified community behavioral health clinics (CCBHCs); authorize licensed out of-state physicians with telemedicine waivers to practice telemedicine in Kansas; and modify licensure, temporary permit, and regulatory requirements on the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB) and its licensees. Passed on Final Action 120-2.

· CCR for HB 2405 : HB 2405 would authorize the Kansas Development Finance Authority (KDFA) to issue bonds, in one or more series, in an amount not to exceed $500.0 million, plus all amounts required to pay the costs of issuance. Proceeds from those bonds must be applied to the unfunded actuarial pension liability (UAL) of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS). The interest rate of those bonds would not exceed 4.3 percent. No bonds could be issued without the approval of the State Finance Council, which could give approval while the Legislature is in session. The bonds issued and interest owed would be an obligation of KDFA and not KPERS. The bonds issued would not be considered a debt or obligation of the State for purposes of the Kansas Constitution. The Department of Administration and the KDFA would be permitted to enter into contracts to implement the payment arrangements after the bonds are issued. Passed on Final Action 112-10.

· CCR for HB 2196 : Senate Sub. for Sub. for HB 2196 would create the Unemployment Compensation Modernization and Improvement Council; require the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) to modernize its information technology (IT) infrastructure; make temporary changes to the membership of the Employment Security Review Board; make changes to Employment Security Rates tables; require the Secretary of Labor to provide tax notifications and certain Employment Security Fund Data Reporting; provide for certain employer account protections; provide for transfers of federal coronavirus relief aid to the Employment Security Fund and the Legislature Employment Security Fund; prohibit the continuation of federal unemployment compensation programs using state funds; adjust thresholds for maximum benefits; modify the shared work program; and make other employment security compensation changes. The bill also would make technical changes. Passed on Final Action 122-0.

· CCR for HB 2143: HB 2143 would modify law related to sales tax. Passed on Final Action 118-3.

Breaking Until Veto

The House of Representatives adjourned on Friday, April 9, to recess for three weeks and will reconvene on May 3 for the Veto Session. During the Veto Session, both the House and Senate will have the opportunity to take up vetoes by the Governor as well as work bills through exempt committees. We anticipate working the omnibus budget during the Veto Session.

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If the above link asks for a Kansas Library eCard number, you may get one at any library in Kansas. Most people will be automatically recognized as being in Kansas and will not need this step. Questions: kslc@ks.gov

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2021 Legislative Update 12

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 20:07:40 GMT

2021 Legislative Update 12

The first two days of last week became a short-lived marathon with lengthy debates and controversial bills advancing out of the House Chamber. During these two days, the House debated twenty-four bills and passed out twenty-one of those on General Orders.

Among the twenty-one bills were SB 50 (a tax cut bill for giant multinational corporations), Sub HB 2119 (the Frankenstein education bill that would divert taxpayer dollars away from public schools to private schools), and Sub HB 2397 (the state budget bill that would cut funding for core functions of government, including K-12 education).

Medicaid Expansion was also finally debated on the House floor during Tuesday’s debate on the budget. Unfortunately, the attempt to expand affordable access to healthcare for 160,000 plus Kansans failed. The House of Representatives will reconvene on Tuesday, April 6, 2021.

Monday, March 29th was National Vietnam War Veterans Day. Representative Jim Gartner, a Vietnam War Veteran, said “Today let’s celebrate and honor our colleagues and spouses on the floor and all Kansans who served in the Vietnam war.” He invited House members that served in Vietnam and spouses of those that served to join him at the well and state the branch of service. It was my honor to recognize Steve’s service during the Vietnam War in the U.S. Air Force and to thank all the men and women who served. Representative Gartner’s heartfelt remarks in honor of National Vietnam War Veterans Day are included below.

National Vietnam War Veterans Day

There being no objection, the following remarks of Rep. Gartner are spread upon the Journal:

Today is Vietnam War Veterans Day!

It is a day that helps us remember and respect the nine million American men and women – more than six million of whom are living today who served on active duty in the U. S. armed forces during our involvement in Vietnam from November 1, 1955 to May 7, 1975.

Now a few statistics to share:

· 2,709,918 Americans served in Vietnam

· 1-1.6 million either fought in combat, provided close support or were at least regularly exposed to enemy attack.

· 7,484 women (6,250 or 83.5% were nurses) served in Vietnam. Total deaths were 58,202

· 8 nurses died

· 61% of men killed were 21 or younger

· 303,704 were wounded

· The state of Kansas lost 627 souls in the war

On May 7th, 1975, President Gerald Ford announced that the Vietnam era was over. Ours is the story of what happened next. There were no parades welcoming us home, many veterans were scorned and criticized for their role in the war and many became isolated. Today lets celebrate and honor our colleagues and spouses on the floor and all Kansans who served in the Vietnam war.

Monday on the Floor

On Monday, the House Caucus addressed and voted on many bills. Before General Orders, the House concurred on S Sub HB 2072 and also adopted the Conference committee report on HB 2022. Afterwards, the House addressed the eighteen bills above the line on General Orders. Sixteen of these bills passed on General Orders. HB 2272 was passed over and retained its place on the calendar, and the motion to recommend HB 2025 favorably for passage failed. Action was taken on S Sub HB 2072 and the CCR on HB 2022, below are results:

S Sub HB 2072 - Providing for the Kansas corporation commission to authorize the securitization of certain public utility generating facilities, qualified extraordinary costs and issuance of securitized utility tariff bonds. Passed 113-9.
CCR on HB 2022 - HB 2022 would amend law concerning the filing of complaints and investigations pertaining to abandoned wells, responsible parties for plugging abandoned wells, and funds used by the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) for plugging abandoned wells. Passed 123-0.

Below are the sixteen bills that passed on General Orders. These bills were voted on Final Action the following day.

SB 106 - Enacting the revised uniform law on notarial acts and repealing the uniform law on notarial acts. Passed on Final Action 122-2.
SB 50 - Requiring marketplace facilitators to collect and remit sales, use and transient guest taxes and 911 fees from sales made through their platforms and removing click-through nexus provisions. Passed on Final Action 81-43.
SB 60 - Defining proximate result for purposes of determining when a crime is committed partly within this state. Passed on Final Action 113-11.
H Sub SB 124 - House Substitute for SB 124 by Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development - Expanding STAR bonds by adding rural redevelopment projects and major business facilities, prohibiting public officials from employment with a developer, providing for public notice of hearings on city or county websites, posting of certain documents and links on websites, disclosure of names of developer, disclosure of state, federal and local tax incentives within a STAR bond district, changing certain project financing, investment and sales provisions, adding visitor tracking plan requirements and additional feasibility study requirements with oversight by the secretary, requiring approval by the secretary for real estate transfers, requiring district contiguity and extending the sunset date. Passed on Final Action 101-23.
SB 283 - Continuing the governmental response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Kansas by extending the expanded use of telemedicine, the authority of the board of healing arts to grant certain temporary emergency licenses, the suspension of certain requirements related to medical care facilities and immunity from civil liability for certain healthcare providers and certain persons conducting business in this state for COVID-19 claims until March 31, 2022. Passed on Final Action 96-28.
HB 2417 - Allowing clubs and drinking establishments to sell beer and cereal malt beverage for consumption off the licensed premises. Passed on Final Action 106-18.
H Sub for Sub SB 273 - House Substitute for Substitute for SB 273 by Committee on Judiciary - Directing that tobacco product manufacturer remittances be credited to the Kansas endowment for youth fund rather than deposited into escrow upon certification by the attorney general. Passed on Final Action 123-1.
HB 2412 - Enacting the Kansas fights addiction act to establish a grant program for the purpose of preventing, reducing, treating and mitigating the effects of substance abuse and addiction. Passed on Final Action 81-43.
H Sub SB 78 - House Substitute for SB 78 by Committee on Insurance and Pensions - Updating the national insurance commissioners credit for insurance reinsurance model law, codifying the national insurance commissioners credit for reinsurance model regulation and updating certain terms and definitions relating to the insurance holding company act, service contracts and surplus lines insurance. Eliminating certain requirements relating to the annual submittal of certain documents by out-of-state risk retention groups, extending the time frame to submit certain documents by professional employer organizations, abolishing the utilization review advisory committee and replacing it with URAC. Passed on Final Action 124-0
SB 172 - Creating the crimes of trespassing on a critical infrastructure facility and criminal damage to a critical infrastructure facility and eliminating the crime of tampering with a pipeline. Passed on Final Action 82-42.
SB 127 - Modifying the eligibility requirements for restricted driving privileges, increasing the age for eligibility to renew drivers' licenses online to 65 and allowing drivers' license renewal notices to be sent electronically. Passed on Final Action 123-1.
HB 2363 - Increasing the maximum rate paid to appointed counsel. Passed on Final Action 116-8.
HB 2408 - Authorizing the state historical society to convey certain real property to the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska. Passed on Final Action 124-0.
HB 2380 - Amending healthcare stabilization fund minimum professional liability insurance coverage requirements and the membership of the board of governors of such fund. Passed on Final Action 104-20.
SB 122 - Modifying certain rules of evidence in the code of civil procedure related to authentication of records and documents. Passed on Final Action 117-7.
HB 2316 - Eliminating the prohibition of a surcharge when purchases are made with a credit or debit card. Passed on Final Action 90-34.

Tuesday on the Floor

On Tuesday, the House took final action on the sixteen bills that passed on General Orders the day prior. All sixteen bills passed and the results are included above.

After final action, the House Caucus addressed and voted on six bills. Five of the six bills passed on General Orders. H Sub SB 84 which was a sports wagering bill failed on General Orders. The five bills that passed on General Orders were moved to Emergency Final Action later that evening. Also, within

General Orders, the House concurred on HB 2178. Action was taken on HB 2178, below is the result:

HB 2178 - Vacating certain blocks in the original town plat set aside for a college and a park in the city of Americus and vesting fee simple title in the city. Final Action 121-2.

Below is a brief description of each along with results from Emergency Final Action for the five bills that passed on General Orders.

HR 6015 - Urging the legislative coordinating council to revoke an executive order issued by the governor related to mandating face coverings if such an executive order is issued while the legislature is adjourned. Passed on Emergency Final Action 84-39.
Sub HB 2119 - Substitute for HB 2119 by Committee on K-12 Education Budget – Making and concerning appropriations for the department of education for fiscal years ending June 30, 2021, June 30, 2022, and June 30, 2023, creating and expanding school choice programs, restricting remote learning and remote enrollment and extending the statewide property tax levy for schools. Passed on Emergency Final Action 65-58.
HB 2448 - Permitting the secretary for children and families to license certain family foster homes where a former foster care youth with juvenile adjudications resides. Passed on Emergency Final Action 119-4.
Sub HB 2397 - Appropriations for FY 2021, FY 2022, FY 2023 and FY 2024 for various state agencies. Passed on Emergency Final Action 71-52.
SB 159 - Paying certain claims against the state submitted by the joint committee on special claims against the state. Passed on Emergency Final Action 106-17.

Medicaid Expansion

During Tuesday’s debate on the budget, an amendment that would have incorporated Medicaid Expansion into the state’s budget was offered. This would expand access to affordable healthcare for over 160,000 Kansans and also provide significant relief to the budget. The amendment was defeated, 46-78 , which will leave around $460 million of federal aid on the table.

Next Week

After a short break, the House of Representatives will reconvene on Tuesday, April 6, 2021. We anticipate working bills that were sent to conference and possibly Medical Marijuana, among a variety of bills. However, it is still unclear what next week will bring. First adjournment starts Friday, April 9, 2021.

Kansas State Library

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2021 Legislative Update 11

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 16:22:29 GMT

2021 Legislative Update 11

It was a very busy week! The House was on the floor Monday through Thursday and took action on 34 bills. This was also the final week for committees to meet and pass out bill for consideration

Among the thirty-four bills debated on the floor was HCR 5015, which urged the United States Congress to reject the For the People Act of 2021 . After heavy discussion on HCR 5015, it was clear that Democrats wanted to protect voting rights while Republicans would prefer to strip it away. In the last couple of weeks before we recess, we anticipate hearing controversially large bills that could each have a serious impact on the State of Kansas: sports wagering, the Brownback 2.0 tax bill, the Frankenstein school voucher bill, and the budget.

In the House Commerce, Labor and Economic Development Committee we worked and passed out the STAR Bond bill which was set to expire. I offered an amendment, which would have aligned the economically distressed urban areas with the same criteria in the bill as the rural/small cities area. My amendment failed. However, the Chairman of the Committee instructed the Kansas Department of Commerce staff to work with me to draft a bill based on aligning economic development tools for our most economically distressed urban areas with rural incentives for consideration next session. If the goal is to help economic development in the most economically distressed areas of Kansas than we should not separate out urban from rural. They share many of the same issues and challenges and if we let the data determine where those areas are, whether they are in a big city or a small city, we can align the economic development tools that are available to help those areas. I am looking forward to working on this legislation for next year.

Monday on the Floor

On Monday, the House Caucus addressed and voted on seven bills. All seven of the bills passed under General Orders. Below are the seven bills that passed on General Orders with final action taken the following day:

H Sub SB 99 - House Substitute for SB 99 by Committee on Transportation - Increasing the bond amount required for a vehicle dealer license and providing for display show licenses under the vehicle dealers and manufacturers licensing act. Passed on Final Action 121-2
H Sub SB 63 - House Substitute for SB 63 by Committee on K-12 Education Budget - Enacting the back to school act to require school districts to provide a full-time, in person attendance option for all students beginning March 31, 2021, for school year 2020-2021. Passed on Final Action 77-46
H Sub SB 26 - House Substitute for SB 26 by Committee on Transportation - Designating a portion of K-7 as the Senator Bud Burke memorial highway and designating a portion of United States highway 77 as the CPL Allen E Oatney and SP4 Gene A Myers memorial highway. Passed on Final Action 123-0
HB 2401 - Authorizing the secretary of corrections to enter agreements for public-private partnerships for projects for new or renovated buildings at correctional institutions for education, skills-building and spiritual needs programs; establishing a nonprofit corporation to receive gifts, donations, grants and other moneys and engage in fundraising projects for funding such projects for education, skills-building and spiritual needs programs. Passed on Final Action 123-0
SB 67 - Expanding the definitions of all-terrain vehicles and recreational off-highway vehicles. Passed on Final Action 99-24
SB 118 - Providing for the dissolution of special districts and the assumption of responsibilities by a city or county. Passed on Final Action 121-2
SB 95 - Exempting motor vehicle odometer reading recording requirements when such recording requirements are exempted by federal law. Passed on Final Action 123-0

Also, on Monday the House took up HB 2078 which was under consideration to concur or non-concur. Below you will find a description of HB 2078.

HB 2078 - Suspending statutory speedy trial rights until May 1, 2023, in all criminal cases, providing guidelines for prioritizing trials and requiring the office of judicial administration to prepare and submit a report to the legislature in 2022 and 2023. The House concurred with the amendments made by the Senate 114-7.

Tuesday on the Floor

On Tuesday, the House took final action on the seven bills that passed on General Orders the day prior. All seven bills passed on final action with the results reported above.

After final action, the House Caucus addressed and voted on seven bills. All seven of these bills passed on General Orders and were voted on final action the following day. Below are those bills and a brief description of each.

SB 36 : Requiring the Kansas highway patrol to make multiple vehicle checks within a set time period for certain salvage vehicle pools and allowing salvage vehicle pools and dealers to apply for ownership. Updating the entities who are subject to the pipeline safety program of the state corporation commission. documents for vehicles that are disclaimed by insurance companies. Passed on Final Action 116 - 6
HB 2329 : Updating the entities who are subject to the pipeline safety program of the state corporation commission. Passed on Final Action 121-1
SB 55 : Clarifying the authority of healing arts school clinics to provide healing arts services. Passed on Final Action 122-0
HCR 5015 : Urging the United States Congress to reject the For the People Act of 2021. Passed on Final Action 84-38
HB 2406: Sunday start time for the sale of alcoholic liquor and cereal malt beverages in retail stores changed from 12 noon to 9 a.m. Passed on Final Action 80-42
SB 86: Conforming certain KPERS provisions with the federal CARES act. Passed on Final Action 122-0
SB 24: Prohibiting municipalities from imposing restrictions on customer's use of energy based upon source of energy. Passed on Final Action 93 - 29

Wednesday on the Floor

On Wednesday, the House took Final Action on the seven bills that passed on General Orders the previous day. Also, SB 64 had its last day on the Consent Calendar, therefore it also was voted on Final Action. SB 64 - Passed on Final Action 120-2.

After Final Action, the House addressed and voted on seven bills. There were eight bills on General Orders, but HB 2122 was skipped over and was placed back below the line. Below are the seven bills that passed on General Orders. These bills will be voted on Final Action on Thursday.

SB 107: Enacting the uniform fiduciary income and principal act (UFIPA). Passed on Final Action 122-0
SB 175: Enacting the rural emergency hospital act to provide for the licensure of rural emergency hospitals and establishing the rural hospital innovation grant program to assist rural hospitals in serving rural communities. Passed on Final Action 119-3
HB 2150: Creating a definition of financial exploitation, requiring additional mandatory reporters and increasing investigation days in the abuse, neglect and financial exploitation of certain adults. Passed on Final Action 118-4
SB 238: Establishing certification and funding for certified community behavioral health clinics, authorizing telemedicine waivers for out-of-state healthcare providers, reducing certain requirements for licensure by the behavioral sciences regulatory board and expanding out-of-state temporary permits to practice behavioral sciences professions. Passed on Final Action 121-1
SB 58: Prohibiting the filing of certain liens or claims against real or personal property and providing for criminal penalties. Passed on Final Action 122-0
SB 103: Amending the Kansas power of attorney act regarding the form of a power of attorney and the duties of third parties relying and acting on a power of attorney. Passed on Final Action 122-0
SB 37: Updating producer licensing statutes pertaining to appointment, examinations, fees, licensing, renewal dates, continuing education, suspension, revocation and denial of licensure and reinstatement. Passed on Final Action 109-1

Thursday on the Floor

On Thursday, the House took Final Action on the seven bills that passed on General Orders the previous day with results included above.

The House then addressed and voted on ten bills that passed on voice vote. The House then declared an Emergency Final Action to vote on these ten bills. All 10 bills passed on Emergency Final Action.

SB 38: Establishing the Kansas pesticide waste disposal program and permitting up to $50,000 to be transferred annually from the Kansas agricultural remediation fund to a new Kansas pesticide waste disposal fund. Passed on Emergency Final Action 121-1
SB 66: Amending the angel investor tax credit with respect to the definition of qualified securities, tax credit limitations and amounts, investor requirements and extending the date that credits may be allowed. Passed on Emergency Final Action 109-12
SB 89: Exempting the transport of agricultural forage commodities from secured load requirements. Passed on Emergency Final Action 122-0
SB 65: Decoupling the KIT and KIR workforce training programs from the high performance incentive fund program. Passed on Emergency Final Action 121-1
SB 52: Creating the Sedgwick county urban area nuisance abatement act. Passed on Emergency Final Action 80-42
SB 160: Updating the reference to the guidelines of the American fisheries society in the commercialization of wildlife statute. Passed on Emergency Final Action 120-2
SB 90: Amending the Kansas rural housing incentive district act to permit bond funding for vertical residential renovation of older buildings in central business districts. Passed on Emergency Final Action 105-17
SB 143: Updating definitions and increasing maximum functional unit license and storage fees relating to grain and public warehouse laws. Passed on Emergency Final Action 117-5
HB 2176: Clarify the vacation or exclusion of territory from city boundaries or release of easements. Passed on Emergency Final Action 120-2
SB 142: Requiring coast guard-approved personal flotation devices as prescribed by the secretary of wildlife, parks and tourism in rules and regulations. Passed on Emergency Final Action 102-20

The Last Two Weeks Before First Adjournment

As we edge closer to the first adjournment of the Legislature – when we recess until Veto Session in May – we expect to work on a multitude of both good and bad controversial bills these last two weeks. These controversial bills could include Sub HB 2119 (school vouchers for private schools), Sub SB 50 (revival of the failed Brownback tax plan 2.0), HB 2184 (legalizing medical marijuana), Sub SB 84 (legalizing sports wagering), and HB 2397 (the state budget).

One bill of note that we are continuing to keep a close eye on is SB 208 (anti-trans athletes), but thanks to an amazing wave of support from citizens across the state sharing their opposition to this horrible bill, House Republicans have been reluctant to work it. Let’s keep the pressure up and make sure that bill never comes down the pipeline!

House Democrats will continue to fight horrible bills such as the Frankenstein monster of a bill that is Sub HB 2119 which would diverts taxpayer dollars away from public schools and gives it to private schools, Sub SB 50 that would give tax relief to giant multinational corporation rather than working families, and SB 208–an awful anti-trans bill that strips the rights away from the transgender community.

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2021 Legislative Update 10

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 16:34:40 GMT

2021 Legislative Update 10

Committees continued to meet and consider Senate Bills as well as some House Bills. We were on the floor Monday through Thursday and debated and took action on fifteen bills. Among those fifteen bills were Conference Committee Report SB 40 which was a compromised version of KEMA between House and Senate and Sub HB 2089 which would standardize firearm safety education training programs in school districts. In the next coming week, there is a possibility that we could see a few controversial bills on the House floor which could include SB 208 (Anti-Trans Bill), Sub HB 2119 (School Voucher Bill), and HB 2421 (Brownback 2.0).

The Kansas House of Representatives recognized March as Music in Our Schools Month , celebrating the importance of music and art in our lives. It was so wonderful to hear the capitol filled with music. Representative Linda Featherston and Representative Adam Thomas presented the resolution that had over 70 co-sponsors. Linda and Adam are musicians as is Representative Stephanie Byers, who joined them over the lunch hour, and the three of them filled the capitol with music!

Representative Emil Bergquist sang the Lord’s Prayer as our opening prayer. I think we have some hidden artistic talent in the legislature yet to be discovered! We were also treated to cookies with musical notes on our desk compliments of Stuart Little. I have shared pictures and some of the recordings of the music on my Facebook page which is linked below.

Governor’s Press Conference

Governor Kelly announced on Monday that on March 22nd we would go into phase 3 and 4 of the vaccine rollout plan. She also mentioned that the hope is by May 1st we will be able to transition into phase 5. Below are the three phases.

Below is a list of those who will be eligible to be vaccinated under Phase 3 and 4:

Those aged 16 through 64 with conditions that increase the risk for severe illness from COVID-19, including Cancer, Down Syndrome, certain heart conditions, Type 1 & 2 diabetes, Pregnancy, Asthma, Cystic fibrosis, Liver disease. Neurological conditions like dementia, and other medical risks; and
Other non-health care workers in critical infrastructure who cannot work remotely, including agricultural and food workers not included in previous phases, workers performing in-person activities indoors, utility workers, social service and government workers not included in previous phases, logistics workers, such as truck transportation workers and couriers, water and wastewater workers, shelter, housing, and finance workers; and information technology and communication workers.

