SENATE HIGHLIGHTS - WEEKLY OVERVIEW
TOPEKA — The Kansas Legislature wrapped up the regular portion of the 2025 session on Thursday, advancing a comprehensive budget and passing a range of impactful legislation. Key measures included tax reductions, safeguards for Kansas' water future, tougher crime enforcement, and protections to prevent foreign adversaries from owning land in the state. Lawmakers will reconvene on April 10 for a three-day “veto session.”
SENATE CONFIRMATION
By a vote of 40-0, the Senate confirmed Lori Bolton Fleming to the Kansas Court of Appeals who also passed unanimously out of the Senate Judiciary committee last week.
SENATE FLOOR ACTION
SB 125 is this session’s budget bill. The State General Fund (SGF) budget lowered spending by $210 million from 2025 and cut 1.5% across the board. It fully funds K-12 education including more money for special education, and provides a salary increase to state employees, all while including a reduction in the State General Fund from the prior fiscal year. SB 125 passed the Senate 24-16. I voted yes. Having also passed the House, it now heads to the governor – who can sign or veto the whole budget or sign the budget while using her line-item veto power on provisions she doesn’t approve.
SB 35 provides property tax relief and removes the state of Kansas from the property tax business by eliminating the statewide mill levies of 1.0 mills for state educational buildings and 0.5 mills for state institution buildings. SB 35 passed the Senate 40-0. I voted yes. Having also passed the House, it heads to the governor.
HCR 5004, which if approved by voters, would amend Section 1 of Article 5 of the Kansas Constitution to clarify that no person shall be deemed a qualified elector unless such person is a citizen of the United States, has attained the age of 18, resides in the voting area in which such person seeks to vote. HCR 5004 passed 37-3; having already passed the House it will now be on the ballot in November of 2026. I voted yes.
SB 269, would provide for reduction in state income and privilege tax rates contingent upon the balance of the Budget Stabilization Fund and growth in the State General Fund (SGF) receipts from income and privilege taxes in excess of the FY 2024 amount, adjusted for inflation. SB 269 passed 30-10. I voted yes. Having already passed the House, it now heads to the governor.
HB 2164, which would create and amend law in the Kansas Offender Registration Act to make it unlawful for certain sex offenders to enter onto school property or attend a school activity. HB 2164 passed 36-4. I voted yes.
HCR 5011, which, if adopted by a two-thirds majority of each chamber of the Kansas Legislature and approved by voters, would amend the Kansas Constitution to generally limit, for property tax purposes, the growth of taxable value of any real property to 3 percent per year. The re-passage of this amendment sends it to a conference committee, so the Senate can work out differences between approaches to property tax relief with the House. The amendment passed 30-10. I voted yes. Later in the day, this HCR 5011 failed to pass in the House.
HB 2240, which would prohibit state agencies from seeking or implementing any public assistance program waiver or other authorization from the federal government that would expand eligibility for any public assistance program or would increase any cost to the State. The bill would also prohibit making certain changes to services for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) without the express consent or approval of either the Legislature or the Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC). HB 2240 passed 31-9; having also passed the House, it now heads to the governor. I voted yes.
HB 2382, which would require any school district that offers courses or other instruction regarding human growth, human development, or human sexuality to include, as part of the course or instruction, a human fetal development presentation. The bill would also allow the State Board of Education to establish the rates of compensation that board members receive for regularly scheduled meetings of the State Board and any other in-state meeting for participation in matters of educational interest to the State of Kansas. HB 2382 passed 31-9. I voted yes. Having also passed the House, it is now headed to the governor.
HB 2022 would amend the definition of “special election” in election law to mean any election held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in March of any year or on the same day as a general or primary election. The bill would also make conforming amendments to other provisions of election law concerning special elections. HB 2022 passed 29-11; having also passed the House, it is now headed to the governor. I voted yes.
HB 2062 would amend law regarding child support to require such support be calculated from the date of conception, to require the court to consider the value of a qualified retirement account in determination of child support orders, and to eliminate the exemption of such accounts from claims to collect child support. The bill would also allow a personal exemption for any unborn child for the purposes of income taxation. HB 2062 passed the Senate 31-9; having also passed the House, it is now headed to the governor. I voted yes.
SB 9 creates the Kansas Land and Military Installation Protection Act, which prevents foreign adversaries from owning land within 100 miles of a military installation in Kansas. The legislation was designed to cover most of Kansas. It also prohibits government agencies from purchasing or acquiring drones whose critical components were produced in a country of concern, or whose critical components were produced or owned by a foreign principal. SB 9 passed the Senate 38-1; having also passed the House, it now heads to the governor. I voted yes.
