TOPEKA
Feb. 4, 2026
HOUSE FLOOR ACTION
The Kansas House of Representatives introduced seventy bills last week. The topics of these bills ranged from muncipal court fees to regulations on daycare facilities. Detailed below is a sample of six bills from those introduced.
· First is House Bill 2541. This bill would establish a new economic development program in Kansas, operated by the Department of Commerce. The program would administer tax credits to qualified businesses, with less than 250 employees, that make capital investments either in rural Kansas or that would result in direct benefit to rural areas.
· Second is HB 2553, this legislation establishes a new distinctive license plate design option with the Department of Revenue. That option being for the Public Broadcast Service (PBS).
· Third is HB 2555, which would require spending reports regarding the new Rural Health Transportation Fund, established by the Federal Government last year, be presented to the State Finance Council, House Appropriations Committee, Senate Ways and Means Committee, and Legislative Budget Committee, during the interim session period.
· Fourth is HB 2571 would establish costsharing guidelines for both municipalities and the state when planning, designing, financing, constructing, maintaining, or acquiring right-of-way or establishing the controlled access facilities of any existing or proposed highway, road, street or connecting link, including bridges, traffic control devices and other such improvements.
· Fifth is HB 2580, which would create the Kansas International Trade Commission, tasked with seeking out and developing new trade relations with other nations, with Ireland, Japan, and Taiwan being three nations of particular focus. Membership would consist of members from legislative and executive branches, higher education, and business.
· Last is HB 2595. This legislation would create a new stipend program for legal students attending a Kansas law school that wish to practice in rural Kansas after their admittance to the state bar.
COMMITTEE HAPPENINGS
House Appropriations (HAPP) was busy again for the third week of session. Seventeen agency budgets were, again, worked, two bills were heard, and one informational briefing was conducted.
On Monday, four agency budgets were worked and one bill was heard. The four budgets were the Board of Technical Professions, Kansas Sentencing Commission, Kansas Office of Veterans’ Services, and State Library. The bill heard was HB 2434, which is the House’s budget bill for this session.
Tuesday saw the committee work seven agency budgets. Those were the Kansas Neurological Institute, Parsons State Hospital, Larned State Hospital, Osawatomie State Hospital, South Central Regional Mental Health Hospital, the Office of the Child Advocate, and the Kansas State School for the Blind.
Wednesday the committee received an update on the state of agriculture in Kansas from the Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Beam, and worked on six agency budgets. Those being the Kansas Lottery, Kansas Real Estate Appraisal Board, Kansas Real Estate Commission, Board of Examiners in Optometry, Kansas Guardianship Program, and Kansas State School for the Deaf.
Lastly, on Thursday, the committee heard HB 2555, the Rural Health Transformation Fund Oversight bill, and worked on five agency budgets. The budgets worked were the Kansas Human Rights Commission, Board of Tax Appeals, Kansas Department of Revenue, Kansas Department of Labor, and the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System.
STATE OF AGRICULTURE
On Wednesday, the Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Beam, presented an informational briefing to the House Appropriations Committee on the state of agriculture in Kansas. Secretary Beam noted that agriculture is still the largest economic sector in the state, with 235,186 employed jobs and $85.5 billion dollars in activity. He also reported to committee members on several changing trends in agriculture. First, was the growing need for water conservation, especially in the western third of the state. Second, was the spread of Avian Influenza, which is declining though still concerning for Eastern Kansas. Last was the continued growth of beef and dairy production in Kansas, most concentrated in southwestern Kansas. Secretary Beam also answered questions from committee members on trends in trade and food regulations.
It is a distinct honor to serve as your representative for the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas. Please contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and questions. I always appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.