Monday on the Floor

On Monday, the House Caucus addressed and voted on three bills. All three of these bills passed on voice vote. Therefore, they were put on final action and voted on the following day. Below are the three bills that passed on voice vote:

HB 2219 - Enacting the Kansas targeted employment act to provide tax credits for the employment of persons with developmental disabilities. Passed on final action 123-1.
HB 2287 - Establishing the Kansas promise scholarship act to provide scholarships to students who attend postsecondary educational programs that correspond to high-need career fields. Passed on final action 115-9.
SB 235 - Enacting the back-to-school act to require school districts to provide a full-time, in person attendance option for all students beginning on March 26, 2021. Failed on final action 55-69.

Tuesday on the Floor

Following final action, the House Caucus addressed and voted on four more bills. All four of these bills passed on voice vote which placed them on the calendar for Wednesday to be voted on by final action. Below are the four bills that passed:

HB 2094 - Substitute for HB 2094 by Committee on Appropriations - Expanding educational benefits of tuition and fees waiver for spouses and dependents of public safety officers and personnel who are injured or disabled while performing service-related duties. Passed on final action 117-6.
HB 2339 - Expanding the crime of election tampering to include changing or altering votes cast, manipulating computer hardware or software or vote tabulation methods or producing false vote totals. Passed on final action 122-1.
HB 2248 - Increasing state financial assistance to local health departments under specified circumstances. Passed on final action 111-12.
HB 2021 - Authorizing the issuance of bonds for the construction of a state veterans home. Passed on final action 121-2.

Lastly, the House addressed and took action on conference committee report - SB 40. SB 40 - would create and amend law regarding the Kansas Emergency Management Act (KEMA), state of disaster emergencies, the Legislative Coordinating Council, and the COVID-19 health emergency.

This conference committee report is a compromised version of the KEMA bill between both the House and Senate. It does many things, but most notably it sunsets all of the Governor’s executive orders on March 31, 2021 and also extends the emergency declaration to May 28, 2021. SB 40 passed 118-5. It was then sent over to the Senate where it passed 31-8.

Wednesday on the Floor

Following final action, the House Caucus addressed and voted on five more bills. All five of these bills passed on voice vote which placed them on the calendar for Thursday to be voted on by final action.

Below are the five bills that passed on voice vote:

Sub HB 2089 - Substitute for HB 2089 by Committee on Federal and State Affairs - Standardizing firearm safety education training programs in school districts. Passed on final action 75-47.
HB 2236 - Authorizing exclusion of the sales comparison approach in mortgage financing appraisals of certain unique residential real property in rural counties. Passed on final action 122-0.
SB 77 - Enacting the audiology and speech-language pathology interstate compact. Passed on final action 119-3.
SB 178 - Providing for trust company charter conversions. Passed on final action 121-1.
HCR 5013 - Urging congress to propose the "keep nine" amendment to the United States constitution to prohibit expanding the number of justices on the United States supreme court. Passed on final action 84-38.

Thursday on the Floor

Following final action, the House Caucus addressed and voted on two more bills. One of the bills passed on voice vote, while the other failed on voice vote. The bill that passed was placed on Emergency Final Action. Below are the results of those two bills:

HB 2415 - Providing the state fire marshal with law enforcement powers and requiring an investigation of deaths resulting from fire. Failed on division vote 38-78.
SB 170 -Making permanent provisions for the advisory committee on trauma and the statewide trauma system regional council to conduct closed meetings and keep privileged records regarding trauma cases. Passed on Emergency Final Action 98 - 23.

Possibilities for the Next Coming Weeks

In the next coming weeks there is a possibility that we could see very controversial bills on the floor. These controversial bills could include SB 208 (Anti-Trans Bill), Sub HB 2119 (School Voucher Bill), and HB 2421 (Brownback 2.0). All three of these bills are horrible! SB 208 takes rights away from the Transgender community; Sub HB 2119 diverts taxpayer dollars away from public schools and gives it to private schools; and HB 2421 gives tax relief to giant multinational corporation rather than working families.

Resources

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Kansas Legislature Website

2021 Legislative Update 9

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 13:15:52 GMT

2021 Legislative Update 9

The Legislature was not in session on Monday and Tuesday as we prepared to head into the second half of session. On Wednesday, committees resumed meeting, holding informational briefings, hearings on Senate bills and blessed House bills. There was no action taken on the floor by the House, but as we look into the next few weeks there are many controversial issues peeking over the horizon. These issues include medicinal marijuana, an education bill aimed at defunding public school education, a bill that would give tax cuts to giant multinational corporations, and even a bill that discriminates against transgender people.

It was a pleasure to join Governor Laura Kelly on a tour of the newly opened COVID-19 vaccination site at the Kansas National Guard Armory, 100 South 20th Street, KCK. This added site is conveniently located for those that live in the eastern part of Wyandotte County and will add to the capacity to deliver vaccinations in our community. The Governor also met with members of the Health Equity Task Force to learn about strategies in implementing to ensure vaccine distribution is equitable for communities of color and people at highest risk of illness from COVID-19. People in Wyandotte County, 65 years or older, are now eligible to receive a vaccine without an appointment.

In Coming Weeks...

Medical Marijuana

Medicinal marijuana has been an issue that we have tried to pass for a while now. We do expect to see a medicinal marijuana bill before the end of session, and hope that we can gain enough support to pass it into law. According to a poll 66% of Kansans--both Democrats and Republicans--have indicated that they support medical marijuana. Therefore, the passage of medicinal marijuana is not just important for Democrats, but also Republicans. Now, if not earlier, is the time to pass this important piece of legislation to provide Kansans with additional access to much-needed health options.

Sub HB 2119 (Defunding Public Education)

Before the end of session, we expect to see Sub HB 2119 on the House floor. This is an extreme anti-education bill that will inevitably divert millions of taxpayer dollars from public schools to private schools. This bill uses the Governor’s recommendations and bits of important educational enhancements as a thinly veiled disguise to shove through a Republican wish list of anti-public education bills, which includes school vouchers. This Frankenstein of a bill will ultimately defund education, force us back into the courts, and is a clear message from Republicans that they do not have our children in mind--rather, they prefer to play political games.

Brownback (2.0)

We are still waiting to see the Brownback 2.0 tax bill, whether that is SB 22 or the House Republican’s version of the bill. This bill is a revival of the Brownback tax experiment that almost bankrupted the State of Kansas. Like the original plan, this bill is aimed at giving tax relief to giant multinational corporations rather than working families. Just looking at this bill, it is clear that the only people that the Republicans care about are the wealthy. We should be focused on helping working Kansans rather than pushing a bill that only benefits those in the upper class.

WyCo COVID-19 Vaccination Sites

Important news for Wyandotte County seniors ages 65 plus – now you can get a COVID-19 vaccination without an appointment! Visit any of the Unified Government’s mass vaccination facilities between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday to get vaccinated. Those locations are:

East Location (The Armory), 100 South 20th Street, KCK 66102
West Location (Former Best Buy), 10500 Parallel Pkwy, KCK 66109
Central Location (Former Kmart), 7836 State Ave, KCK 66112

Please bring these items with you so you can get your vaccination:

Proof of age, such as an ID or birth certificate, or similar.
Proof that you live in Wyandotte County, such as a piece of mail addressed to you.

If you are not eligible to walk in but you want to be vaccinated, fill out the Vaccine Interest Form online or by telephone. Visit WycoVaccines.org or call 3-1-1 for assistance.

Resources

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2021 Legislative Update 8

Mon, 08 Mar 2021 12:45:51 GMT

2021 Legislative Update 8

A very busy week as we marked Turnaround, the mid-point of the session. We were on the floor debating and voting on bills Monday through Thursday, taking action on sixty-three bills. We heard a lot of important legislation that could potentially impact the state of Kansas for years to come. These bills ranged from election laws to a bill that addressed the Kansas Emergency Management Act.

On Wednesday, the Kansas House heard HB 2416 which dealt with the Kansas Emergency Management Act. This bill was aimed at undermining the governor and her constitutionally provided authority during a statewide emergency. I did offer a Floor amendment to remove the provision that local county commissioners can issue their own local orders that are less restrictive and would supersede a statewide emergency order issued by the Governor.

The amendment would have prevented a patchwork response to allow for a better statewide response to protect the health, safety and welfare in our state. Amendments that would help the Governor react quickly and efficiently to a statewide emergency were offered, but all of the amendments were rejected. This bill passed on final action, 81-40, and will now go to the Senate. It is critical that our governor, regardless of who that is, has the ability to lead the state during times of uncertainty. Unfortunately, this bill does the opposite.

Congratulations to my colleague Representative Louis Ruiz on his work to pass HB 2088 to establish “Adrian’s Law”. Representative Ruiz has worked for the past several years to build support and consensus for this legislation. It will add another layer of protection for children who may be victims of abuse. The bill passed overwhelming on final action and will now advance to the Senate for consideration.

As we move further into March there are still more important issues that we plan to debate which includes medicinal marijuana, a Frankenstein school voucher bill, and the giant multinational corporation tax cuts as well as the state budget.

Unemployment Bill

Sub HB 2196 was a bill that House Republicans brought to the floor to address the Kansas Department of Labor. This bill cuts unemployment benefits and complicates the process of obtaining unemployment benefits. The modernization piece is already in the Governor’s recommendations. This bill will become a roadblock for Kansans that desperately need help. The bill passed, 87-36, and will advance to the Senate for consideration.

Monday on the Floor

On Monday, the House Caucus addressed and voted on twenty-three bills. Twenty-two of these bills passed on General Order by voice vote and were placed on Final Action for the following day.

HB 2296 is the bill that failed on a voice vote. The bill would have permitted the secretary of transportation to contract with the Kansas turnpike authority to enforce toll payments and permit the secretary of transportation to use tolls to support public transit and other improvements on a toll project.

Below are the twenty-two bills that passed on voice vote, along with the Final Action vote taken the following day:

HB 2212: Eliminating Kansas residency requirements for various liquor licenses. Passed on Final Action 122-2
HB 2321: Requiring electric public utilities to notify cities prior to construction of urban electric transmission lines. Passed on Final Action 122-2
HB 2297: Concerning requirements of publication of certain documents by the secretary of state; relating to session laws, the Kansas register, proposed amendments to the constitution of the state of Kansas, and Kansas administrative rules and regulations and guidance documents. Passed on Final Action 124-0
SB 33: Providing for display show licenses under the vehicle dealers and manufacturers licensing act. Passed on Final Action 124-0
HB 2367: Authorizing the state corporation commission to regulate certain transmission line wire stringing activities. Passed on Final Action 124-0
HB 2137: Authorizing certain licensees under the Kansas liquor control act and the club and drinking establishment act to sell and serve cereal malt beverages. Passed on Final Action 122-2
HB 2201: Decreasing the Eisenhower legacy transportation program alternate delivery project threshold, authorizing usage of federal stimulus funds and KDOT bonding authority. Passed on Final Action 118-6
HB 2203: Establishing the asbestos remediation fund for fees collected as part of the Kansas asbestos control program. Passed on Final Action 122-2
HB 2387: Revising laws relating to operating an aircraft under the influence, including prescribing criminal and administrative penalties and providing for testing of blood, breath, urine or other bodily substances, and preliminary screening tests of breath or oral fluid. Passed on Final Action 101-23
HB 2214: Authorizing the secretary of administration on behalf of the department of corrections to convey land in Mitchell county to the city of Beloit. Passed on Final Action 124-0
HB 2374: Authorizing the Kansas sentencing commission to change risk assessment cut-off levels for participation in the certified drug abuse treatment program. Passed on Final Action 124-0
HB 2145: Exempting the retail sale of electricity by public utilities for electric vehicle charging stations from the jurisdiction of the state corporation commission. Passed on Final Action 124-0
HB 2252: Creating fulfillment house licenses to authorize storage and shipping services provided to winery special order shipping licensees. Passed on Final Action 122-2
HB 2238: Eliminating the dollar limitation for acceptance of gifts by donors to school districts or cities, or both, for library purposes. Passed on Final Action 124-0
HB 2264: Permitting student athletes at postsecondary educational institutions to receive compensation for the use of their name, image, likeness rights or athletic reputation. Passed on Final Action 95-29.
HB 2247: Designating a portion of K-67 highway as the Col. Trenton J Brinkman Memorial Highway, designating bridges on U.S. Highway 54 as the Max Zimmerman Memorial Bridge and the Jack Taylor Memorial Bridge, designating a bridge on U.S. Highway 77 as the PFC Loren H Larson Bridge and designating a bridge on U.S. highway 166 as the Tyler A Juden Memorial Bridge. Passed on Final Action 124-0
HB 2391: Changing the secretary of state's business filings provisions including instituting biennial business report filings and making other changes to business filing provisions, information requirements and fees, removing exemptions from the open records act for tax records no longer kept by the secretary of state, permitting the public recording of UCC filings with improperly included social security numbers and repealing certain obsolete statutes including blanket music license filing provisions. Passed on Final Action 121-3.
HB 2128: Clarifying jurisdiction and supervision of offenders in a certified drug abuse treatment program and allowing certain non-drug offenders to participate in the program. Passed on Final Action 124-0.
HB 2270: Modifying the distribution of the levy on fire insurance business premiums to the state fire marshal fee fund, the emergency medical services operating fund and the fire service training program fund. Passed on Final Action 123-1.
HB 2298: Changing requirements for service of process on nonresident drivers and clarifying service of process on certain business entities. Passed on Final Action 120-4.
HB 2259: Permitting the use of expedited partner therapy to treat a sexually transmitted disease. Passed on Final Action 75-49
Sub HB 2166: Substitute for HB 2166 by Committee on Transportation - Providing for the Braden's hope for childhood cancer, proud educator and alpha kappa alpha distinctive license plates and providing distinctive license plates for current and veteran members of the United States army, navy, marine corps, air force, coast guard and space force and modifying the requirements to begin production on distinctive license plates. Passed on Final Action 124-0.

Tuesday on the Floor

On Tuesday, the House Caucus took final action on the twenty-two bills that were heard and passed on voice vote the previous day. Following final actions, the House Caucus addressed and voted on seventeen more bills.

HB 2066 : Substitute for HB 2066 by Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development - Expanding the military spouse and service member’s expedited licensure law to all applicants who have established or intend to establish residency in Kansas. Passed on Final Action 103-21.
HB 2183 : Prohibiting the governor, the executive branch and the judicial branch from altering election laws or procedures and limiting the authority of the secretary of state to enter into consent decrees with any court absent the approval of the legislative coordinating council. Passed on Final Action 84-39.
HB 2138 : Club and drinking establishment liquor license eligibility; spouse is a law enforcement officer in another county. Passed on Final Action 120-4.
HB 2045 : Revising the Kansas angel investor tax credit act with respect to the definition of qualified securities, tax credit limitations and amounts, investor requirements and extending the date that credits may be allowed. Passed on Final Action 112-11
HB 2279 : Enacting the physical therapy licensure compact and authorizing criminal history record checks. Passed on Final Action 122-2
HB 2332 : Requiring identification of the sender on third party solicitations to registered voters to file an application for an advance voting ballot. Passed on Final Action 86-38.
HB 2377: Revising the laws concerning driving under the influence, including authorizing reinstatement of a driver's license for certain persons with an ignition interlock device restriction, requiring persons with an ignition interlock device restriction to complete the ignition interlock device program before driving privileges are fully reinstated, providing for reduced ignition interlock device program costs for certain persons and modifying the criminal penalties for driving a commercial motor vehicle under the influence and driving under the influence. Passed on Final Action 101-23.
HB 2097 : Decoupling the KIT and KIR workforce training programs from the high-performance incentive fund program. Passed on Final Action 124-0
HB 2209 : Enacting the psychology interjurisdictional compact to provide for interjurisdictional authorization to practice telepsychology and temporary in-person, face-to-face psychology. Passed on Final Action 121-3.
HB 2228 : Requiring law enforcement agencies to adopt a policy regarding submission of sexual assault evidence kits and allowing evidence collection at child advocacy centers or other facilities. Passed on Final Action 124-0.
HB 2057 : Allowing an alcoholic liquor manufacturer to obtain a drinking establishment license under certain conditions. Passed on Final Action 124-0.
HB 2280 : Updating statutes relating to the powers, duties and functions of the state board of pharmacy. Passed on Final Action 116-8
HB 2153 : Increasing the criminal penalty for mistreatment of a dependent adult or elder person when the victim is a resident of an adult care home. Passed on Final Action 124-0.
HB 2234 : Requiring medical directors of emergency medical services to provide medical oversight of such services and emergency medical service providers. Passed on Final Action 123-1.
HB 2362 : Modifying the elements of and making changes to the criminal penalties of abuse of a child. Passed on Final Action 124-0
HB 2361 : Authorizing the supreme court to adopt rules establishing specialty courts, creating the specialty court funding advisory committee and the specialty court resources fund. Passed on Final Action 122-1.
HB 2208 : Authorizing telemedicine waivers for out-of-state healthcare providers, reducing certain requirements for licensure by the behavioral sciences regulatory board and expanding out-of-state temporary permits to practice behavioral sciences professions. Passed on Final Action 124-0.

Wednesday on the Floor

On Wednesday, the House Caucus took final action on the seventeen bills that were heard and passed on voice vote the previous day. The results from final action being taken on these bills are included above. Following final actions, the House Caucus addressed and voted on thirteen more bills. They all passed on a voice vote.

HB 2085: Creating the students' right to know act to provide information on postsecondary education options. Passed on Final Action 123-0.
HB 2295: Exempting municipal motor grader vehicle operators from Kansas uniform commercial drivers' license act requirements. Passed on Final Action 122-1.
HB 2416: Modifying the procedure for declaring and extending a state of disaster emergency, limiting powers granted to the governor during a state of disaster emergency, authorizing the legislative coordinating council and the legislature to take certain action related to a state of disaster emergency and prohibiting the governor or the state board of education from closing private schools during a state of disaster emergency. Passed on Final Action 81-40.
HB 2126: Providing immunity from civil liability for COVID-19 claims for adult care facilities. Passed on Final Action 85-37.
HB 2088: Requiring visual observation of an alleged victim of child abuse or neglect as part of an investigation. Passed on Final Action 121-2.
HB 2245 : Permitting the division of vehicles to collect emergency contact information for registration purposes and permitting law enforcement agencies to use such information in the case of an emergency. Passed on Final Action 123-0.
HB 2227: Allowing the chief justice to suspend certain time limitations during a state of local disaster emergency, allowing suspension of verification requirements, allowing use of electronic audio-visual communication to expeditiously resolve cases, and extending the chief justice's authority to suspend time limitations until June 1, 2022. Passed on Final Action 113-10.
HB 2218: Updating membership and requirements of the Kansas state employees health care commission to include a current and retired state employee enrolled in the state healthcare benefits program group health insurance medical plan. Passed on Final Action 123-0.
HB 2224: Expanding the definition of "infectious disease" in certain statutes related to crimes in which bodily fluids may have been transmitted from one person to another. Passed on Final Action 117-6.
HB 2039: Requiring students to pass an American civics test in order to graduate with a high school diploma. Passed on Final Action 69-54
HB 2379: Enacting the peer-to-peer vehicle sharing act to provide insurance, liability, recordkeeping and consumer protection requirements for peer-to-peer vehicle sharing. Passed on Final Action 123-0.
Sub HB 2196: Substitute for HB 2196 by Commerce, Labor and Economic Development - Changing provisions of the employment security law including creation of the unemployment compensation modernization and improvement council, development of a new unemployment insurance information technology system, provision of tax information to claimants, publication of trust fund data, the maximum benefit period, the charging of employer accounts for benefits paid, employer contribution rate determination and schedules, abolishment of the employment security interest assessment fund, crediting of employer accounts for fraudulent or erroneous payments, appropriation of federal COVID-19 moneys to the unemployment insurance trust fund, transfers from the state general fund to the unemployment insurance trust fund for improper benefit payments, emergency expansion of the employment security board of review, providing for the my reemployment plan program and workforce training program availability to claimants, changes to the shared work compensation program and other unemployment trust fund provisions. Passed on Final Action 87-36.
HB 2058: Allowing reciprocity to recognize out-of-state licenses to carry a concealed handgun. Passed on Final Action 85-38.

Thursday on the Floor

On Thursday, the House Caucus took final action on the thirteen bills that were heard and passed on voice vote the previous day. After final actions, the House Caucus addressed and voted on eleven more bills. HB 2105 , which would establish tax withholding requirements when certain employees work in multiple states, was passed over. The ten bills all passed on a voice vote. Emergency Final Action was declared and they also all passed on Emergency Final Action.

SB 47: Enacting the Kansas taxpayer protection act, requiring the signature and tax identification number of paid tax return preparers on income tax returns and authorizing actions to enjoin paid tax return preparers from engaging in certain conduct. Passed on Emergency Final Action 115-8.
SB 13: Establishing notice and public hearing requirements prior to approval by a governing body to exceed its revenue neutral rate for property tax purposes and discontinuing the city and county tax lid, prohibiting valuation increase of real property solely as the result of normal repair, replacement or maintenance of existing structure and establishing a payment plan for the payment of delinquent or nondelinquent property taxes. Passed on Emergency Final Action 120-3.
HB 2239: Extending the Kansas corporate income tax net operating loss carryforward. Passed on Emergency Final Action 123-0.
HB 2231: Amending the definition of the crime of conducting a pyramid promotional scheme, providing for an exemption and defining key terms. Passed on Emergency Final Action 78-45.
HB 2106: Extending the dates when corporate tax returns are required to be filed. Passed on Emergency Final Action 123-0.
HB 2405: Authorizing the issuance of $1,000,000,000 of pension obligation bonds to finance a portion of the unfunded actuarial liability of KPERS. Passed on Emergency Final Action 117-6.
HB 2143: Making exemption permanent for certain cash rebates on sales or leases of new motor vehicles for sales tax purposes. Passed on Emergency Final Action 119-4.
SB 21: Approving election for sales tax authority for Cherokee county. Passed on Emergency Final Action 119-4.
HB 2315: Providing a tax credit for contributions to technical colleges. Passed on Emergency Final Action 119-4.
HB 2116: Exempting the caregiver of a child in state out-of-home placement from the child care assistance 20-hour-per-week work requirement. Passed on Emergency Final Action 123-0.

Consent Calendar Items

HB 2162: Amending and repealing reapportionment census data laws to conform with 2019 amendments to the Kansas constitution and to remove certain obsolete provisions. Passed on Final Action 123-0.
HB 2275: Requiring the department of corrections to develop guidance to be used by parole officers when responding to violations of parole and post release supervision and that incentivize compliant behavior. Passed on Final Action 124-0.
HB 2292: Creating exemptions in the open records act for cyber security assessments, plans and vulnerabilities. Passed on Final Action 124-0.
HB 2390: Making permanent certain exceptions to the disclosure of public records under the open records act. Passed on Final Action 124-0.
HB 2313: Allowing Kansas national guard and reservist members who are in good standing to receive a property tax exemption for up to two motor vehicles. Passed on Final Action 123-0.