SB 250 would authorize a manufacturer operating in an eligible facility to make available individualized investigative treatments and allow individuals with life-threatening or severely debilitating illnesses to request an individualized investigational drug, biologic product, or device from such manufacturers. SB 250 passed 40-0; having also passed the House, it is now headed to the governor. I voted yes.
SB 44 would declare that antisemitism and antisemitic acts are against the public policy of the state, including, but not limited to, the purposes of public educational institutions and law enforcement agencies. SB 44 passed 39-1; having also passed the House, it is now headed to the governor. I voted yes.
HB 2263 would make four commemorative designations of highways and bridges in Kansas. This bill includes the POW MIA Memorial Bridge in Clay County in Senate District #36. The bill passed 40-0. I voted yes. Having also passed the House, it’s headed to the governor.
HB 2030 exempt dealers and manufacturers of trailers from specified provisions of the Vehicle Dealers and Manufacturers Licensing Act. The exemptions would not apply to dealers and manufacturers of semitrailers or travel trailers or to a dealer in the sale or exchange of any type of vehicle other than trailers. HB 2030 passed 40-0. I voted yes. Having also passed the House, it’s headed to the governor.
SB 193 would amend the Statewide Opioid Antagonist Protocol by exempting law enforcement agencies from the Protocol’s requirement to utilize a physician medical director or licensed pharmacist unless the agency was electing to use an emergency opioid antagonist dispensed or furnished pursuant to the Protocol. SB 193 passed 40-0. I voted yes. Having also passed the House, it’s headed to the governor.
HB 2168 would extend the time for land surveyors to file certain public land survey reports with the Secretary of the State Historical Society from 30 days to 90 days. HB 2168 passed 40-0. I voted yes. Having also passed the House, the bill is headed to the governor.
HB 2201 would authorize issuance of three new license plates on and after January 1, 2026, including the National FFA tag, the Route 66 Association of Kansas tag and a new black-out tag. It would also amend certain requirements for the issuance of certain specialized plates to military veterans; and amend law regarding personalized license plates and decals on license plates. HB 2201 passed 39-1; having also passed the House, it headed to the governor. I voted yes.
SB 18 would authorize issuance of the Hunter Nation distinctive license plate on and after January 1, 2026. SB 18 passed 28-10. I voted yes. Having also passed the House, it’s now headed to the governor.
SB 241 Providing that restrictive covenants in certain contracts are enforceable and not considered a restraint of trade in certain circumstances. SB 241 passed 38-0. I voted yes. Having also passed the House, it’s now headed to the governor.
HB 2075 would amend law concerning when law enforcement may take a child under 18 into custody for suspected abuse or neglect; add a procedure for law enforcement to report suspected abuse or neglect to the Secretary for Children and Families for the purposes of initiating an investigation. HB 2075 passed 38-0. I voted yes. Having also passed the House, it’s now headed to the governor.
HB 2228 requires any political subdivision to hold an open meeting before approving a contingent fee contract for legal services and require such contract to be approved by the Attorney General before becoming effective. HB 2228 passed 28-12. I voted yes. Having also passed the House, it’s headed to the governor.
SB 227 would increase tax credit amounts allowed for preservation of historic structures and make changes to the conditions under which different credit amounts are allowed. SB 227 passed 31-9. I voted yes. Having also passed the House, it’s headed to the governor.
HB 2016 would amend various provisions of election law concerning the maintenance of voter registration rolls, qualifications for poll workers and election board judges or clerks, and the solicitation of advance voting ballot applications. HB 2016 passed 40-0. I voted yes. Having also passed the House, it’s now headed to the governor.
SB 139 amends State Banking Code in a number of respects. SB 139 passed 40-0. I voted yes. Having also passed the House, it’s now headed to the governor.
HB 2069 would enact four multistate licensure compacts: the School Psychologist Compact, the Dietitian Compact, the Cosmetologist Licensure Compact, and the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact. HB 2069 passed 40-0. I voted yes. Having also passed the House, it’s now headed to the governor.
HB 2160 would establish the Kansas Municipal Employee Whistleblower Act to provide legal protections for municipal employees who report conduct that is dangerous or unlawful and would define terms for purposes of that act. HB 2160 passed 40-0; having also passed the House, it now heads to the governor. I voted yes.
SB 54 would amend the Kansas Code of Civil Procedure to require the disclosure of third-party litigation funding agreements. SB 54 passed 40-0. I voted yes. Having also passed the House, it is now headed to the governor.
SB 135 would make technical amendments to law concerning orders issued under the Protection from Abuse Act by reorganizing certain sections to clarify how a protection order may be affected when a child-related order is issued pursuant to another legal action. SB 135 passed 40-0. I voted yes. Having also passed the House, it’s headed to the governor.
