TOPEKA
February 19, 2025
With only one week before turnaround, the House of Representatives introduced 65 pieces of legislation last week. Here is a selection of eight bills from all that legislation.
First is House Bill (HB) 2322, which prohibits state law enforcement from profiling motorcyclists and requires said agencies to adopt training and policy to such effect.
Second is HB 2330. This bill establishes November 14 in Kansas as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day.
Third is HB 2335, which adds maternity centers to the list of entities defined as health care providers in state law.
Fourth is HB 2338. This legislation would establish temporary guest and location permits under the Board of Cosmetology for out-of-state individuals relocating to Kansas, with good standing cosmetology licenses in other states.
Fifth is HB 2436, this bill would establish a Kansas sports tourism grant program, administered by the Secretary of Commerce, to assist communities in creating and maintaining sporting events in the state. The bill would also create a committee to review and determine grant awards.
Sixth is HB 2439. This piece of legislation will authorize law enforcement officers to conduct investigations under the Scrap Metal Theft Reduction Act, establish criminal penalties for some violations of the act, and alter reporting requirements in current law.
Seventh is HB 2381. This bill would establish the Safe and Secure Firearm Detection Fund, task the Attorney General with administering the fund, require that the fund be used for grants to publicly owned facilities and private schools, and that the grants be expended on software and equipment to detect and prevent illegal firearm usage.
Eighth and last is HB 2384, this legislation would transfer 12 acres in Johnson County to the Kansas Shawnee Tribe, at the site of the Fairway Shawnee Indian Manual Labor School, for rehabilitation and management. The bill would also mandate the land not be used for a casino or gaming facility and the progress on rehabilitation be reported every 2 years over a 10-year period to the state.
HOUSE DELIBERATIONS
The Kansas House of Representatives debated and voted on eight pieces of legislation last week. I have detailed four of those bills below.
First is House Bill (HB) 2027, which amends and reorganizes legal requirements for several food welfare programs and changes provisions for fraud investigations.
Second is HB 2085. This bill extends expiration limits for permits issued under the Water Pollution Control Permit System from five to ten years and enables the Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to issue said permits for less than 10 years if valid circumstances allow.
Third is HB 2061, for the purpose of criminal penalties this legislation expands the definition of “critical infrastructure facility” to include facilities that use wireline, broadband, or wireless telecommunications, video services infrastructure, equipment buildings, accessory equipment, and associated support structures.
Last is HB 2069. This bill would establish the necessary legal infrastructure in Kansas for a School Psychologist Compact, of which seven states will be members.
All 8 bills passed, and I voted yes on each.
COMMITTEE HAPPENINGS
House Appropriations (HAPP) only worked House Bill (HB) 2007 last week, which is the House’s budget bill for the session.
Tuesday saw HAPP begin deliberations on the bill and debate several spending items: housing infrastructure, intellectual disability development waivers, cybersecurity for the Judicial Branch, child advocacy center grants, and Medicaid dental rates.
HAPP held no meeting on Wednesday due to the Capitol being closed by inclement winter weather. On Thursday the committee resumed discussion, meeting once in the morning and recessing to meet again in the afternoon. In the morning, funding for unfilled full time equivalent (FTE) state employee positions, summer electronic benefit transfers, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) interest spending, and higher education spending were discussed.
In the afternoon, the discussion continued on higher education and then moved to the topics of the Economic Development Initiatives Fund (EDIF), state parks’ operations, salaries and cybersecurity in the Judiciary, state water funds, and K-12 Education. At the end of this discussion the committee voted and passed out HB 2007 to the House Floor, where it will be debated next week.
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.
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.