In Coming Weeks

In the next few weeks there are many important issues that we plan to hear. These bills include medicinal marijuana, a Frankenstein school voucher bill, and possibly a bill that would give tax cuts to giant multinational corporations. These are all important issues and could impact the State of Kansas for years to come. Medicinal marijuana is widely favored across the state by both sides of the aisle. Next, the Frankenstein school voucher bill is an attempt to defund public education. Lastly, we have the Brownback 2.0 tax bill. This year the House Democrats want to help all Kansans who are suffering from the negative economic impact of the global pandemic. Unfortunately, rather than passing legislation that would help Kansans, Republicans have been promoting legislation that would do the opposite.

Kansas State Library

LearningExpress Library is an online, easy to use resource from the State Library of Kansas that allows students to learn at a convenient time and place.

LearningExpress https://kslib.info/LEL has an amazing collection of individual learning centers: School Center for elementary, middle, and high school students; College Center helps students strengthen their academic skills; Adult Center helps adults achieve their personal, educational and career goals. Online tutorials, exercises, and practice tests are available in all centers. For students using the School Center, practice sets include instant scoring and full answer explanations.

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2021 Legislative Update 7

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 13:43:37 GMT

2021 Legislative Update 7

Week 7 was very busy. It was the last week for non-exempt committees to meet and pass out bills for consideration by the full House. The House did take action on the floor on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and passed out eighteen bills, which are listed below.

In the House Commerce, Labor and Economic Development Committee, we debated and worked a comprehensive unemployment bill. I offered an amendment to keep the rate triggers in place to provide the same number of weeks of benefits available today. Unfortunately, my amendment failed. This is not the time to reduce benefits while we still have a health emergency with COVID-19 and it will take time for people to get back on their feet. We also have not addressed many of the barriers keeping people from going back to work such access to quality childcare, students attending school from home and safety concerns.

In the House Judiciary we are scheduled to meet early Monday morning to continue to work on the Kansas Emergency Management Act “KEMA” HB 2416. We are under a deadline to pass KEMA legislation as the state of emergency and special rules set in place for COVID-19 will expire March 31st. This legislation will determine how state and local officials can respond to health emergencies in the future.

“Legislative Veto”

On Tuesday, Attorney General Schmidt and GOP leaders introduced a constitutional amendment that would give the legislature the ability to block regulations from executive agencies. This would create a “legislative veto.” This is nothing more than another attempt to undermine Governor Kelly’s ability to govern. During a time where Kansans are suffering due to the ongoing pandemic one would think that AG Schmidt and GOP leaders would be more focused on helping Kansans and their families rather than putting their political agendas ahead of the people.

Tuesday on the Floor

On Tuesday, the House Caucus addressed and voted on five bills. All five of these bills passed on General Order by voice vote. This moves all of them to Final Action on Wednesday to be voted on by the House Caucus.

Below are the five bills that passed on voice vote, and were placed on Final Action for the following day:

HB 2262 - Eliminating the requirement to provide a permit to cremate in certain circumstances and authorizing electronic permits to cremate.
HB 2237 - Extending the time period for eligibility in the loan repayment program and the income tax credit.
SB 27 - Amending the Kansas storage tank act to extend the sunsets of certain funds and to increase certain liability and reimbursement amounts.
HB 2254 - Increasing the monetary cap on irrevocable prearranged funeral agreements to $10,000.
HB 2191 - Increasing criminal penalties for the crimes of riot and incitement to riot when the crime occurs in a correctional facility.

Wednesday on the Floor

On Wednesday, the House Caucus took final action on the five bills that were heard and passed on voice vote the previous day.

Below are the results from final action being taken on these bills:

HB 2262 - Passed on Final Action 122-1
HB 2237 - Passed on Final Action 107-16
SB 27 - Passed on Final Action 123-0
HB 2254 - Passed on Final Action 123-0
HB 2191 - Passed on Final Action 123-0

After final actions, the House Caucus addressed six more bills. All six of these bills passed on General Order by voice vote. This moves all of them to Final Action on Thursday to be voted on by the House Caucus.

Below are the six bills that passed on voice vote, and were placed on Final Action for the following day:

HB 2078 - Suspending statutory speedy trial rights until May 1, 2024, in all criminal cases filed prior to the effective date of this act and eliminating such rights in any criminal case filed on or after the effective date of this act.
HB 2052 - Authorizing legislative assistants and committee assistants to accept gifts of not to exceed $150 in value each legislative session from certain legislators.
HB 2243 - Adjusting the frequency of the KPERS actuarial experience study.
HB 2093 - Increasing criminal penalties for fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer when operating a stolen vehicle and making fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer evidence of intent to commit theft of a vehicle.
HB 2192 - Authorizing court services officers and community corrections officers to provide a certification of identification to offenders for use to obtain a new driver's license.
HB 2136 - Updating certain statutes relating to the regulation of the business of insurance; granting the commissioner of insurance certain investigative powers.

Thursday on the Floor

On Thursday, the House Caucus took final action on the six bills that were heard and passed on voice vote the previous day. Below are the results from final action being taken on these bills:

HB 2052 - Passed on Final Action 119-5.
HB 2078 - Passed on Final Action 107-17.
HB 2093 - Passed on Final Action 124-0.
HB 2136 - Passed on Final Action 124-0.
HB 2192 - Passed on Final Action 124-0.
HB 2243 - Passed on Final Action 123-1.

After final actions, the House Caucus addressed and voted on seven more bills. These bills were moved to Emergency Final Action and each were passed out of the House.

Below are the seven bills that passed on emergency final action.

HB 2244 - Establishing requirements for the effective disposal of industrial hemp and requiring industrial hemp processors to register with the state fire marshal. Passed on Emergency Final Action 97-27.
HB 2277 - Clarifying the definition of possession in the Kansas criminal code. Passed on Emergency Final Action 116-8.
HB 2175 - Creating the Dwayne Peaslee technical training center district. Passed on Emergency Final Action 122-2.
SB 39 - Changing Kansas department of agriculture division of animal health license, permit and registration renewal deadlines and allowing the animal health commissioner to recover the actual cost of official calfhood vaccination tags. Passed on Emergency Final Action 117-7.
HB 2101 - Extending transfers from the expanded lottery act revenues fund to the university engineering initiative. Passed on Emergency Final Action 112-12.
SB 29 - Updating the version of risk-based capital instructions in effect. Passed on Emergency Final Action 124-0.
SB 40 - Updating provisions related to the Kansas department of agriculture division of conservation. Passed on Emergency Final Action 123-1.

Education Bill (HB 2119)

On Thursday, the House K-12 Education Budget committee kicked out HB 2119, amended into a more extreme anti-education bill. It is extremely disappointing that Republicans would rather play games with the future of our children than work to ensure that they return to the classroom quickly and safely. This bill is a clear attempt to use the Governor’s recommendations and bits of important educational enhancements as a thinly veiled disguise to shove through a Republican wish list of anti-public education bills. This Frankenstein of a bill will ultimately defund education, force us back into the courts, and is a clear message from Republicans that they do not have our children in mind--rather, they prefer to play political games.

Medical Marijuana

We expect to see work done on the medical marijuana bill in the coming weeks. The passage of medicinal marijuana is not just important for Democrats, but also Republicans. According to a Republican poll, 66% of Kansans--both Democrats and Republicans--have indicated they supported medical marijuana. This makes it obvious that it is now the time to pass this important piece of legislation to provide Kansans with additional access to much-needed health options.

Friday Media Advisory

House Democratic Leader Tom Sawyer and Senate Democratic Leader Dinah Sykes had a joint media availability in which they discussed many important issues coming up next week. This discussion included school vouchers, the Kansas Emergency Management Act, giant multinational corporation tax cuts, medicinal marijuana and Medicaid expansion. These are all issues that we plan to address this session. You can watch the Friday’s media advisory on Kansas House Democrats’ Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/kshousedems

Kansas State Library

Ferguson’s Career Guidance Center https://kslib.info/Fergusons is an online career exploration and planning resource provided by the State Library of Kansas. It provides detailed and up-to-date profiles of thousands of today’s most popular jobs. Included: an undergraduate and graduate school finder, databases for internships and apprenticeships, planning timelines that cover education to career, and a database of sample resumes and cover letters. New: workplace predictions for 2021, how to dress for video interviews, and how to deal with work from home stress.

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2021 Legislative Update 6

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 19:51:11 GMT

2021 Legislative Update 6

Week 6 of the 2021 Legislative Session began with a State of Disaster Emergency being issued due to extreme cold weather. The record-breaking cold temperatures created dangerous and challenging situations statewide. Governor Laura Kelly also announced her plan to help bring Kansan students back to in-person learning safely.

On Monday, the Labor and Working Families Caucus hosted a lunch and learn with a very informative presentation by Jan Fisher, an Attorney at McCullough, Wareheim and Labunker on workers compensation. Workers compensation was created by what is referred to as the “Grand Bargin,” which resulted in the loss of constitutional rights of an injured worker to sue their employer in exchange for the certainty and guarantee of workers' compensation benefits, consisting of a weekly check and payment of medical treatment. Imperative to this is that employees are provided acceptable benefits for their injuries and that employers are able to plan for the financial impact of paying for those benefits.

In the House, we continue to hear and work bills in committee in advance of Turnaround which is quickly approaching. The House took action on sixteen bills this week which are listed below. We anticipate working critical issue bills such as medical marijuana and addressing the Kansas Emergency Management Act (KEMA), in the coming weeks.

Governor’s State of Disaster Emergency

Governor Kelly issued a State of Disaster Emergency due to wind chill warnings and stress on utility and natural gas providers. This declaration authorized the use of state resources and personnel to assist with response and recovery operations in affected counties that met certain criteria. Fortunately, the sub-zero temperatures seem to be behind us and hopefully warmer weather will take its place.

Back to School

Governor Kelly announced her back to school plan, committed to ensuring that teachers and staff are a priority in every county, so that we can safely get kids back in school as quickly as possible. Therefore, counties who need them will receive additional shipments of vaccine doses explicitly earmarked for K-12 teachers and staff. Not only will there be an emphasis on vaccinating K-12 teachers and staff, but Kansas will also be able to provide free testing supplies to schools that will produce results in about 15 minutes. Vaccinations and free testing supplies on top of the continued implementation of masks and social distancing will help bring us back to in-person learning safely.

Wednesday on the Floor

On Wednesday, the House Caucus addressed and voted on eleven bills. All eleven of these bills passed on General Order by voice vote. This moves all of them to Final Action on Thursday to be voted on by the House Caucus.

Below are the eleven bills that passed on voice vote, and were placed on Final Action for the following day:

HB 2178 - vacating certain blocks in the original town plat set aside for a college and a park in the city of Americus and vesting fee simple title in the city.
HB 2187 - Enacting the first-time home buyer savings account act.
HB 2070 - Allowing certain private not-for-profit postsecondary educational institutions to recoup credit card fees by permitting a surcharge for credit card transactions in the same manner as municipal universities, community colleges, technical colleges and vocational educational schools.
HB 2087 - Limiting the review of certain rules and regulations by the director of the budget.
HB 2115 - Establishing the joint committee on child welfare system oversight.
HB 2158 - Making permanent provisions for the advisory committee on trauma and the statewide trauma system regional council to conduct closed meetings and keep privileged records regarding trauma cases.
HB 2172 - Modifying water usage calculations and fees for multi-year flex accounts and permitting alternative base average water use calculations and prorated terms.
HB 2096 - Authorizing department of corrections employees, local correctional or detention officers, judicial branch employees, municipal court employees and administrative hearing officers to have identifying information restricted from public access on public websites that identify home addresses or home ownership.
HB 2007 - Updating motor carrier laws and the regulation of motor carriers by the state corporation commission.
HB 2076 - Clarifying that bond agents seeking discharge as a surety are required to return the person released on bond to the court in the county where the complaint subject to the bond was filed.
HB 2104 - Modifying the sales tax exemption for construction materials by allowing certain educational institutions a sales tax exemption for purchases thereof.

Thursday on the Floor

On Thursday, the House Caucus took final action on the eleven bills that were heard and passed on voice vote the previous day.

Below are the results from final action being taken on these bills:

HB 2178 - Passed on Final Action 121-1.
HB 2187 - Passed on Final Action 119-3.
HB 2070 - Passed on Final Action 119-3.
HB 2087 - Passed on Final Action 109-13.
HB 2115 - Passed on Final Action 118-4.
HB 2158 - Passed on Final Action 121-1.
HB 2172 - Passed on Final Action 122-0.
HB 2096 - Passed on Final Action 122-0.
HB 2007 - Passed on Final Action 122-0.
HB 2076 - Passed on Final Action 122-0.
HB 2104 - Passed on Final Action 114-8.

After final actions, the House Caucus addressed and voted on five more bills. These bills were moved to Emergency Final Action and each were passed out of the House.

Below are the five bills that passed on emergency final action.

HB 2114 which establishes the Kansas senior care task force. Passed on Emergency Final Action 113-8.
HB 2124 which clarifies the authority of healing arts school clinics to provide healing arts services. Passed on Emergency Final Action 121-0.
HB 2155 which provides for department of health and environment response operations for water and soil pollutant release, discharge, or escape. Passed on Emergency Final Action 85-36.
HB 2151 which creates Kansas elder and dependent adult abuse multidisciplinary teams and a coordinator. Passed on Emergency Final Action 121-0.
HB 2125 which allows a copy of a will to be filed and admitted to probate and allows a will or a copy of a will filed within six months after the death of the testator to be admitted to probate at any time. Passed on Emergency Final Action 118-3.

In the Coming Weeks

We are almost halfway through the 2021 Legislative Session, and we still have many important issues to address. Below are some of the things that we are expecting to come up in the coming weeks.

The Kansas Emergency Management Act
SB 22 - Brownback Tax (2.0) - which prioritizes tax cuts for the wealthy rather than those who need it to survive and provide for their families.
Education bills that aim to funnel tax-payer dollars away from public schools, that serve all Kansas children, and give that money to the private schools. These bills are SB 61 / HB 2068 and HB 2119 .
Gun bills that would allow for individuals from other states to carry guns in Kansas, even if they are irresponsible and reckless individuals, including those with a dangerous background
Medicinal Marijuana
The Governor’s Budget

Kansas State Library

Explora is an online resource for middle and high school students that is available https://kslib.info/students from the State Library of Kansas. Click on the grade appropriate icon for assistance with homework or class assignments. Explora delivers high-quality articles from reputable publishers with no pop-ups or ads. Reading level indicators allow selection of material that matches students’ reading abilities. Broad topic overviews provide students with a starting point for their research.

Resources

2021 Legislative Update 5

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 13:24:25 GMT

2021 Legislative Update 5

Last week was a very busy and productive week. The House took action on 22 bills, which are listed below.

On Monday, the hearing on HB 2226 was held. I was so proud of the team from Wyandotte County that testified in support of this bill, which will allow certain criminal convictions, eligible under current law, to be automatically expunged. Wesley McKain and Marcia Harrington provided testimony focused on the community health and workforce benefit, Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree and Marilyn Harp with Kansas Legal Services gave excellent testimony on the benefits, the need, how other states have implemented and how it might work in Kansas. They all did an excellent job of laying the groundwork for further discussion and consideration of this important legislation.

This week was the final week to introduce sponsored bills and committee bills from non-exempt committees. I joined members of the Wyandotte County Delegation in co-sponsoring two bills that provide for local control:

HB 2306 to restore local control for prevailing wage on public construction projects; and
HB 2305 which provides for local control in setting a minimum wage.

One of the best ways we can help our State’s local communities be successful is by allowing local government officials the ability to adopt policies that fit the nature of their local community and that are supported by their citizens. Both of these bills are keeping with the spirit of Home Rule for cities, which had been a guarantee in the Kansas Constitution for more than 50 years.

Governor’s Press Conference

Tuesday morning Governor Laura Kelly announced that her administration, alongside both House and Senate Democratic Leadership, has created a proposed tax bill that would generate $97 million in additional revenue for Kansas, support small businesses, and give 94% of Kansans a tax cut while keeping the state budget neutral and balanced.

Republicans are pushing to spend over $600 million in tax cuts for giant multinational corporations. A majority of Kansans would not receive any tax relief. With Tuesday’s proposed plan, tax relief would be targeted to Kansas families. This proposed plan was an alternative to Senate Bill 22, which was heard on Tuesday by the Kansas Senate.

SB 22 passed out of the Senate on Emergency Final Action 24-15 on Tuesday. It has a fiscal note of more than $1 billion, and seems to want resurrect the failed Brownback tax experiment that created economic hardship for Kansans. We anticipate this bill reaching the floor very soon.

House Democratic Policy Agenda

On Tuesday, the Democratic House Caucus held a press conference to go over our priorities for the 2021 Legislative Session. This session we are focused on accessible, affordable healthcare, continuing to invest in education, helping working Kansans and their families, providing equal opportunities for every Kansan, and creating a more sustainable future. All of these priorities with the many bills that members have introduced are focused on improving the lives of Kansans. We will always try our best in moving Kansas forward toward a better quality of life for every person in our state. You can find an overview of our policy agenda on the Kansas House Democratic Caucus website .

Wednesday on the Floor

On Wednesday, the House Caucus addressed and voted on twelve bills. One bill passed on final action and the remaining eleven bills passed on emergency final action.

HB 2072 would update the version of risk-based capital instructions in effect. On Final Action it passed 123-0.
HB 2102 would update egg repackaging requirements for retailers. On Emergency Final Action it passed 123-2.
HB 2014 would permit military surplus vehicles to register with the division of vehicles for road use. On Emergency Final Action it passed as amended 124-1.
HB 2112 would permit online advertisement and sales of abandoned property by self-storage rental unit operators; providing for the designation by occupants of an alternate contact and limiting claims for loss or damage of stored property to the property value limit provided in the rental agreement. On Emergency Final Action it passed 120-5.
HB 2063 would provide certain KP&F tier II spousal and children’s benefits for death resulting from a service-connected disability. On Emergency Final Action it passed as amended 125-0.
HB 2030 would extend terminal medical release to inmates in the custody of the department of corrections with a condition likely to cause death within 120 days. On Emergency Final Action it passed 96-29.
HB 2075 would allow venue for an adoption when the state is the agency to be where the state agency or its subcontracting agency has an office. On Emergency Final Action it passed 125-0.
HB 2062 would provide certain exceptions to the confidentiality of state child death review board documents. On Emergency Final Action it passed 125-0.
HB 2081 would modify how certain prior convictions are counted for the special sentencing rule related to possession of a controlled substance and providing concurrent or consecutive sentencing for persons convicted of new crimes while on release for a felony. On Emergency Final Action it passed 69-56.
HB 2064 would make DROP elections revocable and allow DROP members who first elected a DROP period of less than five years to extend such DROP period. On Emergency Final Action it passed as amended 125-0.
HB 2167 would permit concrete mixer trucks and require dump trucks to display license plates on the front of vehicles. On Emergency Final Action it passed 125-0.
HB 2005 would exclude hot water supply boilers that have a nominal water capacity not exceeding 120 gallons from the provisions of the boiler safety act.

Thursday on the Floor

On Thursday, the House Caucus addressed and voted on ten bills. One bill passed on final action and the remaining nine bills passed on emergency final action.

HB 2050 would remove the requirement that certain entities submit certain documents to the division of post audit. On Emergency Final Action it passed 122-0.
SB 15 would enact the Kansas economic recovery loan deposit program, update field of membership requirements of credit unions and allow privilege tax deductions on agricultural real estate loans and single family residence loans. On Emergency Final Action it passed 122-1.
HB 2103 would establish the Kansas pesticide waste disposal program and permitting up to $50,000 to be transferred annually from the Kansas agricultural remediation fund to a new Kansas pesticide waste disposal fund. On Emergency Final Action it passed 123-0.
HB 2134 would update the national association of insurance commissioners credit for reinsurance model law and codify the credit for reinsurance model regulation. On Emergency Final Action it passed 123-0.
HB 2109 would increase the county population threshold for a county to be required to have a lawyer representative, increasing the number of lawyer members and decreasing the number of non-lawyer members on the board of indigents' defense services. On Emergency Final Action it passed 87-36.
HB 2121 would add definitions related to defendants who abscond from supervision in the criminal procedure code and for parole. On Emergency Final Action it passed as amended 101-22.
HB 2165 would provide for all vehicles more than 35 years old to qualify as an antique vehicle. On Emergency Final Action it passed as amended 114-9.
HB 2074 would update producer licensing statutes pertaining to appointment, fees, licensing, renewal dates, continuing education, suspension, revocation and denial of licensure and reinstatement. On Emergency Final Action it passed 123-0.
HB 2001 would create the crime of sexual extortion and require an offender to register under the Kansas offender registration act. On Emergency Final Action it passed as amended 123-0.
HB 2120 would remove the spousal exception from the crime of sexual battery. On Emergency Final Action it passed 110-13.

Coming up Next Week

In the upcoming weeks, we expect to see the debate continue on school vouchers and the Brownback 2.0 tax bill. Each has their own respective issues. School vouchers serve as a way to funnel taxpayer dollars away from public schools, that serve all Kansas children, and give that money to the private schools. The school voucher bill, SB 61 , passed out of the Kansas Senate on Thursday on Emergency Final Action 23-14 and would be a return to the Brownback tax policy.

Kansas State Library

The Kansas State Library has a wealth of information and services on their website at https://kslib.info/ . From downloading a digital book, finding your legislator, learning tools, job tools to accessing statewide library collections. The librarians are very helpful and serve not only the needs of state agencies and legislators but also the general public. They welcome your questions, especially about Kansas Government and can be reached by phone at 1-800-432-3919. You can also call the Legislative Hotline, 1-800-432-3924, to leave a message for Legislators.

Resources

2021 Legislative Update 4

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 16:26:12 GMT

2021 Legislative Update 4

The pace this past week picked up significantly. Committee hearings are in full swing and introduction of bill deadlines are upon us. Much of the focus continues to be on issues related to COVID-19 and the economic recovery. First and foremost is to stop the spread of the virus so that we can slowly get back to what we all now know will be a “new normal”.

A bill that I co-sponsored with five other legislators last session and re-introduced this session in House Judiciary has a hearing scheduled for Monday, February 8th. HB 2226 will allow certain criminal convictions to be expunged from an offender's record automatically. Many thanks to the coalition in Wyandotte County that has continued to advocate for this policy as well as other clean slate measurers to remove barriers to employment for individuals re-entering our community and reduce recidivism. Oftentimes the barrier to expungement, for those that are eligible, is the cost to have the record expunged. I very much appreciate the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee giving this bill a hearing. Several people from Wyandotte County will be attending to testify in support of the bill: http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2226/

Governor’s Press Conference

Governor Kelly announced on Monday that she would prioritize Medicaid expansion alongside medical marijuana. In order to keep our economy moving in the right direction, we need to ensure that we have a healthy workforce.