HB 2050 would amend the Insurance Code of the State of Kansas relating to the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the Commissioner of Insurance. HB 2050 passed the Senate 40-0; having also passed the House, it’s now headed to the governor. I voted yes.
HB 2056 amend various provisions of election law concerning the crime of false representation of an election official, nominations by political parties, and the testing of certain voting equipment before an election. It clarifies the law regarding impersonation of an election official; prohibits candidates from making a mockery of the election process by allowing candidates only to seek the nomination of one party and requiring candidates to accept the nomination of any party and requiring voting equipment to be tested 30 days before an election. HB 2056 passed the Senate 34-6; having also passed the House, it’s now headed to the governor. I voted yes.
HB 2134 would limit the fees that could be charged by a public agency in response to Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) requests and allow a requester to appeal a fee’s reasonableness to the Secretary of Administration if the responding public agency is within the Executive Branch. The bill would also exempt disclosure of certain closed investigations, change the date for counties or district attorneys to report complaints regarding KORA and the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA), and amend provisions concerning public meetings in KOMA. HB 2134 passed 40-0; having also passed the House, it’s now headed to the governor. I voted yes.
HB 2249 would add provisions that would become part of and supplemental to the Rural Emergency Hospital Act. The bill would authorize the Secretary for Aging and Disability Services, upon application by a rural emergency hospital to grant a physical environment waiver for existing nursing facilities to a REH to provide skilled nursing facility care. The bill would also establish the South Central Regional Mental Health Hospital, create a fee fund, update the catchment areas for the state hospitals, rename “Parsons State Hospital and Training Center” to “Parsons State Hospital,” and make technical and conforming amendments. HB 2249 passed 40-0; having also passed the House, it’s now headed to the governor. I voted yes.
HB 2028 would amend law concerning the resident senior combination hunting and fishing pass and the Kansas kids combination lifetime hunting and fishing license. The bill would also prohibit non-residents from hunting migratory waterfowl during certain times and in certain places, require the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks to present certain data in a report to the Legislature, and change the fees for migratory waterfowl habitat stamps. HB 2028 passed 40-0; having also passed the House, it’s now headed to the governor. I voted yes.
HB 2255 would make changes to two programs in the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA): the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and the Weights and Measures Program. HB 2255 passed 40-0; having also passed the House, it’s now headed to the governor. I voted yes.
SB 114 would authorize non-public school students and virtual school students participating in a school activity governed by the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) to also participate in certain ancillary school district activities. The bill would amend this law to require participating students to also be permitted to participate in any district-sponsored events, ceremonies, programs, or other functions directly related to the activity. SB 114 passed 32-8; having also passed the House, it’s now headed to the governor. I voted yes.
SB 199 would permit year-round fireworks sales under certain conditions and make additional changes (year round sales) to law related to the sale of fireworks. The bill would also designate the existing Fallen Firefighters Memorial adjacent to the Kansas Firefighters Museum in Wichita as the official Fallen Firefighters Memorial of the State of Kansas and would replace the Kansas Firefighters Memorial Advisory Committee with the Kansas Firefighter Memorial Council. SB 199 passed 28-12; having also passed the House, it’s headed to the governor. I voted no – wildfires are a real concern in rural Kansas.
HB 2039 would amend statutes relating to home health agencies to clarify the definition of “home health agency” for the purposes of credentialing; amend law regarding emergency medical services and EMS providers to clarify authorized activities of paramedics, advanced emergency medical technicians (advanced EMTs), emergency medical technician, and emergency medical responders. HB 2039 passed 40-0; having also passe the House, it’s now headed to the governor. I voted yes.
HB 2172 would create a 16-member Water Program Task Force and a 5-member Water Planning Work Group to study and make recommendations to the Legislature on water policy and funding. HB 2172 passed 40-0; having also passed the House, it’s now headed to the governor. I voted yes.
SB 45 would establish a statutory calculation, for purposes of accreditation, of the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate for each school district and any schools within the district, including virtual. SB 45 passed 40-0. I voted yes. Having also passed the House, it is headed to the governor.
HB 2054 would modernize our campaign finance statutes by increasing contribution limits to candidates and political parties. HB 2054 addresses adjusts limits to limits to inflation with House limits to go from $500 to $1000; State Senate limits from $1000 to $2000; and limits for statewide candidates from $2000 to $4000. HB 2054 passed 26-14; having also passed the House, it is now headed to the governor. I voted no.
SB 50 would establish uniform interest rates, repayment schedules, and fees for all scholarships, grants, or other student financial aid program established in law (KSA Chapter 74, Article 32) under the authority of the State Board of Regents. SB 50 passed 40-0. I voted yes. Having also passed the House, it is headed to the governor. SB 64 would amend Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) statutes. The bill would extend the timeline for a KPERS member to request an administrative hearing to appeal a decision made by the KPERS Board of Trustees without a hearing. The bill would also update KPERS statutes to align with federal Internal Revenue Code (IRC) regulations. SB 64 passed 39-1. I voted yes. Having also passed the House, it is headed to the governor.