Kansas is one of three states left that does not permit some form of medical marijuana use which leaves us less competitive and at a disadvantage. Medical marijuana would create an extra pool of money which would cover the cost of Medicaid Expansion - while creating more jobs in Kansas. Additionally, expanding Medicaid would give 165,000 hardworking Kansans access to affordable health care. All four of our neighboring states - Nebraska, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Missouri - have expanded Medicaid putting the State of Kansas at a disadvantage as a place for people and businesses to move into.

The passage of both Medicaid Expansion and Medical Marijuana is critical to the State of Kansas. Together they would create more jobs for Kansans, bring in a sufficient stream of revenue, and create a healthy workforce. Not to mention, both issues have broad support from a majority of Kansans. I am hopeful that leadership will allow the Medicaid Expansion and Medical Marijuana proposal to advance so that it can be given serious consideration by the State Legislature.

Wednesday on the Floor

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives debated and voted on eight bills. Seven of those bills passed on emergency final action and one was referred back to its committee.

HB 2077 extends the Kansas criminal justice reform commission, limiting the commission’s scope of study and adding a public defender. Passed as amended on Emergency Final Action 124-1.
HB 2071 increased the criminal penalties for stalking a minor. Passed as amended on Emergency Final Action 125-0.
HB 2090 creates a procedure for appointment of acting official when an elected official’s military service causes a vacancy. Passed as amended on Emergency Final Action 125-0.
HB 2029 counts any crime with a domestic violence designation as a prior conviction under domestic battery. Passed on Emergency Final Action 118-7.
Sub for HB 2049 prohibits a public agency from charging a fee for records requested for an audit by the legislative division of post audit. Passed on Emergency Final Action 124-1.
HB 2082 authorizes the crime victims compensation board to waive application time restrictions for a victim of a sexually violent crime to receive compensation for mental health counseling and adding certain children to the definition of victim. Passed on Emergency Final Action 125-0.
HB 2079 transfers duties concerning address confidentiality program (safe at home) from the secretary of state to the attorney general. Passed as amended on Emergency Final Action 70-54.
HB 2052 authorizes legislative assistants and committee assistants to accept gifts of not to exceed $120 in value each legislative session from certain legislators. This bill was withdrawn and referred back to the Committee on Elections.

SB 22 (Brownback 2.0)

SB 22 has been kicked out of the Senate Committee on Assessments and Taxation and we anticipate the Senate taking it up next week on the floor. This bill, (dubbed Brownback 2.0), is a revival of the Brownback tax plan. The bill is aimed at giving tax relief to giant multinational corporations rather than working families. We will always fight for tax cuts that help working Kansans, especially in a time of uncertainty.

Press Conference over House Democratic Caucus Priorities

The Democratic Caucus is holding a press conference to go over priorities for this legislative session. The press conference will be on Tuesday, February 9th, at 1:00 pm via facebook live at: https://www.facebook.com/kshousedems/

This session we are focused on accessible, affordable healthcare, continuing to invest in education, helping working Kansans and their families, providing equal opportunities for every Kansan, and creating a more sustainable future. Join us on Tuesday to hear more!

Kansas State Library

World Almanac for Kids ( www.kslib.info/WorldAlmanacforKids ) is an intermediate level resource that erases the line between learning and fun. Information is grouped by topics, videos, and games. The games section is separated into categories such as Social Studies, Geography, Health, Sciences, and Math. It also includes videos, science projects, and maps.

World Almanac for Kids Elementary

World Almanac for Kids Elementary ( www.kslib.info/WorldAlmanacforKidsElementary ) is a similar resource for early elementary level students. The colorful, kid-friendly format also has topics, videos, the Letter of the Day, plus a games section in 7 categories.

Resources

2021 Legislative Update 3

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 00:17:48 GMT

2021 Legislative Update 3

We had a very busy week with the introduction of new legislation, committee hearings and working bills as they advance through the process. We are still adjusting to a new way of working this session with technology enhancements and extra precautions as well as limitations due to the pandemic.

Thursday was a special day! I had the honor of carrying HB 2008 which will allow the Attorney General, in consultation with the Native American Indian tribes, to coordinate training regarding missing and murdered indigenous persons (MMIP) throughout Kansas. This legislation was brought forward by Representative Dr. Ponka-We Victors during the 2020 Legislative Session, however, it died in the Senate due to the short session. Representative Victors and Representative Haswood sponsored the bill this year, and I am very grateful that it once again passed the House unanimously!

The civil discourse group had its first meeting of the year this week with Keith Allred, Executive Director of the National Institute of Civil Discourse, as the keynote speaker. The civil discourse group formed last year to support a culture where engaging differences constructively leads to better public policy. I have enjoyed participating in the civil discourse group. The discussions have been robust and open and help as we get to know each other a little better and share our different perspectives in hopes of finding some common ground.

On Friday, we celebrated Kansas Day! Kansas was admitted 160 years ago on January 29, 1861 as a Free State. A little history behind the Kansas Day celebration, it was born in Paola in 1877 by a group of public school students. The students were studying United States History which sparked their interest in the history of their own state. Kansas Day continued to grow and remains an important day with teachers, students and many of us across the state celebrating on January 29th each year the history of our great state.

Missing and Murdered Indigenous People “MMIP”

On Thursday, the Kansas House of Representatives unanimously passed HB 2008 with a 123-0 vote. This allows the Attorney General in consultation with Native American Indian tribes, to coordinate training for missing and murdered indigenous people with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center and other appropriate state agencies for the law enforcement agencies throughout the state.

Murder is the third leading cause of death for American Indian and Alaskan Native Women. In 2018 the Urban Indian Health Institute released a report providing a comprehensive snapshot of the missing and murdered indigenous women and girls in urban areas throughout the United States.

This report shines light on the growing problem as well as the lack of data collected. Even with incomplete data and the known reluctance in reporting, 506 cases of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls were identified in 71 urban areas and there are approximately 5,712 reported missing American Indian and Alaska Native women overall.

We heard compelling testimony in the House Judiciary Committee on this current crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women and people across America and the need in Kansas for jurisdictional coordination, communication and education to address this crisis.

Victims’ families can face a patchwork of tribal, state and federal law-enforcement agencies to respond to a crime and HB 2008 provides an important first step to address this issue.

The passage of HB 2008 will allow Kansas to join other states in attempting to identify this problem and develop policies and training practices to impact this devastating trend.

Gun Bills

On Wednesday, the Federal and State Affairs committee held three hearings on bills that pertained to firearms. HB 2058 allows for reciprocity to recognize out-of-state licenses to carry a concealed handgun. HB 2059 would provide reciprocity for licenses to carry concealed handguns and create two classes of concealed carry licenses. HB 2089 would authorize the attorney general to issue an alternative license to carry a concealed handgun to qualified applicants during a declared state of disaster emergency. All three have yet to pass out of committee.

Thursday on the floor

The House Chamber began the day passing HCR 5005 , honoring COVID-19 frontline workers.

The House also passed, on Emergency Final Action with a 123-0 vote, the following bills which will now head to the Senate for consideration:

HB 2008 , Providing for the attorney general to coordinate training for law enforcement agencies on missing and murdered indigenous people.
HB 2022 updates the state corporation commission’s authority to regulate and determine responsibility for abandoned oil and gas wells and abolishing the well plugging assurance fund and transferring all assets and liabilities to the abandoned oil and gas well fund.
HB 2026 creates a drug abuse treatment program for people on diversion and allows county and district attorneys to enter into agreements with chief judges and community corrections for supervision.

Constitutional Amendment

On Thursday, the Kansas Senate passed out a proposed constitutional amendment, HCR 5003 , which will be placed on the August 2022 ballot. All Kansans, regardless of party affiliation, will be able to cast their vote on this constitutional amendment.

Kansas House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer said that GOP House members stated during floor debate, that an objective of the amendment was abolition of abortion in Kansas. He said refusal of House and Senate supporters of the amendment to include exceptions for rape, incest or to save the life of a mother was “testament to how extreme this constitutional amendment really is.”

SB 22

A tax bill, SB 22 , that is being considered by the Senate may be coming to the House floor in the coming weeks. This bill is a revival of the Brownback tax plan. During a time of economic uncertainty and in the midst of a pandemic, it is necessary for working Kansans to receive tax relief rather than giant multinational corporations. We are unclear of what amendments may be attached before it comes to the House floor, but we will continue to work for tax policy that help working Kansans and their families.

Mango Resources from the State Library

If learning a new language is one of your New Year’s Resolutions, Mango Languages is for you! With Mango, you can learn from your own computer or smartphone. This online service https://kslib.info/Mango provided by the State Library of Kansas is easy to use. Choose from more than 70 languages such as Spanish, French, Korean- even Swahili. Mango uses real life situations and conversations. Mango also includes over 20 English as a second language courses. Use as a Guest or register to hold your place (and for smartphone use).

Resources

2021 Legislative Update 2

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 19:11:00 GMT

2021 Legislative Update 2

Heading into week two we recognized the work and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr on Monday, January 18th. Each year he is honored for his devotion and sacrifice in the name of equality and for the Civil Rights movement.

On Tuesday and Wednesday committees resumed as usual, but we did not hear any bills on the floor. Much of the work at the beginning of session is done in committees as bills are introduced and begin moving through the process. My committee assignments this year include the House Judiciary Committee, House Commerce/Labor Committee, and I am the ranking member on the House Local Government Committee. I also serve on the Joint Committee for Information Technology.

Due to the global pandemic, the House Chamber is taking healthy measures to ensure a full Legislative Session. This week, we addressed, and voted on, SB 14 (the Kansas Emergency Management Act) and HCR 5003 (the Constitutional Amendment). Time was of essence to pass the KEMA bill and send it to the Governor before January 26th when the current emergency declaration will expire.

Kansas Emergency Management Act (KEMA)

On Thursday, the House overwhelmingly passed SB 14 with a 119-3 vote. SB 14 addresses the Governor’s emergency powers through the Kansas Emergency Management Act (KEMA). The bill is similar to HB 2048, which was introduced in House Judiciary last week, but does not extend the suspension of the waiting week period for unemployment claims and only extends the state of emergency declaration order until March 31, 2021.

However, similar to HB 2048 , SB 14 bill is more restrictive in its limitations of the Governor’s power than HB 2016 , which was passed last year. Unfortunately, we did not have time to fix this bill due to the impending deadline of January 26, 2021 when the Governor’s emergency declaration would expire. We will continue to work to make sure that the Governor has all the tools necessary to effectively guide us through this pandemic and putting public health over politics.

The Constitutional Amendment

On Friday, the Constitutional Amendment, HCR 5003 , passed the House on a party-line vote. The resolution asks voters to amend the Kansas constitution by adding a new section stating that there is no constitutional right to abortion and that the legislature has unchecked authority to regulate reproductive rights. Furthermore, this amendment was put on the primary election ballot in 2022 which disenfranchises many voters. Also, there were no protections for rape, incest or the life of the mother.

House Democrats offered four amendments, all of which were denied.

The four amendments were:

Placing HCR 5003 on the November General Election of 2022 where there is historically a higher turnout of voters.
Abolishing the Death Penalty
Protecting women in cases of rape, incest, or when the life of the mother is in danger.
Placing HCR 5003 on August primary in 2021 rather than 2022.

The resolution passed 38 to 86. HCR 5003 now goes to the Senate where it will need a two-thirds majority to pass and be put on the August 2022 primary ballot.

Early Learning Resources from the State Library

BookFlix is an online resource from the State Library of Kansas for children in grades PreK-3 that pairs video storybooks with related nonfiction e-books. Imagine Curious George paired with a nonfiction book about monkeys! Along with reading the books, you can also watch the story, do games and puzzles, and “dive deeper” with pictures for coloring or poems to reinforce early learning reading skills.

Feed curiosity with Britannica E-Stax (K-12) , featuring nonfiction books that can be read online or downloaded to any Internet enabled device.

Both are available at no charge through the State Library’s web site https://kslib.info/storytime .

Resources

2021 Legislative Update 1

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 20:16:03 GMT

2021 Legislative Update 1

The 2021 Legislative Session commenced on Monday, January 11th. The Legislature has several issues to address this year, and we are ready to get to work to find commonsense, bipartisan solutions to the issues that Kansans face.

The pandemic has shown us the importance of putting public health needs before political agendas. A special thanks to our healthcare professionals, first responders, teachers, so many others that continue to work on behalf of Kansans. You are the true heroes.

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 .

First Day of the 2021 Session

Monday, January 11th was the first day of the Kansas 2021 Legislative Session. Returning members and newly elected officials were sworn-in during the first day on the House floor. There are 125 Representatives in the Kansas House.

This year’s swearing-in ceremony looked much different, due to COVID-19, than in the past when elected officials were joined by family and friends as they took their oath of office. It took almost two hours for all 125 to take the oath of office as we were called to the House Chambers in groups of ten to adhere to social distancing.

There are new restrictions, new technology, a new voting system as well as other changes at the state capitol which we are all adjusting to as we learn. One benefit to some of the changes is the technology that allows people to participate, listen or view proceedings remotely.

The first week is off to a quick start, we need to operate as safely as possible so that we can continue to work throughout this session to address the needs of Kansans, especially those affected by this global pandemic.

2021 State of the State Address

The annual State of the State Address was delivered by Governor Laura Kelly on Tuesday, January 12th. Governor Kelly gave a strong speech stressing the need for bipartisanship in order to serve in the best interest of the people of Kansas. She focused primarily on the distribution of the vaccine, the economy, and education.

The Governor has released a comprehensive vaccination distribution plan. She worked diligently with federal and local partners to develop a plan that would prioritize the health of the most vulnerable, reduce the strain on hospitals, and help us kickstart our economy. The goal is to get everyone vaccinated in the most efficient way, but until the vast majority of Kansans are vaccinated then it is crucial that everyone does their part in slowing the spread of the virus.

The pandemic has hurt Kansans and our economy. To ensure that our economy is growing it is critical that we get Kansans back to work and create new and better paying jobs. The Governor pointed to infrastructure as an area for job growth. Last year, a 10-year infrastructure plan was put together in a bipartisan effort that is strategic and practical. This will prioritize the most urgently needed projects and also create a number of jobs.

Lastly, Governor Kelly noted the importance of keeping our children in schools. It has been a long 10 months for our children, their parents, and the teachers. The pandemic has created a new set of challenges. We want to get every Kansas student back in the classroom as soon as possible and provide their teachers with the tools and resources they need to get our children back on track. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain education funding and also improve access to broadband. We have learned that learning remotely is difficult enough without struggling with weak and unreliable internet.

This year, the focus has to be getting Kansas back on track. That starts with ensuring that everyone receives a vaccination, that our children are in school, and that our economy continues to grow. Success in these areas requires bipartisanship. The Governor has made it clear that public health is always put before politics and hopes that others will follow suit.

2021 Budget

On Wednesday, Budget Director Adam Proffitt presented the Governor’s budget to a joint session of the House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means Committees. The Governor’s budget priorities are to protect core services such as education, infrastructure, and economic development resources. This is a continuation of the Governor’s fiscal leadership to make sure we are putting tools back into Kansas’ toolbox.

Highlights from the Governor’s budget:

● Maintaining a positive ending balance to prevent an economic downturn and ensuring fiscal responsibility.

● Continuing economic growth despite a global pandemic in new investments from businesses like Urban Outfitters, Amazon, and Great Plains Manufacturing.

● Fully fund K-12 Public Schools.

● Closing the “Bank of KDOT” while continuing to make critical investments in the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Plan.

● Modernization of the State’s digital infrastructure, including $37.5 million in federal funds.

● Expanding the state’s Medicaid program.

The Constitutional Amendment

This week, the Constitutional Amendment, HCR 5003, was introduced by the House Committee on Federal and State Affairs. The amendment is a proposition to amend the bill of rights of the constitution of the state of Kansas by adding a new section stating that there is no constitutional right to abortion. This amendment would knowingly be put on an election date in 2022 that would disenfranchise many voters, and still contains no protections for rape, incest or the life of the mother,

Kansas Emergency Management Act

HB 2048 addresses the Governor’s emergency powers through the Kansas Emergency Management Act (KEMA) and outlines how long her emergency powers exist and also what she can, and cannot, do while they are enacted. The bill is similar to HB 2016 passed last year by the legislature, and extends the emergency declaration until June 1, 2021, but is more restrictive and limits the governor's ability to effectively manage the spread of COVID-19 at a critical time when we're so close to putting this pandemic behind us. It is very important to retain these tools to make it through the pandemic while simultaneously preserving economic growth. Without these tools, the Governor would not be able to effectively guide us through this pandemic and keep public safety and health as the top priority.

Resources

2020 Special Session Update

Thu, 04 Jun 2020 13:24:21 GMT

HB 2016 was debated for nearly 5 hours on the House floor yesterday, the first day of the Kansas Legislature Special Session.

HB 2016 included three main parts, CARES Act Funding, Emergency Declaration Powers and liability immunity, a 57 page bill. I continue to be concerned about process, the lack of transparency and the lack of measures to help or protect workers during this pandemic.

HB 2016 was introduced yesterday at a House Judiciary Committee meeting at the rail, it was referred directly to the Committee of the Whole. There were no hearings held, and the bill document was not available to read until a short time before we started our debate.

Democrats offered multiple amendments that would have addressed some of the issues, including expanding Medicaid and measures to help Kansas workers and ensure safe work environments. None of our amendments prevailed.

The positive part of the bill does extend the Emergency Declaration to September 15, 2020 and puts in place a process for legislative review of the distribution of the CARES Act federal funding.

When we rush legislation and do not have hearings to allow the public and subject matter experts to weigh in there are almost always unintended consequences. I wish the process for HB 2016 would have been different to allow for greater input. I will continue to fight for Kansas workers who are bearing the brunt of this pandemic and the economic downturn. I will also continue to fight for the rights of essential workers who are keeping this economy going and putting their lives and those of their loved ones at risk.

Resources

2020 Legislative Update 10

Mon, 23 Mar 2020 17:28:30 GMT

The world seems to have changed so quickly. It is difficult to put all of the emotions into words with the coronavirus pandemic now affecting literally every aspect of our lives. We are all in this together and we must remember to be kind, be patient, be safe and help one another.

The Kansas City area will be under a Public Health Order to stay at home, except for essential needs, effective Tuesday, March 24 for 30 days in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19. Additional information is available at https://www.wycokck.org/Home .

The Kansas Legislature has adjourned until April 27th (the start of veto session). I will continue to update you with COVID-19 developments and community news. As developments are changing rapidly, please follow My Legislative Facebook Page for information as we all adjust to a new reality and work to keep each other safe during this public health emergency.

Please stay informed and follow the recommendations of the CDC and State and Local Health Officials. It is so important that we flatten the curve to save lives and to not overwhelm our health care systems. My thoughts and blessings to you and your loved ones during this difficult time. As our state motto says - Ad Astra Per Aspera – To the Stars Through Difficulty – and together we will overcome the hardship we face with the coronavirus pandemic facing our state, nation and world.

Coronavirus Update

At the time of this writing, Kansas has 34 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 (and counting) as we begin to see community spread.

Governor Kelly has issued a number of executive orders to try and stifle the outbreak in Kansas, and to help Kansans who are affected by this pandemic. These measures include extending the states of local disaster emergency relating to COVID-19 ( Executive Order No. 20-03 ), temporarily prohibiting gatherings of more than 10 people at any planned or spontaneous, private or public event ( Executive Order No. 20-04 ), temporarily prohibiting utility and internet disconnections ( Executive Order No. 20-05 ), and temporarily prohibiting evictions and foreclosures ( Executive Order No. 20-06 ).

In accordance with Executive Order No. 20-04 , all restaurants, bars, gyms, movie theaters, museums and stadiums are closed across the state. Restaurants and bars are allowed to remain open only if they serve drive-through, carry-out or deliver food.

On Tuesday, Governor Kelly issued another Executive Order ( No. 20-07 ), which ordered all K-12 schools in the state to be closed for the remainder of the school year. Though the buildings themselves are closed, a task force of education experts are currently working on a plan to continue students’ education through the closure. The decisions will be made on a school-by-school basis.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has provided guidelines to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and are as follows:

Stay home if you have symptoms of COVID-19

Symptoms include a fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath.

Continue practicing preventive actions

This includes washing your hands with soap and water frequently for at least 20 seconds, cleaning frequently touched surfaces daily, covering your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, avoiding touching your face, and practicing social distancing.

Notify your employer of changes in schedule

Avoid gathering in public places

Stay in touch with others by phone or email

Stay up-to-date on the latest COVID-19 information

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has a COVID-19 Resource Center with up-to-date information, and I will be making local updates on my Legislative Facebook Page . Additionally, major newspapers across Kansas, including the Kansas City Star , the Wichita Eagle and the Topeka Capital Journal , have lifted their paywalls for stories relevant to the COVID-19.

Take care of your family’s emotional health

Transportation Bill

Though the Governor issued a comprehensive transportation plan, Republicans in the legislature instead produced their own bill, and House Sub for SB 173 passed on Emergency Final Action on Monday, March 16th.

House Sub for SB 173 was sent to conference committee on Tuesday and Wednesday. In conference committee, they adopted the House Sub for SB 173 with a few modifications:

Authorizing federal funding from grants or stimulus to be used for preservation and preservation plus projects.
Requiring remaining T-Works projects to be let prior to July 1, 2023, rather than July 1, 2022, and requiring the Secretary to let to construction contract at least one phase of each remaining TWorks project (rather than each project) before any 17 - 173 new modernization or expansion project under the Program.
In provisions regarding a metric-driven process for geographic distribution of Program projects, clarifying a deadline for letting a certain proportion of projects.
In provisions regarding alternative delivery methods: r emoving a requirement such methods be used only when a condition of federal grants; p rohibiting these methods from being used for preservation projects; a uthorizing these methods to be used on three projects utilizing toll revenues, one let to construction once every three years; l imiting the proportion of Program dollars to be used on alternative delivery; and r equiring any project utilizing alternative delivery cost at least $100 million.
Adding requirements for the annual report for information on revenue available to the SHF, committed expenditures identified by program, outstanding projects that have been let but not paid out and how those projects have been identified to achieve state highway system condition targets.
Clarifying an amount referenced in provisions regarding public transportation is to be used for public transportation.

The Conference Committee Report on SB 173 was adopted by the House 112-3. It is a good bill that garnered wide support from the legislature, as well as from the Kansas Department of Transportation.

Emergency Floor Action

Because of the threat of COVID-19, the legislature has taken a number of much-needed steps to ensure our state can continue to function at its best during this pandemic. Four bills and one concurrent resolution advanced to emergency final action this week in the House:

HCR 5025 - “Ratifying and providing the continuation of the March 12, 2020, state of disaster emergency declaration for the state of Kansas.” — Passed 116-0
H Sub SB 102 – “Allowing the Chief Justice of the Kansas Supreme Court to extend or suspend deadlines or time limitations to secure the health and safety of court users, staff and judicial officers.” — Passed 113-5
H Sub SB 173 - “Providing for the Eisenhower legacy transportation plan.” — Passed 103-16
H Sub SB 142 - “Authorizing the state board of education to grant waivers for school districts from the requirement to provide a minimum number of school hours during the school term.” — Passed 117-2
H Sub SB 27 - “Providing for a maximum of 26 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits and compensation for the pre-payment waiting period.” — Passed 119-0

When HCR 5025 was passed to the Senate, Republicans in the chamber heavily amended it to severely limit the Governor’s powers during the State of Emergency.

The House nonconcurred on the amendments, and the HCR was sent to conference committee. In conference committee, the resolution was amended to include the following:

The Governor does not have the power to temporarily, or permanently, seize ammunition or firearms.
The LCC (Legislative Coordinating Council) will meet every 30 days to grant additional extensions of such state of disaster emergency, for specified periods not to exceed 30 days each, by a majority vote of five members.
The resolution replaced prohibitions on the exercise of certain statutory powers by the Governor with LCC review procedures if such powers have been ordered or proclaimed.

The Conference Committee Report on HCR 5025 then passed the House unanimously, 115-0.

Also on Thursday, the House adopted the Conference Committee Report for HB 2168 , which would set a sunset provision for the Nursing Facility Quality Care Assessment of July 1, 2030, and would amend law concerning the hospital provider assessment known as the Healthcare Access Improvement Program (HCAIP). This passed the House 91-24.

Executive Reorganization Orders

On Wednesday, Republican leadership put two of Governor Kelly’s Executive Reorganization Orders (EROs) on Special Order of Business on the floor. HR 6032 and HR 6031 are measures to disapprove of the EROs -- meaning passage of each resolution would kill the reorganizations.

HR 6032 , which disapproves ERO 44 (creating the Kansas Department of Human Services), passed 82-35.

HR 6031 , which disapproves ERO 46 (establishing the Kansas energy office), passed 72-46.

These EROs were unfortunately defeated at a time when they are more necessary than ever, particularly the establishment of the Department of Human Services. ERO 44 was specifically designed to improve the state's healthcare system and streamline the delivery of needed services. It was voted down amidst a global pandemic.

ERO 45 was not placed on Special Orders of Business. It will go into effect automatically, transferring certain powers, duties, and functions to the division of the state employee health benefits plan within the Department of Administration.

Budget

The constitutional requirement of the Kansas legislature each session is to pass a budget. Normally a very lengthy and tense process, the rapid spread of COVID-19 and concern for the safety of Kansas, Legislators urged Leadership to agree to pass a basic budget, with the full Omnibus bill to be worked upon return for veto session. The Senate passed a budget late Tuesday evening, and the appointed conference committee began work that same night. Not much progress was made, however, and Wednesday the conference committee got back to work.

On Thursday, the conference committee worked out their differences, and the Conference Committee Report for SB 66 was adopted by both House and Senate chambers.

Adjournment

Though the scheduled April break was not set to begin until April 3rd, the legislature has adjourned early to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection for staff, legislators and others that must be at the Capitol when we are in session. The legislature passed an adjournment resolution on Thursday, stating that the legislature will return for veto session on April 27th – however, the Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC) holds the authority to call members back prior to that date if necessary. The LCC also holds the authority to change the date of veto session should conditions not be safe for legislators and staff to return to the Capitol due to COVID-19. The resolution set the date for Sine Die, the official last day of the 2020 session, as May 21st.

Word of the Week

The Word of the Week was Gratitude .

Gratitude is the quality of being thankful; it’s the readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

Resources

2020 Legislative Update 9

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 14:05:26 GMT

With Kansas and the world facing a health emergency due to the pandemic COVID-19, we all must be prepared to take every measure possible to keep ourselves, our families and our neighbors safe.

Please follow the recommendations of the State and Local Health Officials and the CDC:

Practice social distancing.
Keep informed.
Wash your hand frequently and stay home if you are sick.

Things are changing rapidly. I have provided some links below to help everyone stay informed and will post new information on social media as it becomes available.

We are all in this together and everyone must take personal responsibility to combat this deadly virus.

Disaster Emergency Declaration

On Friday, March 13, the Kansas House of Representatives voted unanimously to extend the Governor’s March 12, 2020, State of Disaster Emergency Declaration for the State through January 25, 2021 to help address the COVID-19 pandemic crisis facing Kansas and our nation.

Also, on Friday, the House Judiciary Committee, of which I am a member, passed a bill that will allow the Chief Justice of the Kansas Supreme Court to extend or suspend deadlines to secure the health and safety of court users, staff and judicial officers. The Honorable Marla Luckert, Chief Justice of the Kansas Supreme Court, testified on this measure to allow flexibility for our Courts to function as we prepare and respond to COVID-19. The bill advances to the House of Representative for consideration when we reconvene on Monday.

For the most part, events and visitors to the Capitol continued as normal last week. By Friday everything had changed. There are many cancellations, visitors to the Capitol are being restricted and people are being asked to practice social distancing. This is having a real impact on literally every aspect of life. Please do all you can to stay safe during this health emergency.

Coronavirus

Kansas now has several confirmed cases of Covid-19, or the novel coronavirus, as well as the first death attributed to the disease. Lawmakers continue to meet with Governor Kelly, Dr. Lee Norman of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), the federal government, and other experts to determine the best scenario for handling the coronavirus in the state. The fact that the virus is beginning to spread through communities, coupled with our first fatality, caused Governor Kelly to declare a state of emergency. A state of emergency declaration lasts for fifteen days.

On Friday, the House passed a resolution to allow the Governor to continue the emergency declaration, until January 25, 2021, to shift and reallocate funds, and attempt to stem the tide of infection.

Late on Sunday afternoon the Governor held a press conference recommending that the Kansas State Department of Education temporarily close schools to implement comprehensive education plan amidst COVID-19 Pandemic

Please stay informed and follow the advice of State and Local Health Officials and the CDC.

Here are some links to more information about COVID-19:

Happenings at Capitol

A Medicaid Expansion Rally/Protest was held in the Capitol Rotunda on Tuesday! The chants in support of expansion reverberated throughout the building sending a message that people are tired of the gridlock on this issue and want action!

UG Transit participated in Transit Day at the Capitol last week. It was great to see them there helping inform everyone about the importance of public transit to our communities.

Appreciated the information about the services Midland Care is providing in our community at the Wyandotte County/Leavenworth County Delegation Tuesday Luncheon. Midland Care offers an integrated community care delivery system addressing social, physical and spiritual needs, improving quality of life for our aging population to keep seniors at home and independent longer, as a vital part of our community. Here is a link to learn more about this alternative to help those wanting to age in place: www.midlandcareconnection.org

Hispanic Day at the Capitol 2020 was held on Wednesday! It was a pleasure to join staff and friends from El Centro and Schlagle High School students for lunch before the group headed back to Kansas City.

Kansas House Democrat’s Thursday Summit speaker was Kyle Kessler, Association of Community Health Centers of Kansas. He spoke with members about mental health issues including funding and policies before the Kansas Legislature.

Committee Work

Work in committees continued last week. However, by Friday the environment definitely changed to focus on legislation that we must pass to give the Executive Branch, the Judicial Branch and the State Board of Education the resources and flexibility to function in what is becoming a new reality in daily life with the coronavirus.

On Friday, House Appropriations kicked out a base budget to work on the floor -- pushing more controversial issues within the budget to omnibus, so that we can quickly pass the initial budget in light of the COVID--19 spread.

The House was ready to work through the weekend to address these issues, but the Senate went home. Hopefully when the Senate returns on Monday, they will join us in the commitment to provide the resources needed to address the health emergency facing Kansas and our nation.

Bills on the Floor

HB 2571 – “Club and drinking establishment liquor license eligibility; spouse is a law enforcement officer in another county.” — Passed 108-12

HB 2490 – “Kansas corporation NOL carryforward extension.” — Passed 118-2

HB 2596 – “Allowing an alcoholic liquor manufacturer to obtain a drinking establishment license under certain conditions.” — Passed 113-7

HB 2548 – “Claims against the state submitted by the Joint Committee on Special Claims Against the State.” — Passed 115-1

HB 2689 – “Amending the angel investor tax credit with respect to the definition of qualified securities, tax credit limitations and amounts, investor requirements and extending the date that credits may be allowed.” — Passed 103-12

Word of the Week

This week’s Word of the Week from the Civil Discourse Committee is: Listen – To listen is to pay attention to someone or something that you hear. It is also to hear what someone has said and understand that it is serious, important or true.

Resources

2020 Legislative Update 8

Mon, 09 Mar 2020 14:47:30 GMT

The Kansas Legislature reconvened on Wednesday after a short break following Turnaround.

House Committees have started hearing and working bills that passed the Senate during the first part of the session.

Kansas has its first confirmed case of COVID-19. Below is additional information about that case, which is in Johnson County, as well as preventive measures and links to KDHE and the CDC for accurate up to date information. Taking preventive measures and staying informed with factual information will help all of us keep our families safer.

Last Tuesday, Lieutenant Governor Lynn Rogers joined a discussion at the Community Health Council of Wyandotte County about what Medicaid Expansion would mean for so many in our community. Senator Pat Pettey, Senator David Haley and I were invited to listen in on the conversation. As supporters of Medicaid expansion, we appreciated the opportunity to hear the discussion and are hopeful that we will have the opportunity to vote and pass expansion this session. Medicaid expansion will provide coverage to more that 130,000 low-income Kansans. It would cover people whose household earnings fall below 138% of the federal poverty level which is $36,156 for a family of four.

Our Thursday Summit speaker this past week was Secretary of Commerce David Toland. Secretary Toland and David Soffer, KDOC Legislative & Policy Director, shared information about the programs and policies to increase economic growth in Kansas. Here is a link to the KDOC web site to learn more about those efforts: https://www.kansascommerce.gov/ .

It was very exciting to see the winners of the Kansas Small Business Awards at the State Capitol. The Small Business Development Center honored Kansas businesses that are making a positive impact on Kansas communities. It was great to hear their success stories and offer my congratulations to the 2020 award winners.

Hope you will join us for a Legislative Coffee on Saturday, March 28th, 10:30 am, at the Kansas City, Kansas Public Library, 625 Minnesota Avenue, KCK. The Wyandotte County Legislators will provide information about the 2020 Legislative Session and answer questions about matters before the Kansas Legislature.

COVID-19 in Kansas

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) confirmed the first presumptive-positive case of COVID-19 in Kansas. The possible case was identified today with testing sent to KDHE’s Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories (KHEL). KHEL, which is approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to perform COVID-19 testing, found presumptive-positive results this afternoon. These results will be verified by the CDC lab but will be treated as positive unless determined otherwise.

The case is located in Johnson County and the patient is currently in home isolation, following the guidance of the CDC. KDHE continues to work with the local health department and CDC to identify and contact people who may have come into contact with the individual while they were infectious and will monitor them for fever and respiratory symptoms. The patient is a female under the age of 50 years old.

Under Governor Kelly’s direction, KDHE and KDEM are in constant communication with local hospitals and health departments, coordinating with local, state and federal public health partners; preparing for emergency management situations on a regular basis, with staff who have decades of experience in developing responses and preventative measures for any situation;

continuing to work with federal, state and local partners to maintain awareness of national and international COVID-19 trends and strategies.

Here is some helpful information:

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms may include fever, cough, shortness of breath. These symptoms can develop 2-14 days after exposure. The symptoms can range from mild to severe – and in rare cases, have resulted in death.

If you have recently traveled to areas including China, Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea and have developed fever with lower respiratory symptoms including cough and shortness of breath within 14 days of your travel or have had contact with someone with a laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19, stay home and call your healthcare provider. You may also call the KDHE phone hotline number.

KDHE HOTLINE NUMBER: ‪1-866-534-3463‬ (‪1-866-KDHEINF‬)‬‬

PREVENTION

There is no current vaccine for COVID-19. However, there are ways to prevent the spread of this disease.

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Cough into your sleeve and sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using regular household cleaning products
Stay home when you are sick

The CDC considers this a significant threat as does the World Health Organization. With cases in over 13 US states, the Federal government has taken some steps towards funding a preparatory defense. CDC has deployed multidisciplinary teams to support state health departments case identification, contact tracing, clinical management, and communications.

On February 29, the U.S. government announced it was suspending entry of foreign nationals who have been in Iran within the past 14 days.
CDC has issued the following travel guidance related to COVID-19.
China — Level 3, Avoid Nonessential Travel — updated February 22.
Hong Kong — Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions — issued February 19.
Iran — Level 3, Avoid Nonessential Travel — updated February 28.
Italy — Level 3, Avoid Nonessential Travel — updated February 28.
Japan — Level 2, Practice Enhanced Precautions — updated February 22.
South Korea — Level 3, Avoid Nonessential Travel — updated February 24.
CDC also recommends that all travelers reconsider cruise ship voyages into or within Asia at this time.

For more information about COVID-19, visit KDHE’s website and Frequently Asked Questions .

Designating the Kansas Official State Dance

HB 2385, designating the Polka as the official state dance was amended in the House Federal and State Affairs Committee designating the Polka and Square Dance as the official state dances in Kansas! It now advances to the full House of Representatives for consideration. Link to bill .

Kansas State Library

The State Library celebrated 50 years of Talking Books in Kansas with Kansas Talking Books Week March 1-7

The Kansas Talking Books program, a division of the State Library of Kansas, provides library materials in a specialized format to any Kansas resident with a visual or physical impairment that makes reading difficult. This no-charge service includes fiction and nonfiction in braille or audio format, magazines in braille or audio, plus descriptive videos. A simple application is available at https://kslib.info/talking-books.

A signature from a certifying authority such as a medical doctor, optometrist, or librarian is needed. If you or someone you know would like information, please visit the Kansas Talking Books website https://kslib.info/talking-books or call 620-341-6280 or 1-800-362-0699.

Resources

2020 Legislative Update 7

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 19:59:11 GMT

This week I had the special honor to carry Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons legislation, House Bill 2646 , on the Kansas House floor.

HB 2646 was introduced by my friend and seat-mate Representative Ponka-We Victors . She did a wonderful job advocating and building support for this critical legislation. It is a very important first step that will allow Kansas to join other states to address the current crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women and people across America.

HB 2646 passed the House with a unanimous vote and now advances to the Senate for consideration.

Our Tuesday Delegation Luncheon was sponsored by the Kansas Bankers Association.

Alex Orel did a wonderful job of sharing information about the KBA. Of particular interest was the outreach that KBA is doing to attract students to consider a career in banking. The banking industry offers opportunities not only in traditional banking roles but also in the areas of compliance, IT and marketing to name a few. I am very proud of Alex, who grew up in KCK in the St. Peter’s Neighborhood. Alex does a great job and represents our community very well.

In honor of “Black History Month,” Friends of Yates hosted their 40th Annual Men & Women of Distinction Awards Ceremony. I very much appreciated the opportunity to be a part of this special celebration. My congratulations to all of the honorees and a special thanks to the Board and Staff at Friends of Yates for the work they do to make our community a better place for everyone. Here is a link to learn more about the important work Friends of Yates provides in our community .

On Friday, Representative Jerry Stogsdill and I participated in a panel discussion at the ArtsKC Advocacy Workshop. We were joined by Rep. Greg Razer and Rep. Keri Ingle on the Missouri side to share our thoughts about best practices to advocate at the state level for the arts.

Last year Representative Stogsdill and I successfully advocated for an increase in funding for the arts to make available additional grant money to communities throughout Kansas. We still have a long way to go to restore the funding that was available prior to Governor Brownback eliminating the Kansas Arts Commission and welcome the opportunity to help build advocacy for this effort.

Word of the Week

This week’s Word of the Week from the Civil Discourse Committee is Trust – the firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, and strength of someone, and believing that someone is good and honest and will do you no harm.

Legislative Progress

The House spent two full days on the floor this week, working nearly 40 pieces of legislation. All of these bills received the constitutional majority vote, and now move on to the Senate for consideration. Post turnaround, legislators will take a short break and return for session on Wednesday, March 4th. The House will then begin to work Senate bills, as well as House bills that have been “blessed.”

“Blessed” bills were announced on Wednesday. These bills are moved from non-exempt committees to exempt committees so that they can continue to be worked. The Speaker of the House determines which bills are blessed and which are not. Additionally, bills originating in exempt committees will also continue to be worked. You can find the full list of blessed bills in the House Journal (on page 2178) here .

Notable Bills on the House Floor

HB 2438 - “Allowing certain exceptions to the confidentiality of state child death review board documents.” — Passed 125-0

HB 2452 - “Providing certain KP&F tier II spousal and children's benefits for death resulting from a service-connected disability.” — Passed 125-0

HB 2469 - “Extending terminal medical release to inmates in the custody of the department of corrections with a condition likely to cause death within 90 days.” — Passed 120-5

HB 2480 - “Updating the definition of long-term care insurance contained in the long-term care insurance act.” — Passed 125-0

HB 2495 - “Authorizing the crime victims compensation board to waive application time restrictions for a victim of a sexually violent crime to receive compensation for mental health counseling.” — Passed 125-0

HB 2516 - “Enacting the first-time home buyer savings account act.” — Passed 123-2

HB 2518 - “Counting any crime with a domestic violence designation as a prior conviction under domestic battery.” — Passed 125-0

HB 2546 - “Creating the crime of sexual extortion and adding the crime to the Kansas offender registration act.” — Passed 125-0

HB 2646 - “Requiring the attorney general to coordinate training for law enforcement agencies on missing and murdered indigenous people.” — Passed 125-0

HB 2585 - “Exempting the retail sale of electricity for electric vehicle charging stations from the jurisdiction of the state corporation commission and requiring a siting permit from the commission for the construction of certain electric transmission lines.” — Passed 123-2

HB 2702 - “Decoupling the KIT and KIR workforce training programs from the high-performance incentive fund program and enhancing the workforce training tax credit.” — Passed 125-0

HB 2618 - “Establishing a state broadband grant program under the department of commerce to encourage the deployment of broadband in the state.” — Passed 120-5

HB 2540 - “Requiring moneys attributable to at-risk student weighting be expended for approved at-risk educational programs.” — Passed 111-14

Washington Days

The Kansas Democrats’ annual convention is next weekend, March 6th and 7th. The convention, Washington Days, is the largest gathering of Democrats in the state. Speakers for the weekend include Nicole Galloway, candidate for Governor of Missouri; Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers; Former KS-02 Representative Jim Slattery; and Governor Laura Kelly.

In addition to an auction, luncheon, banquet, and featured speakers, auxiliary caucuses hold their annual meetings, and many other activities are planned. Click here for the full Washington Days schedule.

Kansas State Library - Getting ready to apply for college?

Improving your test scores just got easier with LearningExpress Library, available from the State Library of Kansas. LearningExpress Library is an online resource that includes practice tests and tutorials for PSAT, ACT and SAT as well as AP and essay writing help. There is no charge to use LearningExpress and no limit to the number of times you can take the practice tests. Becoming familiar with and comfortable with the testing format and the types of questions helps to improve test scores. Go to https://kslib.info/LearningExpress click on College Preparation Center .

Resources

2020 Legislative Update 6

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 19:05:15 GMT

Week 6 was a very busy week as we approach the mid-point of the 2020 Kansas Legislative Session.

The Wyandotte County/Leavenworth County Legislative Delegation luncheon was sponsored by DCCCA and Cornerstones of Care.

Delegation members heard about the family preservation programs they provide in our community. An additional luncheon was sponsored by Goodwill where we learned about the Artemis Initiative with Goodwill to prepare people with disabilities and barriers to employment for the 4th Industrial Revolution. A highlight was meeting the amazing Artemis robot named Rex.

Moms Demand Action were also at the Capitol advocating for common sense gun legislation! Moms Demand Action is a grassroots movement of Americans fighting for public safety measures that can protect people from gun violence, They have a chapter in every state and work tirelessly to address this tragic issue. More Americans are killed with guns than are killed in our peer countries in an entire calendar year. Appreciate their presence at the Statehouse and their advocacy. Learn more about Moms Demand Action here .

On Friday the House Commerce, Labor and Economic Development Committee met despite four members being absent to attend the funeral of a former representative. Replacements were appointed to fill in and we worked five bills that we had previously heard. It was disappointing that we did not wait for the regular members, who had the benefit of participating in the hearings, the discussion and receiving input from stakeholders, to return before working the bills. I was particularly disappointed with the outcome of two of those bills, House Bill 2315 and House Bill 2625 .

One bill, House Bill 2315 , would have allowed private company school bus drivers to be eligible to receive unemployment benefits which is prohibited in current law with school bus drivers specifically singled out. The unemployment benefits for school bus drivers failed to pass out of committee along a party line vote. Hopefully the measure will be able to be brought forward in the future for consideration.

Another bill, House Bill 2625 , preempts cities and counties from prohibiting or regulating paper or plastic carryout bags and other single-use plastic items. Several cities are considering adopting ordinances to address the single use plastic waste and the passage of this bill would preempt and prohibit that effort. I think this is an overreach by the Kansas Legislature and encroaches on Constitutional Home Rule for our Cities. Our citizens support strong local control and voted to add it to our State Constitution long ago. The cities in our state are so diverse and a one size fits all does not work in many instances. Local control allows our cities to be our laboratories of experiment, to try new policies, and if successful that can be adopted by other localities if supported by their community.

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 .

Remembering Rep. Greg Lewis

A moment of silence was held to honor Former State Representative Greg Lewis passed away last week. Rep. Lewis resigned in February of 2019 to focus on his health after being diagnosed with brain cancer. Rep. Lewis was a devoted servant to Kansas and its people. It was an honor to serve with Greg and I appreciated being reminded of his parting advice to us last February:

“Enjoy each day, enjoy your family, your friends, your fellow legislators, but do not take yourself too seriously. Serve your District with a servant’s heart.

This is the House of Representatives.
This is not. . .this is not the house of self-interest.
This is not the house of special interest.
This is the People’s House; long may it serve the People and this Great State of Kansas”

Wise words from a wonderful man who worked to make his community and this world a better place. My sincere condolences to Greg’s wife Susan and their family.

Executive Reorganization Orders

Three of Gov. Laura Kelly’s Executive Reorganization Orders (EROs) were passed out of committee over the past week. Unfortunately, both Executive Order 44 (creating the Kansas Department of Human Services) and Executive Order 46 (establishing the Kansas Energy Office) were passed out of committee unfavorably. Executive Order 45, however, (which transfers the functions of the state employee health benefits plan and state workers compensation self-insurance fund from the Department of Health to the Department of Administration)

was passed out of committee favorably. The EROs fall under Special Orders of Business on the House Calendar, where they’ll remain until the Speaker assigns a date for them to be worked on the floor. If no legislative action is taken on these resolutions, the EROs automatically go into effect.