HB 2122 would amend law regarding registration fees of trucks, truck tractors, and electric and hybrid vehicles. HB 2122 passed 40-0; having also passed the House, it is headed to the governor. I voted yes.
SB 126 would update the current newborn screening program to establish the Advance Universal Newborn Screening Program, increase the minimum statutory state financial assistance to local health department, and increase the hospital provider annual assessment on services rate. SB 126 passed 40-0; having also passed the House, it is headed to the governor. I voted yes.
HB 2334 contains a number of provisions: It would amend the Insurance Holding Company Act, Uniform Insurance Agents Licensing Act, Public Adjusters Licensing Act, Captive Insurance Act, and current law to allow travel insurance to be filed under either an accident and health or inland marine line of insurance. HB 2334 passed 40-0; having also passed the House, it is headed to the governor. I voted yes.
HB 2183 would prohibit a state court or an administrative hearing officer hearing an administrative action from deferring to an Executive Branch agency’s interpretation of certain statutes, rules and regulations, and documents that have the force and effect of law. The bill would allow for the court or officer to consider the agency’s interpretation, but they would be required to interpret the meaning and effect of such statute, rules and regulation, or document as if it were new. The bill would require courts to exercise any remaining doubt regarding matters defined above, in a way that is consistent with an individual’s fundamental constitutional rights. HB 2183 passed 30-10. I voted yes.
HB 2342 would authorize the Secretary of Commerce to request the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) conduct a state and national criminal history record check on any final applicant or an employee in a sensitive position within the Department of Commerce and would require the Secretary of Labor to conduct state and national criminal history record checks on. HB 2342 passed 40-0. I voted yes. Having also passed the House, it is headed to the governor.
HB 2347 would amend and create laws related to the crimes of theft, buying sexual relations, criminal use of a financial card, and unlawful use of a laser pointer. HB 2347 passed 40-0. I voted yes.
HB 2371 would make amendments to the Revised Limited Liability Company Act to specify document forms and signature and delivery options and clarify filing fee limits and amend the Business Entity Transactions Act. HB 2371 passed 40-0. I voted yes. Having also passed the House, it is now headed to the governor.
SB 21 would amend the Kansas Parimutuel Racing Act to change certain licensing requirements regarding live horse racing and to alter the distribution of moneys from certain funds. SB 21 passed 37-3. I voted yes. Having already passed the House, it is now headed to the governor.
SB 42 would, among its provisions, enact the Kansas Real Time Motor Vehicle Insurance Verification Act to require the Commissioner of Insurance to establish a web-based system for online verification of motor vehicle insurance and require motor vehicle insurers to cooperate with the Commissioner to establish and maintain the system as specified in the Act. SB 42 passed 39-1; having also passed the House, it is now headed to the governor. I voted yes.
HB 2169 would provide for an exemption from remediation costs or other liability from prior commercial pesticide application by the United States army for owners of certain nonresidential property located in Johnson County. HB 2169 passed 30-10. I voted yes. Having also passed the House, it is headed to the governor.
HB 2280 would amend several laws applicable to veterans and military spouses. It would amend the definition of “complete application” in law governing occupational licensing and waiver of licensing fees by including military spouses even if the spouse’s service member is not considered to be on active duty and change the Kansas Office of Veterans Services (KOVS) to the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs Office. HB 2280 passed 40-0; having also passed the House, it’s headed to the governor. I voted yes.
LEGISLATIVE TOWNHALLS
Several legislative town halls have already taken place across the 36th Kansas Senate District, with more scheduled in the coming weeks.
· April 8 at 9:00 a.m. – Representative Troy Waymaster and I will be in Sylvan Grove at the Feedlot Bar and Grill. Next at 11:00, we will be in Russell at the Southwind Bank.
· April 29 at 10:00 a.m. – Representative Troy Waymaster and I will be in Smith County for the VA Town Hall & Health Fair at the American Legion Hall in Kensington.
THANK YOU FOR ENGAGING
Thank you for all of your calls, emails, and letters regarding your thoughts and concerns about happenings in Kansas. Helpful information can be easily accessed through the legislature’s website at www.kslegislature.org. You are also able to ‘listen in live’ at this website.
Thank you for the honor of serving you!
Senator Elaine Bowers
Kansas State Capitol Building Room 223-E
300 SW 10th St.
Topeka, KS 66612
[email protected]
785-296-7389
www.kslegislature.org
www.elainebowers.com