Medicaid Expansion

Last Thursday, the Senate committee on Public Health and Welfare worked SB 252 (Medicaid Expansion), adding provisions that according to the Topeka Capital-Journal would allow medical providers to deny services to LGBTQ patients, add work requirements, and require both the pending ACA litigation be settled and the Constitutional Amendment regarding abortion pass both the Legislature and be passed by Kansas voters before Medicaid expansion could be implemented.

Turnaround

This week is turnaround week in the Kansas Legislature, where on Thursday the House receives the bills passed through the Senate, and the Senate receives the House bills. The Legislature is traditionally on the floor all day for several days debating and working on bills. After Turnaround week, House committees will resume meeting to hold hearings and work bills sent to us from the Senate.

Bills on the House Floor

HB 2524 - “Updating motor carrier laws and regulation of motor carriers by the state corporation commission.” — Passed 118-0

HB 2420 - “Allowing military surplus vehicles to register with the division of vehicles for road use.” — Passed 122-0

HB 2448 - “Changing penalties for crimes related to motor vehicles.” — Passed 98-25

HB 2454 - “Self-storage unit rentals; sales and towing of property for nonpayment of rent or abandonment; contractual value of property.” — Passed 114-9

HB 2429 - “Adding a public defender to the Kansas criminal justice reform commission.” — Passed 121-1

HB 2432 - “Creating the Kansas pesticide waste disposal program and allowing up to $50,000 to be transferred annually from the Kansas agricultural remediation fund to a new Kansas pesticide waste disposal fund.” — Passed 122-0

HB 2447 - “Changing how two-way electronic audio-visual communication is used in courts.” — Passed 83-39

HB 2449 - “Changing the requirements for board of indigents' defense services appointments.” — Passed 99-23

HB 2451 - “Amending Kansas department of agriculture division of animal health license, permit and registration renewal deadlines.” — Passed 122-0

HB 2501 - “Allowing salvage vehicle pools to apply for ownership documents for vehicles that are disclaimed by insurance companies.” — Passed 119-3

HB 2595 - “Eliminating the 30-day delay before offering state surplus property for sale to the general public.” — Passed 118-3-1

HB 2515 - “Creating the Kansas promise scholarship program.” — Passed 116-6

HB 2500 - “Amending the Kansas power of attorney act regarding the form of a power of attorney and the duties of third parties relying and acting on a power of attorney.” — Passed 122-0

HB 2521 - “Enacting the revised uniform athlete agents act.” — Passed 122-0

KLRD

The Kansas Legislative Research Department provides nonpartisan, objective research and fiscal analysis for the Kansas Legislature. Many of the KLRD publications and reports are available online .

Resources

2020 Legislative Update 5

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 21:31:55 GMT

The Kansas 2020 Legislative Session is in full swing, it was a very busy week, with much of the work still being done in committees as we hear and work bills to advance forward. We are just two weeks away from Turnaround Day when non-exempt committee bills must pass from the House to the Senate or Senate to the House for consideration.

During the session organizations, individuals and advocates fill the Capitol to participate in the process. Kansas WEALTH Day, Environmental Advocacy and Education, was held on Monday bringing together organizations, advocates and legislators to learn about and advocate for water, energy, air, land, transportation and health.

It was so good to see my friends from Friends of Yates at the Capitol for KCSDV’s Advocacy Day. They joined coalition members from across the state to spend the day educating legislators and the public about the services their organizations provide to victims and survivors. I am very thankful for the work they do every day in our communities.

The Wyandotte County/Leavenworth County Delegation Luncheon this week was with the Kansas City, Kansas Chamber of Commerce. We appreciate the presentation from the KCK Chamber on their legislative priorities and the discussion that followed on matters before the Kansas Legislature.

Weekly lunch and learns are very helpful with our work in the Kansas Legislature. This week Patrick Hubble was the guest speaker at the House Democratic Caucus Thursday Summit. The topic was Railroads which are an important part of Kansas history. Rail service, particularly freight, continues to be important to Kansas today with major railroads, along with regional and shortline carriers, operating key routes within the state. Many of my family members worked for the Railroad including my Dad, my Grandpa Horton and Grandpa Shirley. I still love hearing the train whistles, hearing the cars bump against each other and have such fond memories of the many trips we took riding the train. Here is a link to learn more about the history of Railroads in Kansas .

Response to Constitutional Amendment Failure

As soon as the constitutional amendment regarding abortion failed to receive the 2/3 vote required for passage in the House, Senate President, Susan Wagle, announced she was pulling any bill that could be germane to Medicaid Expansion back into committee. The Senate Majority Leader, Jim Denning, responded to that announcement with a tweet calling Wagle an obstructionist and accusing her of not following the legislative process. It is unfortunate that Medicaid Expansion, that would help so many Kansans that fall in the coverage gap, is being held hostage by those trying to force a different outcome on the constitutional amendment.

House Democratic Caucus Rolls Out 2020 Agenda

On Thursday, the House Democratic Caucus held a press conference to roll out their 2020 policy agenda and priorities. Minority Leader, Rep. Sawyer, spoke alongside a number of Democratic Representatives on the five policy objectives: Affordable, Quality Healthcare; Investing in Children; Supporting Workers and Families; Equal Opportunity for All; and Investing in a Sustainable Future. It was my privilege to participate and talk about supporting our working Kansans and their families. House Democrats have introduced many bills under each of these categories. Here is a link to watch the video of the press conference .

Hearings

In House Commerce, Labor and Economic Development Committee a hearing was held on an anti-labor union bill (HB 2586) that would affect payroll deduction for union dues. Most of those testifying in support of the bill are not from Kansas and are not from Right to Work States. There was no testimony in support of this bill from anyone in Kansas that would be directly affected. We did hear from a number of Kansan’s opposed to this bill stating that it is not needed. The fate of the middle class is directly tied to the strength of our unions and strong unions are an important part of the balance for income equality. Democrats have always stood in support of unions and we will continue to do so.

House Bill 2385 - Designating the polka as the official state dance will have a hearing on Wednesday February 19th in the House Federal and State Affairs Committee. I thought this might be of interest to my Polish friends particularly those I grew up with on Polish Hill in KCK! Here is a link to the bill page which includes instructions in case you want to testify or send a letter/email in support of the bill.

Looking Ahead…

We hope to get past the current gridlock regarding Medicaid Expansion. Though the constitutional amendment failed in the House last week, it is fully expected to come back at some point during the session. Coming up in two weeks is Turnaround – when we will be on the floor all day long dealing with bills the Senate has sent over to the House.

Bills Passed Through the House Floor

We took our third final action vote Monday which was on HB 2466, enacting the Kansas taxpayer protection act and requiring the signature and tax identification number of paid preparers on income tax returns, it passed 118-1.

State Library

Learn Online with Universal Class

Universal Class is an online resource provided by the State Library of Kansas. Universal Class offers over 500 lifelong learning courses in more than 30 areas of study at no charge. Join a full course with instructors and readings or just watch the lecture videos to brush up on a topic. The wide range of courses offers something for everyone: from accounting to yoga, babysitting to parenting, cake decorating to computer training.

State of Kansas Fun Fact

In 1990, Kansas produced enough wheat to give everyone on earth 6 loaves of bread (33 billion loaves). Thus, Kansas is known as the Wheat State for a reason!

Resources

2020 Legislative Update 4

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 21:10:40 GMT

On Monday, the Greater Kansas City Chamber hosted a luncheon for Legislators at the Capitol. Joe Reardon, President/CEO, and his team gave an excellent presentation about the Kansas City Region’s economic importance to Kansas. Much of the information they provided is available online in the new Greater KC Report. There were a lot of good questions and discussion about the opportunities and challenges facing the region. We very much appreciate the opportunity to have these important dialogues!

We had a very special Wyandotte County/Leavenworth County Delegation Luncheon on Tuesday. KCKPS Students, who were at the Statehouse for Citizen Lobby Day, joined us to hear a presentation from Kansas University Health Systems! It was great to have the students join us to learn about the new campus on Strawberry Hill where adult mental and behavioral health inpatient services are offered. We also heard about the new proton cancer treatment. KU Health Systems will be the first in the region to provide lifesaving proton therapy in Kansas City to cancer patients.

It was a pleasure to attend the annual Travel Industry Association of Kansas (TIAK) celebration “Destination Statehouse” on Wednesday. It was an enjoyable evening learning more about the attractions in Kansas and the economic benefit of the travel and tourism industry to our state. I was stumped by one of the trivia questions. “Do you know how much a buffalo hunter in the 1800’s made a day?” My 3 guesses were way off - surprisingly the answer was $100.00 a day!

Aaron Coleman, a student at Johnson County Community College and my nephew, spent the day “shadowing” me to learn and experience firsthand the legislative process. If you are interested or know of a student that would be interested in spending a day or part of a day with me at the Statehouse please let me know.

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

First Vote of the 2020 Session

The first vote on the House Floor of the 2020 Session was taken on Monday. HB 2426 will make technical amendments to provisions in the Code of Civil Procedure, Small Claims Procedure Act, and Code of Civil Procedure for Limited Actions to update and standardize statutory references. This bill was introduced by Rep. Highberger and passed through Final Action 114-0.

Kansas City Chiefs Superbowl Win

Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs on their Superbowl win! The Kansas City Chiefs won the 54th Superbowl, on the 50th anniversary of their first championship. In celebration of the win, a parade took place in Kansas City, MO on Wednesday. Because of the historic win, Speaker of the House Ryckman and Senate President Wagle closed the state legislature to allow legislators to attend the celebration.

COLA Day At the Capital

Members of the Kansas Coalition of Public Retirees gathered at the Statehouse this week for “COLA” day. Retirees spent the day talking with lawmakers about the need for a cost of living raise for those receiving benefits and urging support for HB2100. It has been 22 years since KPERS recipients have received a cost of living adjustment while at the same time the Consumer Price Index has risen by approximately 54.00 percent. It is important that we keep the promise to our public service employees including those that are currently working and depending on KPERS for their future retirement as well as those retirees who without cost of living adjustments struggle to make ends meet in the very communities they protected and served.

Constitutional Amendment Goes to Final Action

The proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution (SCR 1613) that would strip women of their bodily autonomy was debated on the House Floor Thursday morning. During the debate a “gut and go” amendment was brought forth that would have replaced the text of the constitutional amendment with the language in HCR 5004, a bill which grants personhood to all humans beginning at fertilization, effectively banning all abortion and making miscarriages a crime. The germaneness of said amendment was challenged and the rules committee ruled it not germane.

SCR 1613 was then moved to be recommended for passage. Moving any bill from General Orders to Final Action requires a simple majority, whereas on Final Action, a Constitutional amendment requires 2/3rds of the body’s votes, or 84 yes votes. The vote passed out of General Orders 80-41. Friday, after being held in Call of the House for nearly six hours, the amendment failed 80-43 during Final Action.

House Appropriations Begins to Examine Budget

The House Appropriations Committee has begun reviewing the Governor’s budget proposal. Two policy pieces within the proposal particularly stand out as necessary and logical for Kansans.

The first is targeted food sales tax relief. Kansas has the highest food sales tax in the nation. This policy will replace the current non-refundable food sales tax credit with a new refundable food sales tax credit. If approved the measure will return $63 million back to the people of Kansas.

The other policy goal of the Governor is property tax relief. This resumes transfers from the State General Fund back to the Local Ad Valorem, returning property taxes back to local communities.

State Library

Explora is an online resource available from the State Library of Kansas.

Click on the grade-appropriate icon for assistance with Middle School or High School homework or class assignments. Explora delivers high-quality articles from reputable publishers with no pop-ups or ads. Reading level indicators allow selection of material that matches students’ reading abilities. Broad topic overviews provide students with a starting point for their research.

Resources

2020 Legislative Update 3

Mon, 03 Feb 2020 20:53:46 GMT

2020 Legislative Update 3

The 2020 Legislative Session is well underway and it has been an extremely busy start. Much of the work and focus is in Committees with hearings and some bills beginning to work their way to the full House of Representatives for consideration. Monday, February 3rd is the deadline for Legislators to request bills to be drafted for consideration this year.

At this week’s Wyandotte County/Leavenworth County Delegation Luncheon Stephen Durest with Federico Consulting provided information about Charter Communications and Spectrum providing internet and cable services to customers in our area. We appreciated the opportunity for members of the delegation to learn more about the services provided by Charter and Spectrum as well as ask questions and discuss several issues that may come up this session.

The Kansas County Appraiser’s, Kansas Law Enforcement and Kansas County Clerk’s Association all held Legislative Reception’s in Topeka this past week. Wyandotte County Appraiser Kathy Briney and Wyandotte County Sheriff Don Ash were in attendance. We appreciate the opportunity to visit with our local officials about matters before the Kansas Legislature! These discussions are so helpful as we work together to serve our community.

One of the highlights of the week was Latina Leaders Day at the Capitol which brought participants from every Kansas Congressional District to the Statehouse including many from Wyandotte County!

It was a special honor to have Dolores Huerta, civil rights activist, and labor leader, at the Capitol for Latina Leaders Day. The stories, wisdom, and advice she shared were very impactful. Both the House and Senate recognized Dolores Huerta for her work and Governor Laura Kelly signed a proclamation honoring Dolores Huerta stating, "Huerta's fight for social justice inspired generations of leaders and changed our country for the better."

Here is a link to learn more about the work of this wonderful lady: https://doloreshuerta.org/dolores-huerta/

Constitutional Amendment Passes the Senate

The proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution (SCR 1613) that would strip women of their bodily autonomy was debated on the Senate Floor on Wednesday night. The debate lasted over four hours and included many attempted amendments, including an amendment that would put exceptions in the constitutional amendment for cases of rape, incest, or if the woman’s life was in danger. That amendment failed 28-12 on the Senate floor. The Senate eventually passed the constitutional amendment on a voice vote and then suspended the rules in order to have an Emergency Final Action vote. That vote was also 28-12, passing the Senate and sending SCR 1613 over to the House. The House is expected to debate the amendment next week.

Latina Leaders Day

On Thursday, Rep. Susan Ruiz brought forth a House Resolution naming January 30th Latina Leaders Day. The resolution passed on a unanimous voice vote. In attendance were many Latina leaders throughout the state, including Dolores Huerta, a civil rights activist who spent her life advocating for equality. Governor Laura Kelly also signed a proclamation honoring Dolores Huerta stating “Huerta's fight for social justice inspired generations of leaders and changed our country for the better."

Governor Kelly Holds Press Conference

Thursday afternoon, Governor Kelly held a press conference regarding the Senate’s passing of SCR 1613, the constitutional amendment that would strip women of their bodily autonomy. During the press conference, she urged members of the House to vote “no” on this constitutional amendment, stating that these decisions should be left to women, their doctors, and whomever else they choose to confide in, not politicians. Governor Kelly emphasized that she ran to protect the rights of all Kansans, including women.

Early Learning Resources from the State Library

Britannica School is an online resource from the State Library of Kansas for children. Most of the content is for grades 2-4 but it includes Fundamentals! for Pre-K which uses games, videos, and drawing tools to engage younger learners.

BookFlix pairs video storybooks with related nonfiction e-books. Imagine Curious George paired with a nonfiction book about monkeys! The read-along storybook highlights each word as it is read. This option can be turned off. Related games reinforce early learning reading skills. BookFlix requires Flash.

Britannica E-Stax (PreK-6) features nonfiction books that can be read online or downloaded to any Internet-enabled device. Both are available at no charge through the State Library’s website .

Resources

2020 Legislative Update 2

Mon, 27 Jan 2020 18:52:53 GMT

2020 Legislative Update 1

It was a busy week at the Capitol as the Kansas Legislature completed week two of the 2020 session. It is wonderful to see so many visitors from home attending events at the Statehouse and engaged in the legislative process!

The Wyandotte County/Leavenworth County Legislative Delegation’s first luncheon for the 2020 Session was held on Tuesday with KCK Board of Public Utilities as the sponsor. Bill Johnson, General Manager, and David Mehlhaff, Chief Communications Officer, provided a presentation about the utility and answered questions from Legislators. The discussion and information provided was very helpful. The Tuesday delegation lunches provide a good venue for members to learn and discuss various topics and issues.

On Wednesday I participated in a panel discussion with Senator Longbine and Representative Finch at Local Government Day sponsored by the Kansas Association of Counties and League of Kansas Municipalities. There were some great questions and I appreciated the opportunity to visit with our local officials about matters before the Kansas Legislature. By working together, we can better serve our communities and state.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

On Monday, we celebrated the life and works of Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Each year he is honored for his devotion and sacrifice in the name of equality and for the Civil Rights movement.

Constitutional Amendment

A proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution, HCR 5019, was heard in a joint meeting of the House Federal and State Affairs Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. The amendment would strip women of their bodily autonomy and could potentially open the door to a full ban on abortion in the state of Kansas.

The hearing went throughout the entire day, with proponents and opponents testifying. On Wednesday, the amendment passed out of both committees, and was read into the Senate agenda. Thursday, the amendment was read into the House agenda. Thus far there is no word on when the amendment will be worked on either floor.

Equality Day

Thursday was Equality Day in the State House. Much of the crowd consisted of students coming from all over Kansas -- many of whom it was their first time in the building.

Speakers included Representative Brandon Woodard and Representative Susan Ruiz, the first LGBTQ state representatives to be elected in the state of Kansas; State Senator Barbara Bollier; and Tom Witt, the Executive Director for Equality Kansas. Among the topics mentioned by the speakers were amending the Kansas Discrimination Act to include Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Gender Expression; banning conversion therapy and more.

State Library

Explora is an online resource available from the State Library’s web site: http://kslib.info/students . Click on the grade-appropriate icon for assistance with Middle School or High School homework or class assignments. Explora delivers high-quality articles from reputable publishers with no pop-ups or ads. Reading level indicators allow selection of material that matches students’ reading abilities. Broad topic overviews provide students with a starting point for their research.

Resources

My Twitter Account

2020 Legislative Update 1

Sun, 19 Jan 2020 19:33:12 GMT

2020 Legislative Update 1

The 2020 Kansas Legislative Session commenced on Monday, January 13th and is off to a brisk start. The first week brought many Kansans to the Capitol to share information, ideas and participate in the beginning of the Legislative Session.

On Friday members of the Kansas Legislature participated in a "Building Trust through Civil Discourse" workshop designed to assist lawmakers in exploring the benefits of improving the level of civil discourse and more effectively work across the aisle. An excellent workshop led by Next Generation a program of the National Institute for Civil Discourse that works specifically with state legislatures to address hyper-polarization and incivility at the state level. It was very worthwhile and will hopefully lead to better understanding and dialog in the Kansas Legislature.

I am pleased to have Victor Meraz, from Kansas City, Kansas, joining me this year as a Legislative Intern. Victor is a Communications Major at the University of Kansas and will be graduating in May. I am looking forward to having his assistance during the session as well as that of Jeannie Loyd who is serving as the Office Assistant for our office this year.

2020 Legislative Session Begins

On Monday afternoon, the Kansas legislature kicked off the 2020 session. Newly elected Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple delivered a farewell address before he resigned his post as Representative of the 96th District. Now-Representative Stephanie Yeager was sworn in the following day. The Kansas House of Representatives holds 125 representatives; the House Democratic caucus consists of 41 representatives. We’re looking forward to tackling the many issues still facing our state.

Medicaid Expansion Compromise

On Thursday, January 9th, after weeks of negotiations, Governor Kelly and Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning announced a proposal to expand healthcare to more than 150,000 Kansans and lower health insurance costs in the marketplace. Expanding Medicaid has been a priority for both Republicans and Democrats for years, so this is a huge bipartisan step in reaching this goal.

To see the full bill, click here .

2020 State of the State Address

Governor Kelly’s address had a recurring theme – moving forward from the disasters Kansas has faced throughout the last decade. She pointed out several issues that have been resolved, such as adequate school funding, as well as future plans to resolve issues that still haunt Kansas, such as Medicaid expansion, infrastructure, and closing the “Bank of KDOT.”

She also pointed out that for the first time in Kansas history, women sit at the helm of each branch of the Kansas government – exactly 100 years since women were granted the right to vote. The Governor has many plans for our state, and we look forward to working with her to achieve those.

Governor’s Budget Proposal

On Thursday, Budget Director Larry Campbell presented the Governor’s budget to a joint session of the House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means Committees. The Governor’s budget is intended to further restore the fiscal responsibility that has thus far occurred under her watch. The budget is a complex and dense document, so here are some of the major points included:

This budget is structurally balanced, with an ending balance of 8%, or $627.8M.
For the third year in a row, state employees will receive a 2.5% raise.
It will continue the phase-out of the “Bank of KDOT,” with no further raiding of highway funds.
The plan again includes a re-amortization of KPERS, resulting in massive debt reduction.
There will be no new taxes. The following recommendations are in the budget: taxing digital property, food sales tax relief, and local property tax relief.

State Library

Many of us have “learn a new language” on our to-do list. With Mango Languages, you can learn right from your own computer (or smartphone!). This online language learning service https://kslib.info/Mango provided by the State Library is easy to use. Choose from 71 languages such as Spanish, French, Mandarin- even Swahili. Mango uses real-life situations to more effectively teach a new language. Mango also includes 19 English as a second language options. Use as a Guest or register to track your progress (and for smartphone use).

Resources

My Twitter Account

2019 Legislative Update 13

Mon, 13 May 2019 05:00:00 GMT

2019 Legislative Update 13

http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/hb2223/ The legislature hit the ground running when we returned for the veto session on Wednesday, May 1st. It was a short veto session. We worked late into the night on Saturday, May 4th with the House adjourning around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 5th and Senate adjourning around 2:45 a.m. The House Majority Leader moved to suspend Rule 101, known as the Midnight Rule. The rule was created for safety reasons as the result of a legislator passing away on the drive home after working through the night several years ago. With the rule in place, the legislature may not begin to address any legislation after midnight however, that rule is often suspended.

The Domestic Violence Bill to enhance notification at time of arrest that I co-sponsored with Representative Ponka-We Victors did make it through the Senate in the final days and is headed to the Governor for her signature.

Representative Jerry Stogsdill and I worked on increasing funding for the arts through the budget committee process and I am happy to report that the Arts Funding for FY 20 was increased to $500,000. This is a good first step in restoring the commitment to state funding for the arts. Additionally, the Legislative Post Audit Committee approved our request for a study on the Economic Impact of the Arts in Kansas.

The bill I introduced to return to local control the ability to require prevailing wage be paid on local public construction projects is still in committee and remains alive until next year. This gives a little more time to talk to legislators and convince more of them of the benefit of paying prevailing wage and the importance of this policy to Wyandotte County.

The legislature has adjourned until Sine Die (the formal last day of session), Wednesday, May 29th at 10 a.m.

Stalemate Over Budget and Medicaid Expansion Ends

During the Veto Session, the House and Senate budget conference committee kicked out the Omnibus budget for a vote in both Chambers – SB 25. This was a good budget, closely aligning with the Governor’s budget proposal presented in January. The budget would fully fund our schools, includes significant support for our most vulnerable Kansans and families, raises the pay for Corrections Officers as well as state employees, while paying down state debt and increasing funding for the Board of Regents. There were many other good pieces in this legislation.

There was a lot to like in that budget, but one key piece was missing: Medicaid expansion. More than 70% of Kansans, a majority of both Legislative Chambers, and the Governor all support expansion. A strong bipartisan coalition came together on Friday, May 3 to block the budget in protest. The coalition planned to block the budget (the one piece of legislation required to pass before the legislature can adjourn the session) until Medicaid expansion received a debate in the Senate. The votes to pass expansion are there, but Republican Leadership continued to block efforts to bring the bill to the floor for debate and a vote.

This bipartisan movement upset the ultra-conservative leadership. As a result, the budget was sent back to committee and cuts were made to vital pieces of the budget. Many stood strong in hopes of having both a good budget and Medicaid expansion. The budget was voted down on Friday night by the coalition of House Democrats and moderate Republicans.

However, threats continued from Republican Leadership in an effort to punish legislators and force them to abandon Medicaid expansion. Moderate Republicans began to abandon the effort. This left the former bipartisan coalition significantly short of the votes we needed to continue our effort. The budget – with cuts – eventually passed the House after the vote was left open while arm-twisting ensued and votes were flipped.

Overall, it is still a good budget, but it is not the budget we desired. One of the biggest changes is within the budget for the Kansas Department of Correction, making it more difficult to raise the pay for corrections officers. This is especially concerning considering we are in the midst of a state of emergency within our prison system. The Governor’s original budget directed $35 million in new funding for KDOC to address dire staffing problems and overcrowding in state prisons. Now, the Corrections department will have to request financial approval from the council, which will create further hurdles for a system already in crisis.

Senate Continues to Obstruct Medicaid Expansion

Despite having support from 70 percent of Kansans and passing the House with a bipartisan majority, Senate leadership continues to obstruct Medicaid expansion. Prior to first adjournment, a procedural motion was made to pull the bill out of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee. On May 1st, 23 Senators voted for the motion, but it required 24 votes to succeed. Despite the failed motion, the vote showed that a majority, like in the House, of Senators support expansion. At this point, just two people in Senate leadership standing between lifesaving care for more than 150,000 Kansans.

As a strategy of stalling Medicaid expansion for another year, ultra-conservative leadership said that yet another study will be conducted and we will see a bill in January. Medicaid Expansion has been thoroughly studied and discussed for over five years. The benefits are innumerable. Meanwhile, Kansas loses more than $2 million every day we fail to implement Medicaid Expansion and our neighbors struggling with illness or disability are left to fend for their health another year.

Veto Override Attempt Fails

On April 22, Governor Kelly vetoed Senate Bill 67, the abortion “reversal” pill. The bill has no basis in scientific fact, and is not only unproven to be effective, but is not even FDA approved.

On May 1, Republican Leadership attempted an override of the Governor’s veto. The veto was successfully overridden in the Senate with a 27 to 13 vote. On the House side, however, the 84 votes necessary to override were not there – one Republican stood alongside every House Democrat to sustain the Governor’s veto.

Brownback Tax Plan 3.0 Introduced

Earlier this session, Governor Kelly vetoed Senate Bill 22, a bill that favored giant, multinational corporations at the expense of working Kansans. There was going to be an effort in both the House and Senate to override her veto, however, it didn’t gain traction when Republican leadership realized they didn’t have the votes. For a variety of reasons, this bill has been disliked by many varying political factions, Republican and Democratic alike.

The new version of Senate Bill 22 (House Bill 2033) is different in a few small aspects, but the meat of the bill is still the same. HB 2033 is another attempt at a repeat of the failed Brownback tax experiment. Preliminary estimates show that the bill would cost the state $245 million over the next three years, with the impact being a major hit to hardworking Kansans. Because this bill was hastily drafted and many of the financial impacts are still relatively unknown, the House Democrats pushed for an interim committee and to revisit the bill in January so that it can be thoroughly studied.

HB 2033 passed the senate with a 27 to 13 vote and passed the house with 83 to 41 votes.

Week on the Floor

During the Veto Session, the House worked several conference committee reports on the floor. All of these bills passed through the chamber. They are as follows:

HB 2223: Adopting economic development program evaluation and information disclosure regimes and expanding economic development incentive financing to address housing shortages.

SB 25: House Substitute for SB 25 by Committee on Appropriations - Appropriations for FY 2019, FY 2020, FY 2021 and FY 2022 for various state agencies.

HB 2140: Allowing agents of the KBI to participate in the Kansas DROP act and extending the sunset date for the act.

HB 2033: Providing sales tax authority for Finney county, and specifying certain county sales tax collection requirements of director of taxation.

SB 28: Updating the expiration date of risk-based capital instructions.

SB 53: Designating the official red and white wine grapes of Kansas.

HB 2290: Creating a crime victims compensation division within the attorney general's office.

HB 2203: Exempting individuals employed by the Kansas academies of U.S. department of defense STARBASE program from KPERS working after retirement requirements and authorizing reimbursement of suspended retirement benefits for certain retirants.

HB 2248: Allowing all-terrain vehicles to cross federal or state highways.

Resources

My Twitter Account

Kansas Legislature approves governor’s school funding plan; whether it will satisfy court isn’t clear

2019 Legislative Update 12

Mon, 08 Apr 2019 18:39:33 GMT

2019 Legislative Update 12

This week the legislature held conference committees to work out differences in bill versions between the House and Senate. A conference committee is comprised of three members from each chamber, typically the chairperson, vice chairperson, and ranking minority member of the standing committee, or other committee, that originally considered the bill in that chamber.

The Domestic Violence Notification legislation, HB 2279, that Representative Ponka-We Victors and I introduced was included in the Conference Committee Report (CCR) for SB 18 and passed unanimously. The measure will help arm victims of domestic violence with the information they need at the time of arrest to make safe decisions. We appreciate everyone’s help in getting this measure passed.

It was a real pleasure to spend time on Wednesday with students from Schlagle High School and staff from El Centro who were at the Capitol to participate in Hispanic Day on the Hill and visit with lawmakers. I am looking forward to participating in the Join My Table Community Potluck event with students at Schlagle High School on April 29th. It will be a great opportunity to discuss their ideas and suggestions on various issues and learn about the changes they want to see in our community.

Many thanks to everyone that attended the Legislative Coffee on March 30th at the KCK Public Library. It was great to have this opportunity to discuss our work in Topeka. I also want to thank the KCK Public Library, Bonner Springs Public Library, League of Women Voters of Johnson County & the NAACP for sponsoring the coffee.

The Legislature adjourned on Friday, April 5th for First Adjournment and will be on break until May 1st when we return for the veto session.

School Funding Debate Continues

It was an intense week for the House-Senate K-12 Budget Conference Committee. The Republican-led Senate, the House and Senate Democratic caucuses, and Governor Laura Kelly, for the most part, were united on their approach to education. With the intent of meeting the Kansas Supreme Court’s “adequacy” funding requirement in the Gannon case, they agreed to $90 million a year for the next five years. However, the House Republican caucus staunchly disagreed with the bill. In a departure from previous decorum, the House Democratic Representative was excluded from the majority of the House discussions. After three long days of contentious meetings, the Republican caucus conceded. In addition to funding increases, the plan also requires districts to produce academic performance reports on each of its schools.

After a furor of objection from Republican leadership on the floor, the House voted to concur. The CCR (conference committee report) on Senate Bill 16 passed 76 to 47. Shortly after, the Senate passed the CCR with 31 votes to 8. It now heads to the Governor’s desk.

Governor Kelly, lawmakers, and the state Board of Education are hopeful the plan will meet the Supreme Court’s standards; ending the cycle of litigation over education funding, and meeting the needs of Kansas students, teachers, and schools. The deadline is April 15.

Here are a few articles to learn more about the Legislature’s school funding process this session:

Rep. Brenda Landwehr lashes out at opponent to Kansas House plan to fund schools

House GOP school finance plan eliminates two years of funding boost

Kansas Senate, House break impasse on education finance compromise

Kansas Senate approves school aid plan, bill heads to Gov. Laura Kelly

Inaction on Medicaid Expansion in the Senate

Despite the bipartisan measure to pass Medicaid Expansion in the House, the Senate has refused to address Medicaid Expansion. The bill is currently sitting idle on the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee unless there is a procedural vote to move the bill onto the Senate calendar.

In a Tuesday morning press conference, Governor Kelly again urged the Senate to vote this week on the bill. She iterated that the bill has garnered bipartisan support and previously passed the Legislature in 2017- but was vetoed by then Governor Brownback. Shortly after her press conference, Senate President Susan Wagle responded, doubling down on her refusal to allow the bill to make it to the floor.

Senate Confirms First Round of Governor’s Secretaries

On Monday, the Senate confirmed Laura Howard as Secretary of the Kansas Department of Children and Families and Secretary of the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services. They also confirmed in a 23-14 vote, David Toland as Secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce. This was the first, and arguably most partisan, round of confirmations so far.

This Week on the Floor

This week, the House-Senate Conference Committees worked a number of bills. To read the full list click here. Note that a few bills were bundled together. Here are a few highlights:

HB 2274: Requiring notification to patients that the effects of a medication abortion may be reversible.

HB 2167: Senate Substitute for HB 2167 by Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources - Establishing a commercial industrial hemp program.

SB 18: Providing a process for the attorney general to enter into diversion agreements; authorizing certain entities to access a criminal defendant's presentence investigation report; amending the crime of counterfeiting currency.

SB 78 (bundled with SB 150, HB 2279): Regulating assignment of rights or benefits to a residential contractor under a property and casualty insurance policy insuring residential real estate; amending the definition of consumer transaction; and in the Kansas consumer protection act; Housing protections for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, or stalking; Domestic violence calls; Law enforcement agency notification policies.

HB 2031: Amending the definition of "service-connected" in the Kansas police and firemen's retirement system.

HB 2007: Senate Substitute for HB 2007 by Committee on Transportation - Authorizing certain toll projects for new projects or expanded capacity with approval from local units of government, the KTA and the state finance council; changing the requirement to fully fund toll projects solely through toll revenue.

HB 2087: Allowing certain light screening material on motor vehicle windows.

HB 2225: Senate Substitute for HB 2225 by Committee on Transportation - Providing for an increase in permit fees for oversize or overweight vehicles and required registration for escort vehicle service operators.

HB 2209 (bundled with SB 32, HB 2058, HB 2056, HB 2055, HB 2054): Authorizing the state board of regents to purchase cybersecurity insurance.; Exempting certain non-insurance healthcare benefits from the commissioner's jurisdiction.; Updating definitions relating to small employer health plans and association health plans.; Exempting health plans issued to associations of small employers from certain statutory provisions governing small employer health plans.; Making certain self-funded association health plans subject to the jurisdiction of the commissioner.; Providing for fully-insured association health plans.

HB 2084: AN ACT concerning the Kansas 911 act; relating to emergency services; 911 fees, collection and distribution; amending K.S.A. 2018 Supp. 12-5363, 12-5364, 12-5365, 12-5366, 12-5367, 12-5368, 12-5369, 12-5370, 12-5371, 12-5372, 12-5373, 12-5374, 12-5375, 12-5376, 12-5377, 12-5378, 12-5380 and 19-101a and repealing the existing sections; also repealing K.S.A. 2018 Supp. 12-5327, 12-5338 and 12-5361.

HB 2103: Amending the revised Kansas code for care of children to provide requirements for placement of a child in a qualified residential treatment program.

HB 2144: Requiring community colleges to publish certain taxpayer and student transparency data.

SB 16: House Substitute for SB 16 by Committee on K-12 Education Budget - Making amendments to the Kansas school equity and enhancement act and other statutes related to education.

SB 130: Substitute for Senate Bill No. 130 by Committee on Ethics, Elections and Local Government-Permitting persons voting an advance ballot to correct a signature deficiency prior to the final canvass.

HB 2178: AN ACT concerning utilities; relating to the Kansas underground utility damage prevention act; definitions; location of facilities and duty to mark, exceptions; amending K.S.A. 66-1802, 66-1805 and 66-1806 and repealing the existing sections.

Resources

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2019 Legislative Update 11

Mon, 01 Apr 2019 05:00:00 GMT

2019 Legislative Update 11

A historically slow session came to a head this week when the House worked over 50 bills in two days. The House worked late into the evening both Monday and Tuesday nights - just 30 minutes shy of the midnight rule on Monday. The pace will continue to be very busy leading up to first adjournment on April 5th as the Legislature attempts to come to a consensus on remaining issues.

Many thanks to Trinity and GiGi for serving as Legislative Pages on Wednesday. It was such a pleasure to have them both spend the day with us in the Kansas Legislature.

The Budget Passes the House

On Monday, the House passed a budget plan: House Substitute for Senate Bill 25, with little debate. The final vote was 99-25, which moved the bill to the Senate. The Senate non-concurred with the House amendments and a Conference Committee (three conferees from each chamber) was appointed. Overall, the House plan appropriates $18.2 billion in spending with a $7.7 billion impact on the state general fund.

The House budget plan contained many of the Governor’s recommendations. A few highlights are:

Ridding a contract with Maximus, the Medicaid clearinghouse, and returns more than 300 employees to the state.
A 2.5 percent pay increase for state employees. Judicial branch employee raises would be phased in over five years.
Sets aside more than $50 million for the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, including $13.4 million for home and community-based services, $6 million in services for intellectual and developmental disabilities, $13.6 million for nursing facilities, $3 million for community health centers, $4.8 million for psychiatric residential treatment, and $12.4 million for a program that serves the elderly.
The budget also includes the governor’s significant recommendations for child welfare reform, including funding for additional 52 workers and participation in the federal Families First program.

Governor Kelly Vetoes SB 22

On Monday, Governor Kelly vetoed the controversial Senate Bill 22. The Kansas Chamber immediately called for an override. An override attempt of her veto would require two-thirds of the House (84 votes), and Senate (27 votes) to be successful. The bill would have benefitted giant multinational corporations, and was estimated to have reduced state revenue, at a minimum, of over $500 million over three years. Governor Kelly stressed this would “throw our state once again into a self-inflicted budget crisis, diminishing all the investments we’ve worked so hard to rebuild and restore. It would put our future at risk once again in order to give significant tax breaks to entities who need them the least while continuing to leave working families behind.” This was the Governor’s first veto.

School Funding Debate Continues

The House has made little progress on school finance while the court-mandated deadline is looming. Senate Bill 16 has been strongly critiqued as a bad policy bill that fails to resolve litigation. It contains layers of unfunded mandates, strips school districts of local control, removes the consumer price index (CPI), and targets English Learner Language and special education programs (including reducing funding for SPED). It also removes the last two years of funding that was passed in 2018. House Democrats have always been strong proponents of education – every child deserves access to a quality education.

One of several Democratic amendments attempted was to restore due process for teachers. Since its repeal under Governor Brownback’s leadership in 2014, House Democrats have continuously fought for its reinstatement. The amendment failed 68 to 55.

The underlying bill narrowly passed final action on a 63-60 vote.

This Week on the Floor

This week, the House worked over 50 bills. If you would like to read the full list of bills worked, please go to this page .

Here are a few highlights:

HB 2274: Requires notification to patients that the effects of a medication abortion may be reversible.

HB 2054: Provides for fully-insured association health plans.

SB 15: Amends the definition of “service connected” in the Kansas police and firemen’s retirement system.

HB 2018: Creates the Kansas criminal justice reform commission.

SB 90: Extends the tax credit under the center for entrepreneurship act to financial institutions and increasing the annual tax credit limit for all contributors.

SB 94: Establishing a minimum course duration for motor vehicle accident prevention courses. Reduces premiums.

H Sub SB 25: House Substitute for SB 25 by Committee on Appropriations - Appropriations for FY 2019, FY 2020, FY 2021 and FY 2022 for various state agencies.

HB 2137: Legislative review of exceptions to disclosure of public records under the Kansas open records act.

HB 2396: Allowing use of certified drug abuse treatment programs for certain offenders convicted of unlawful cultivation or distribution of controlled substances.

HB 2173: Establishes a commercial industrial hemp program.

HB 2389: Requires electronic prescriptions for certain controlled substances.

HB 2383: Amendments regarding the licensure and regulation of barbering.

SB 20: Extends the judicial branch surcharge to fund the costs of non-judicial personnel; extending recognition of tribal court judgments pursuant to supreme court rules.

SB 16: House Substitute for SB 16 by Committee on K-12 Education Budget - Making amendments to the Kansas school equity and enhancement act and other statutes related to education.

HB 2154: Making unemployment benefits available for federal and state employees who are required to work without pay.

HB 2118: Providing income tax credits for aerospace and aviation program graduates and their employers.

HB 2326: Recognizing licenses to carry a concealed firearm issued by other jurisdictions. Contains amendment lowering license age to 18.

HB 2372: Providing for an increase in registration fees for electric and hybrid vehicles.

HB 2244: Authorizing the use of cannabidiol (CBD) treatment preparation to treat certain medical conditions.

Resources

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2019 Legislative Update 10

Mon, 25 Mar 2019 19:25:25 GMT

2019 Legislative Update 10

A very exciting week as the House passed Medicaid Expansion (see report below) which now heads to the Senate. Representative Kathy Wolfe Moore (from Wyandotte County) did an excellent job carrying the measure on the House Floor. Expanding Medicaid will provide about 150,000 working Kansans, that fall in the coverage gap, with access to much-needed healthcare option. It will also return our already paid federal dollars to Kansas, provide support to hospitals and clinics as well as stimulate our economy.

The REACH Healthcare Foundation sponsored the Wyandotte/Leavenworth Delegation Luncheon on Tuesday. Brenda Sharpe, President & CEO, spoke about REACH’s commitment to addressing health care coverage and access to quality health, mental health and oral health services as well as the need for Medicaid Expansion. We appreciate Brenda Sharpe, Pattie Mansur and Todd Jordan joining us for this important discussion at our lunch and learn.

Many thanks to Amanda June Smith & Sara Rust-Martin for testifying in support of HB 2279 to help arm victims of domestic violence with the information they need at time of arrest to make safe decisions. HB 2279 is the bill that Rep. Ponka-We Victors and I co-sponsored. We appreciate everyone’s help & support with this effort. The bill passed in the House unanimously and on Friday passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. It will now advance to the full Senate.

I want to give a shout-out to the young adults from Wyandotte County that have been actively involved in this year’s Kansas Legislative Session. Having young people from our community at the Statehouse testifying on issues they are passionate about makes me proud! Appreciate their involvement which is so important because the laws we pass today will impact them and their voices must be heard.

House Passes Medicaid Expansion

On Wednesday, March 20th, after almost eight hours of debate on the House floor, the House voted 70-54 to advance Medicaid expansion. In arguably one of the most action-packed debates this session, Democrats offered an amendment to replace the contents of House Bill 2066, a controversial bill to expand the practice authority for registered nurses, with Medicaid expansion. Though the amendment was ruled non-germane by the Rules Chair, a bipartisan coalition came together to overrule the Chair and finally have a real debate on expansion on the floor.

Medicaid expansion offers innumerable benefits for Kansas. Presently, more than 150,000 Kansans fall within the health coverage gap—most of whom are employed, but whose incomes are narrowly outside the threshold to qualify. This would broaden the current threshold to include Kansans earning less than 138 percent of the federal poverty level — $17,236 for an individual or $35,535 for a family of four. Expanding Medicaid will return billions of our taxpayer dollars back to Kansans, stimulate the Kansas economy, create thousands of jobs and maintain thousands more, help over 150,000 hardworking Kansans, including children and military veterans, and keep Kansas hospitals and clinics open. This is critical for rural hospitals because many disproportionately serve poorer, sicker, and older patients.

After a 69-54 final action vote on Friday, the bill now advances to the Senate. It is expected to have a narrower margin, but we remain optimistic that the Senate will do what is right for Kansans. In a nonpartisan study, over 70% of Kansans support Medicaid Expansion. Newly elected Governor Laura Kelly ran on Medicaid Expansion as a top issue, receiving overwhelming support. We are thankful to our Republican colleagues for working alongside us. We look forward to continuing this bipartisanship moving forward.

Here are a few resources to learn more:

House Democrats Host Department of Children and Families Acting Secretary Laura Howard

On Thursday, the House Democratic Caucus hosted Acting Secretary Laura Howard, of the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Aging and Disability, at our Thursday summit. Secretary Howard spoke on issues important to child welfare in Kansas. She brings an extensive background in social services to the table. House Democrats have been continuously advocating for reform of DCF, especially within the foster care system. We look forward to working with Secretary Howard to address these necessary reforms and programs.

School Funding Update

The underlying bill narrowly passed final action on a 63-60 vote.

This Week on the Floor

This week, the House worked several bills on the floor. All of these bills passed through the chamber. They are as follows:

HB 2188: Dissolves the White Clay watershed district no. 26, city of Atchison assumes obligations and amending the tax lid relating to the dissolution of any taxing subdivision

SB 40: Removes expired warning provision for approach of an emergency vehicle traffic violation.

SB 41: Clarifies that a violation of the statute requiring seat belt use is a traffic infraction

HB 2041: Prohibits certain unfair or deceptive acts or practices under a life insurance policy for a living organ donor.

HB 2066: Expands Medicaid eligibility by enacting the KanCare bridge to a healthy Kansas program.

HB 2082: Allows pharmacists to administer drugs pursuant to a prescription order.

State Library of Kansas

Consumer Health Complete covers all areas of health and wellness. Did your doctor prescribe a new medication? Recently diagnosed with a condition? Look it up here. Designed for the everyday consumer, this online database provided by the State Library of Kansas offers popular reference books, medical encyclopedias, fact sheets, and magazine articles. This full-text database covers topics such as aging, nutrition, cancer, fitness, drugs and alcohol, even yoga. https://kslib.info/ConHealth

If the page above asks for a Kansas Library eCard number, you may get one at any library in Kansas. Most people will be automatically recognized as being in Kansas and will not need this step. Questions: kslc@ks.gov or 785-296-3296.

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2019 Legislative Update 8

Mon, 18 Mar 2019 20:07:18 GMT

It was a pleasure to visit with students from Schlagel High School who were at the Capitol for “Kick Butts Day” to talk with lawmakers about smart tobacco policies and to advocate for tobacco prevention. They were very well informed and talked about education and access being key to prevention. Appreciate Rebecca Garza from Healthy Communities Wyandotte bringing this group of young people by to visit with me.

Governor Laura Kelly held a news conference on Thursday with business leaders and kicked off a seminar on the economic benefit of Medicaid expansion. “Carolyn Watley, an executive with the Kansas City Chamber, said expansion would add 600 jobs in her region and bring in tax revenue and economic benefits that would total $126 million in Johnson and Wyandotte counties." Medicaid expansion is an important issue in our community and in our State and I remain hopeful that we will be able to move this issue forward this session.

If you are interested in advocating for Medicaid expansion, a “Rally at the Capitol - Expand KanCare Now! is planned for March 19th at 2:00 pm. Additionally, a meeting “Time to Act! Medicaid Expansion in Kansas” is scheduled for March 19th at 5:30 pm at Tapatio Mexican Grill, 151 S. 18th Street, KCK. Both of these events are hosted by Alliance for a Healthy Kansas, a statewide coalition focused on increasing access to healthcare through expansion of KanCare. Additional information about medicaid expansion is available at: http://ExpandKanCare.com

Brownback Tax Plan 2.0 Passes House

Senate Bill 22 made its way to the House floor this week. As previously described, Senate Bill 22 is a repeat of the failed Brownback tax experiment. It is a massive tax giveaway to giant, multi-national corporations, at the expense of working Kansans. It will cost Kansans a minimum of $207 million in the first year alone and will fester to over $493 million over the next three years. That is half a billion dollars and could be far more if corporations exploit it. We should wait until at least April for the Consensus Revenue Estimates to come out before we make any significant changes to our tax code.

In the House Taxation Committee, two amendments were added as an attempt to dress up this monstrosity of a bill. The first addition is an internet and digital goods sales tax. The digital goods provision was removed. Internet sales tax warrants valid discussion on its own, not latched onto a bad bill. The second amendment is a 1% food sales tax reduction, which was added as a thinly veiled attempt to make it more difficult for the Governor to veto the bill. Kansans need thorough discussion and meaningful change, not a political ploy.

On the House floor, amendments were attempted and struck down that further showed the true colors behind this bad bill. Democratic representatives posed amendments to reinstate working class deductions, eliminate the corporate tax handout, and substantially increase the food sales tax cut. This shows that many of our Republican colleagues are not really interested in addressing the needs of working Kansans.

Overall, Senate Bill 22 is a disastrous return to the failed Brownback tax plan that bankrupted Kansas. The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk.

This Week on the Floor

This week, the House worked several bills on the floor. All of these bills passed through the chamber. They are as follows:

HB 2160: Provides sales tax authority for Wabaunsee county.

SB 22: Kansas itemized deductions, election, providing for deferred foreign income, global intangible low-taxed income, business interest, capital contributions and FDIC premiums income tax modifications; sales and compensating use tax, imposition of tax, nexus, remote sellers, marketplace facilitators, rate of tax on food and food ingredients.

State Library of Kansas

Getting ready to apply for college? Improving your test scores just got easier withLearningExpress Library, available from the State Library of Kansas. LearningExpress Library is an easy to use online resource that includes practice tests and tutorials for PSAT, ACT and SAT as well as AP. There is no charge to useLearningExpress and no limit to the number of times you can take the practice tests. Becoming familiar with and comfortable with the testing format and the types of questions helps to improve test scores. Go to https://kslib.info/LearningExpress and click on College Preparation Center .

Resources

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2019 Legislative Update 9

Mon, 18 Mar 2019 19:48:00 GMT

2019 Legislative Update 9

There was a lot of activity and events at the Capitol this past week including Theatre in Our Schools Advocacy Day, WEALTH Day, Mental Health Advocacy Day, Kansas Ag Day, Nonprofit Day on the Hill and the State Refugee Update.

SportingKC was the sponsor for the Wyandotte/Leavenworth Delegation Luncheon Even, though the debate on the floor extended into the lunch hour so most members were able to take a few minutes to visit with Marty Nevshemal, CFO for Sporting KC.

It was such a pleasure to have former Mayor Joe Reardon, President/CEO Greater Kansas City Chamber, as the speaker for a joint Johnson/Leavenworth/Wyandotte County Luncheon. He gave a very informative presentation focusing on regional issues including early childhood learning, workforce development & transportation.

This past week, I joined my fellow legislators to promote a resolution to condemn the separation of children from their families at the border. Kansas House and Senate Democrats presented a resolution and hosted a press conference on the Keep Families Together Act. Resolution 1260 urges the federal government to end their separation and detainment practices of children and their families. We felt compelled to speak out because it impacts many of our constituents.

School Funding Finds Traction

Late into the evening on Thursday, the Senate approved a clean K-12 education bill on a 32-8 vote. The bill, which is in line with Governor Kelly’s education plan, will add roughly $92 million into the general state aid to public schools. The measure will hopefully meet the Kansas Supreme Court’s order requiring the state to provide “adequate” funding for K-12 education. The bill will head to the House. House Democrats have repeatedly advocated to address school funding this session and are eager to resolve the continuous cycle of litigation, providing Kansas children with the quality education they deserve. Meanwhile, a Republican bill was worked in the House K-12 Education Committee that is essentially a private school voucher bill poorly disguised as a public-school funding bill. It would actually remove around $200 million dollars from base state aid that passed last year. Essentially, it would make policy changes and cut money from schools, all but guaranteeing an unconstitutional ruling if passed.

House Democratic Caucus Hosts Mexican Consulate

This week, for the House Democrats’ monthly summit, they hosted the Kansas City based Mexican consulate delegate. We learned how beneficial Kansas’ relationship is with Mexico. In 2018, Mexico became Kansas’ largest export market. $2.8 billion in goods are traded between Kansas and Mexico. 18.2% of Kansas’ worldwide exports go to Mexico. Mexico is also Kansas’ second largest export market for transportation equipment, particularly aerospace components and parts, with over 300 million dollars in export revenue. 97% of worldwide corn exports, 26% of worldwide pork exports, and 16% of fresh beef from Kansas all head to Mexico. They also advocated for labor rights and protections, explaining that they are at the core of USMCA, the new agreement between United States, Mexico, and Canada. We enjoyed speaking with them on how to continue this successful relationship.

The “Do-Nothing” Kansas Republican-Led Legislature

The Turnaround deadline two weeks ago officially marked the halfway point of the 2019 session. With the deadline, over 40 bills and issues were left to die. These are bills that had passed through committees but were never brought to a floor debate by the House Majority Leader. The bills covered a range of issues, such as removing the spousal exception from sexual battery, medical marijuana, due process for teachers, and more. Furthermore, Democratic attempts to address some of the most critical issues facing Kansans, like school funding, have been met with partisan games. These issues deserve serious deliberation and the development of policy alternatives to pursue the best path for Kansas. It is not a race, but the deadlines are real.

In 2011, the first year of Governor Brownback’s administration, the Legislature debated and acted on 99 more pieces of legislation by this point in the session than they have this entire year. Under the direction of the ultra-conservative Republican leadership in both the House and Senate, only one piece of legislation has reached the Governor’s desk.

We have deep respect for the legislative process. The Democratic House caucus started this session ready to reach across the aisle to get things done. There are dire issues facing Kansas -- our schools are severely underfunded, children are missing and dying in our mismanaged foster care system, rural communities are struggling, hospitals are closing, and our prison system is dangerously underfunded. Instead, we have spent a significant amount of session trying to give giant tax giveaways to giant, multi-national corporations and discussing issues that impact other states.

This past week, the House had a lengthy floor debate on SCR 1606. House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer released a statement:

“Today, 32 Kansas House Democrats voted ‘present’ on SCR 1606 in protest. Rather than focusing on the condemnation of New York’s policies, House Democrats believe we should be working toward funding our children’s educations, expanding Medicaid, and toward resolving the many issues facing our state. We were elected here in Kansas to serve the people of Kansas, not to waste time worrying about what other states decide to do for their constituents. The resolution brought to the floor today was further demonstration of a do-nothing Republican-led legislature.”

Read more here: Republicans in Kansas’ do-nothing Legislature are playing games with tax cuts

Senate Bill 22 Update

The Senate concurred on Senate Bill 22 with a 24-16 vote. Senate bill 22 is the massive tax giveaway to giant, multi-national corporations. The bill will now head to the Governor’s desk for either a veto or passage. The Governor said shortly after the Senate’s passage saying, “Just two short years ago, the state of Kansas was on the brink of financial disaster. Our state faced a massive, self-inflicted budget crisis that caused three credit downgrades and devastating budget cuts. The consequences of those cuts were real and painful…In 2017, we defied the odds, acknowledged the mistake, and ended the experiment in a historic act of bipartisanship. Since then, Kansas has seen a gradual recovery. My administration has only just begun to repair the severe damage done in the last eight years. Our recovery is tenuous; our budget is fragile. This is not the time to make significant changes to our tax code."

This Week on the Floor

This week, the House worked several bills on the floor. All of these bills passed through the chamber. They are as follows:

SB 17: Requires class M driver's licenses when operating a motorcycle registered under a temporary permit.

SB 39: Compensation for warranty services under the vehicle dealers and manufacturers licensing act.

HB 2133: Required reporting for entities who deliver alcoholic liquors to consumers.

SCR 1606: Condemning the reproductive health act of New York.

Resources

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2019 Legislative Update 7

Sun, 03 Mar 2019 17:41:52 GMT

This past week has been especially busy with turnaround deadline on Thursday, February 28th. We are officially halfway through session. Turnaround is when all bills in non-exempt committees must be passed through their respective committee, and the House. Only “blessed” bills, outside of the exempt committees may continue to be worked. The Speaker of the House decides which bills will be blessed. After turnaround, we will work the bills that are sent to the House from the Senate. Turnaround rules do not apply to exempt committees, which are: Federal and State Affairs, Taxation, and Appropriations.

On Wednesday HB 2279 passed the House of Representatives in final action. This is the bill that Representative Ponka-We Victors and I sponsored to provide better information to victims of domestic violence at the time of arrest so they can make safe decisions. We appreciate everyone's help in working to reach consensus on language to get this bill passed. The bill now heads to the Senate.

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.

Brownback Tax Plan 2.0 Passes House Committee, Heads to Floor

This week, SB 22 passed through the House Taxation Committee. It will head to the floor. This bill is designed to benefit giant, multi-national corporations. At a minimum, this bill is estimated to cost Kansas $187.3 million for fiscal year 2020 alone, however, estimates could be much more. By fiscal year 2022, it’s estimated to cost Kansas upwards of $416 million. This would steal more money out of our state, local economies, and Kansan’s pockets. This is a repeat of the failed Brownback tax plan that was repealed less than two years ago.

Additionally, a 2016 study by a non-partisan non-profit, Feeding America , found that the cost of eliminating hunger in Kansas is $185 million. Furthermore, the failed Brownback tax plan left Kansas bankrupt, with crumbling infrastructure, dangerously underfunded state agencies, struggling schools, decreases in Kansans’ pocketbooks, and more. The recent state of emergency declared at El Dorado by the Governor and the Kansas Department of Corrections is a prime example of the threats these policies still hold – and how dangerous the passage of another tax experiment will be.

This further calls into question the priorities of our Republican colleagues. We should put Kansans first, instead of more tax handouts to giant, multi-national corporations.

House Democrats reject any legislation that doesn’t put Kansas on a path to fiscal responsibility and that will harm hardworking Kansans. We’ve only just begun to stabilize our economy after the failed Brownback tax plan and cannot go backward.

Link to Feeding America Study .

Washington Days State Convention

This weekend is our annual Democratic Convention, Washington Days, held in Topeka. It’s the largest gathering of Democrats in the state. Activities range from rallies to caucus meetings and auctions to luncheons – as well as a special dinner with speakers. This year, the featured speakers will be Governor Laura Kelly and Montana Senator John Tester.

Alongside the festivities, this year is also the biennial election of the Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer of the Kansas Democratic Party.

This Week on the Floor

This week, the House worked several bills on the floor. All of these bills passed through the chamber. They are as follows:

HB 2201 : Updates statutory references necessitated by 2012 executive reorganization order no. 41 related to administration of tuberculosis programs.

HB 2215 : Kansas state fair board is authorized to create a nonprofit corporation for the benefit of the state fair.

HB 2365 : Provides for confidential communications of Kansas national guard members in peer support counseling sessions.

HB 2006 : Requires the department of commerce to create a database of economic development incentive program information.

HB 2103 : Amends the revised Kansas code for care of children to provide requirements for placement of a child in a qualified residential treatment program.

HB 2290 : Creates a crime victims compensation division within the attorney general's office.

HB 2031 : Amends the definition of "service-connected" in the Kansas police and firemen's retirement system.

HB 2140 : Allows agents of the KBI to participate in the Kansas DROP act and extending the sunset date for the act.

HB 2147 : Increases bond maturity limitations in the Kansas rural housing incentive district act.

HB 2174 : Extends the sunset date of the state use law for five years.

HB 2177 : Pertains to the accounting treatment of certain derivative instruments of fixed index annuities.

HB 2191: Amends the procedure for execution of a search warrant for electronically stored information.

HB 2209: Authorizes the state board of regents to purchase cybersecurity insurance.

HB 2211: Allows judges to waive or reduce driver's license reinstatement fees.

HB 2239: Liquor sales by licensees in common consumption areas.

HB 2281: Provides that a court order modifying a criminal sentence only modifies the portion of the sentence referenced by the court and not remaining portions of the original sentence.

HB 2084: Amends the Kansas 911 act.

HB 2126: Regulates the operation of electric-assisted scooters on roads and highways.

HB 2167: Establishes a system for the transfer of certain deer hunting permits to nonresidents.

HB 2168: Authorizes the state board of regents to sell and convey certain real property in Cherokee County and Riley county on behalf of Kansas state university.

HB 2174: Extends the sunset date of the state use law for five years.

HB 2177: Pertains to the accounting treatment of certain derivative instruments of fixed index annuities.

HB 2178: Amends the Kansas underground utility damage prevention act.

HB 2185: Clarifies the naturopathic medicine scope of practice to include diagnostic imaging.

HB 2191: Amends the procedure for execution of a search warrant for electronically stored information.

HB 2198: Allows the use of expedited partner therapy to treat a sexually transmitted disease.

HB 2206: Changes the bonding and cost requirements for animals taken into custody under a violation of cruelty to animals.

HB 2209: Authorizes the state board of regents to purchase cybersecurity insurance.

HB 2211: Allows judges to waive or reduce driver's license reinstatement fees.

HB 2214: Changes the definition of a school bus for purposes of the motor-fuel tax law.

HB 2225: Adds on-track train equipment to the circumstances that a vehicle driver must stop at railroad crossings.

HB 2239: Liquor sales by licensees in common consumption areas.

HB 2243: Exempts animal shelters from registration requirements as a charitable organization.

HB 2248: Allows all-terrain vehicles to cross federal or state highways.

HB 2281: Provides that a court order modifying a criminal sentence only modifies the portion of the sentence referenced by the court and not remaining portions of the original sentence.

HB 2290: Creates a crime victims compensation division within the attorney general's office.

HB 2203: Exempts individuals employed by the Kansas academies of U.S. Department of Defense STARBASE program from KPERS working after retirement requirements and authorizing reimbursement of suspended retirement benefits for certain retirants.

HB 2048: Clarifies the definition of a comparable offense under the Kansas criminal code.

HB 2144: Creates budget and taxing authority of community colleges; articulation of credits; and student residency requirements.

HB 2223: Replaces vineyard permits with producer permits to allow individuals to use a wider variety of agricultural products in the production of wine under such permit.

HB 2336: Clarifies when offenders under the supervision of the secretary of corrections are awarded jail credit.

HB 2360: Concerning background checks of employees and volunteers that have unsupervised access to children, the elderly or individuals with disabilities.

HB 2346: Relating to standards for school-administered vision screenings.

HB 2279: Requires law enforcement officers to provide information about timing of release from custody when an arrest is made following a domestic violence call.

State Library of Kansas

Small business owners and would-be entrepreneurs, as well as others, might be interested in the Small Business Reference Center ( Link ) provided by the State Library of Kansas. It’s a vast resource that provides industry-specific data, sample business plans, marketing guides, business start-up kits, and Nolo legal guides. Business Basics covers starting a business, managing employees and more. This Center includes more than 400 full-text magazines with articles that can be printed, saved or emailed and 450 full-text reference books.

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2019 Legislative Update 6

Mon, 25 Feb 2019 17:47:57 GMT

Last week was the final week for committees to meet as we head toward the “turnaround deadline” where we push bills from the House to the Senate and vice versa. We will spend most of this week on the “floor” voting on bills that have advanced through the committee process.

The Kansas City Kansas Chamber of Commerce hosted the Wyandotte/Leavenworth County Tuesday Luncheon. We discussed a number of issues of importance to the KCK business community.

HB 2279, that Representative Ponka-We Victors and I introduced passed out of committee on Friday. The bill will enhance notifications for victims of domestic violence to aid them in making safe decisions. It will require that law enforcement inform a victim that the person arrested can be released from custody in a short amount of time, and that there may be a 72 hour no-contact order imposed, and that they can sign up for “VINE” (Kansas Victim Information Notification Everyday) to know when the person arrested has been released. We appreciate everyone’s assistance in reaching consensus to pass HB 2279 out of committee. It now heads to the full House of Representatives for consideration.

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.

Kansas Black Legislative Day

On Thursday, February 21, the Kansas African American Legislative Caucus and the KS Quad-Caucus, in cooperation with the Kansas Black Leadership Council, hosted Black Legislative Day at the Capitol. There were many in attendance, with special guests from the Kansas Black Farmers Association, the NAACP Youth, the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and the Kansas African American Affairs Commission. They hosted advocacy training workshops, forums on issues, and met with legislators, as well as the Governor.

Anti-LGBTQ Bills Receive Bipartisan Backlash

Kansas made national headlines when a group of Republican legislators introduced and sponsored several radical bills targeting the LGBTQ community. The bills declare same-sex marriages as “parody marriages” and would disallow the state from recognizing them, despite the U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Another bill creates a special category of “elevated marriage” that requires counseling before a divorce is permitted.

The Republican legislators modeled these bills after drafts given to them by a controversial anti-gay activist who attempted to wed his laptop and has been declared “incapacitated… by reason of mental infirmity or illness” by the Supreme Court of Tennessee. He also has a criminal history and immense background of lawsuits.

A few Republican lawmakers that signed onto the bills denounced their support, claiming they hadn’t fully read the bills.

This Week on the Floor

This week, the House worked several bills on the floor. All of these bills passed through the chamber. They are as follows:

HB 2070: Designates a portion of United States highway 75 as the John Armstrong memorial highway.

HB 2123: Amends the Kansas national guard educational assistance act.

HB 2143: Updates the version of risk-based capital instructions in effect.

HB 2199: Amends documentation requirements related to the preparation of dead bodies.

HB 2087: Allows certain light screening material on motor vehicle windows.

HB 2097: Provides the method for calculating the cost of keeping civil prisoners in a county jail.

HB 2104: Amendments related to driving under the influence, including preliminary screening tests, implied consent advisories and test refusal.

HB 2105: Updates laws concerning limited liability companies.

HB 2125: Requires licensees operating a motor vehicle to promptly deliver driver's license upon demand by authorized persons.

HB 2127: Eliminates the marking requirements for certain truck and truck tractors.

SB 9: Authorizes the transfer of $115,000,000 from the state general fund to the Kansas public employees retirement fund during the fiscal year 2019.

HB 2085: Adds a time requirement for reinstatement of a forfeited benefit unit of a rural water district.

HB 2007: Creates the United States army, navy, air force, marine corp, and coast guard veteran license plates.

HB 2101: Updates state credit union statutes.

HB 2119: Empowers the KPERS board to develop policies and procedures relating to procurement, enter into certain contracts and allow travel for trustees and employees of the system.

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2019 Legislative Update 5

Sun, 17 Feb 2019 19:31:00 GMT

It was a very busy week! We are quickly approaching bill deadlines and Turnaround Day, February 28th, after which the House takes up Senate Bills that have passed and the Senate takes up House Bills that have passed.

Former Representative Kenny Wilk and Reagan Cussimanio provided information about the University of Kansas Health Systems at the Wyandotte/Leavenworth County Delegation Tuesday Lunch & Learn. It was good to have an opportunity to hear about the hospital’s new presence in downtown KCK, as well as support for an organ donor bill and Medicaid expansion.

Representative Jerry Stogsdill and I have been working with the arts community to advocate for additional funding for the arts. On Thursday, the House Appropriations Committee increased the funding for the arts from about $188,000 to $500,000. This is very encouraging and if the amount remains in the budget when it is approved by the House and Senate, it will put Kansas on a good pathway to show a commitment to the arts as well as leverage federal grant funding.

It was such a pleasure to hear from Delia Garcia, Madam Secretary at Kansas Department of Labor, at the House Dem’s Thursday Summit! Delia served in the Kansas House Representatives from 2005 to 2010 and is returning to Kansas with a wealth of experience from DC for this cabinet-level position.

HB 2279, a bill that Representative Ponka-We Victors and I introduced, is scheduled for a hearing before the House Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice on Thursday, February 21st at 1:30 pm in Room 152-S. This bill will enhance the notification process for domestic violence victims.

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.

Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence Advocacy Day at the Capitol

On Wednesday, February 13, the Kansas State House hosted KCASD for their 16th annual advocacy day at the Capitol. The Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence posted their display throughout the Statehouse. It honored 56 Kansans who lost their lives to domestic and sexual violence. Organizations and their members from across the state were at the Capitol to educate the legislature on the breadth and depth of services they provide to victims and survivors every day in local communities. In addition to HB 2279 that Rep Victors and I introduced, several Democratic members in the House and the Senate have spearheaded legislation that would aid in the prevention and elimination of sexual and domestic violence and to advocate and strengthen resources for survivors and their communities.

Kansas Department of Corrections Declares State of Emergency

On Tuesday, February 12th, Interim Secretary Roger Werholtz declared an emergency at El Dorado Correctional Facility effective immediately due to critical staffing shortages.

In the last few years, prisons across the state, especially in El Dorado, have seen rioting, problematic prison conditions, overcrowding, and severe understaffing, which has posed a safety risk to prisoners, staff, and the public. These issues, and the current state of emergency, are largely because of the Brownback Administration’s failed tax plan which led to severely neglecting and underfunding state agencies.

Governor Kelly and legislative leadership are working together to address this issue. Several proposals to remedy this are being discussed such as: changes in sentencing laws that could lessen prison crowding, additional funding for the prison system, and increasing pay and improving working conditions to attract and retain employees.

Kansas Public Employees Retirement System Re-amortization on the Floor

This week, the Governor’s KPERS Re-amortization bill (HB 2197) landed in the House Financial Institutions and Pensions Committee. In an unusual move, two committee members were replaced, one of whom made a motion to suspend the rules. This motion bypassed the 2/3 majority rules of the committee, merely to kick it out of committee immediately. Once on the floor, Democrats raised the procedural concerns with the full legislative body, making a motion to return it to committee. The motion was denied. Democrats attempted to add four amendments to the bill, including a cost of living adjustment for retirees. They did not pass. Ultimately, the underlying bill did not pass.

Committees

Local Government Committee - Ranking Minority Member
Commerce, Labor and Economic Development Committee - Member
Judiciary Committee - Member
Joint Committee Information Technology – Member
Wyandotte County Delegation Chair

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