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The 🐝 Rating System
Each bill is evaluated based on four key factors: Scope of Impact, Financial Impact, Urgency, and Controversy. These factors are weighted to reflect their influence on the bill's overall importance. Here's how the ratings break down:
🐝 Minimal Impact: Legislation with limited reach or lower urgency and controversy.
🐝🐝 Moderate Impact: Proposals with a broader or more notable influence, addressing issues of medium urgency or financial significance.
🐝🐝🐝 High Impact: Bills with widespread consequences, urgent needs, or significant public and political attention.
Daily Legislative Update 🐝
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Below is today’s morning update on published activities in the Kansas Legislature.
Table of Contents
Top Stories of the Day
Let the Games Begin!
There is a lot of activity returning to the chambers for floor votes. We haven’t yet updated the automatic formatting of the Bill Details section below to organize this information by category so you’ll have to scan through them manually (we expect to improve this next week).
Noteworthy bills making significant progress include:
SB 5 passed the Senate and has moved to the House. This proposal prohibits most Federal funds from being used on election-related activities in Kansas, including voter registration efforts.
HB 2206 would rename and repurpose the current Governmental Ethics Commission as the Kansas Public Disclosure Commission. It creates stricter requirements for filing independent expenditures in elections, but in nuanced ways that likely leave wide-open lanes for undisclosed campaign spending.
HB 2027 passed the House and is now in the Senate. It further restricts eligibility for public assistance programs (e.g., persons who quit a job or are fired for misconduct are no longer eligible). It also strengthens work requirements.
New BillBee resource: Legislator Profiles
As we approach “voting season,” it’s going to become more and more important (and interesting!) to track how legislators are voting on specific bills. In the spirit of build-the-airplane-while-flying-it, we’ve added Legislators to the BillBee website. This information, aswith the rest of the information portal, is sourced from the Kansas Legislature website but we humbly suggest that our tool is much easier to use.
At the moment, we only have their contact information handily available, but committee assignments and vote history are coming soon.
Bills and Resolutions
UPDATE: Summaries of these bills are now published on BillBee. The links below go directly to each bill’s writeup.
Bills Under Consideration
House Bills on the Floor for Consideration
Final Action on Bills and Concurrent Resolutions:
SB 5 – Prohibits unsolicited federal funds for elections.
SB 7 – Increases bonding authority limits for township improvements.
SB 32 – Reduces insurance company premium tax rates from 2% to 1.98%.
SB 36 – Increases the funding cap and state matching funds for conservation districts.
SB 84 – Expands criminal use of cards to include gift cards.
SB 125 – $6,430 in approved payments for claims against the state.
SB 135 – Enhances child-related protection order precedence.
HB 2040 – Extends final orders on electric transmission line siting applications from 120 days to 180 days.
HB 2046 – Authorizes insurers to file certain travel insurance policies under the accident and health line of insurance.
HB 2109 – Allows police equipment on utility poles, exempts utility liability.
HB 2061 – Defines and penalizes trespass on critical infrastructure.
HB 2120 – Authorizes sale of two specific Kansas State University properties.
HB 2075 – Set strict timelines for child custody hearings.
HB 2088 – Establishes fast-track building permits process.
HB 2215 – Increase cost-share limit for corrections' partnerships.
HB 2140 – Establishes a D.A.R.E. educator in Kansas.
HB 2185 – Transfer unused National Guard tuition benefits to dependents.
HB 2016 – Allows private online obituary notices to be used for removing deceased voters from Kansas voter registration books.
HB 2106 – Ban foreign nationals from campaign contribution in Kansas.
HB 2206 – Renames and updates Kansas governmental ethics commission.
HB 2039 – Clarifies that certain entities providing physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology are not home health agencies.
HB 2170 – Establishes Kansas burn awareness week in February.
HB 2212 – Increases reimbursement for inmate personal losses.
HB 2183 – Defines AI-generated child exploitation as a crime.
HB 2231 – Increases personal tax exemptions for head of households.
HB 2122 – Alters registration fee payment rules for trucks.
HB 2169 – Modifies documentation for veteran license plates issuance.
HB 2201 – FFA distinctive license plates authorized in Kansas.
HB 2222 – Mandates ignition interlock fees for manufacturers.
HB 2261 – Reclassifies Kansas Highway Patrol employment status as unclassified for certain ranks.
HB 2121 – Increase electric vehicle annual fees for highway funds.
HB 2168 – Creates blackout distinctive license plate and replacement fund.
HB 2256 – Awards for military spouses' community contributions.
HB 2274 – Streamlines licensing for military spouses and veterans.
Senate Bills on the Floor for Consideration
Final Action on Bills and Concurrent Resolutions:
HB 2027 – Tightens qualification requirements for some public assistance programs.
SB 51 – Sales tax exemptions for data center development investments.
SB 105 – Governor fills vacancies with same-party appointees.
SB 77 – Revise administrative rules regulation and agency review processes.
SB 85 – Mandates frequent data matching for public assistance eligibility.
SB 99 – Abolishes state-funded positions unfilled for more than 180 days.
SB 161 – Legislative consent required for public assistance program changes.
SB 138 – Require probable cause statement by law enforcement for warrants.
SB 82 – Grants waivers for rural hospital nursing facilities.
SB 88 – Requires dementia training for long-term care ombudsmen.
SB 29 – Strips local health officers and the Secretary of Health and Environment of their authority to impose isolation or quarantine orders.
SB 98 – Create Route 66 Kansas license plates.
SB 97 – Regulates titling of nonhighway and salvage vehicles.
SB 181 – Limits annual state general fund expenditures.
Consent Calendar (Bills Eligible for Fast-Track Approval):
SB 92 – Extends electric line siting permit decision timeline.
New Bills Introduced
House Bills:
Taxes, Fiscal Policy, and Economic Development:
🐝 HB 2380: Provide COLA for elderly retirees in Kansas system.
Criminal Justice, Public Safety, and Corrections:
🐝🐝🐝 HB 2381: Establishes safe and secure firearm detection program.
Education:
🐝 HB 2382: Increase state board of education compensation.
Child Welfare, Family Services, and Social Assistance:
🐝🐝 HB 2383: Establishes health services pilot for child care providers.
Government Organization, Elections, and Public Administration:
🐝 HB 2384: Authorize real property conveyance to Shawnee Tribe with conditions.
Senate Bills:
Miscellaneous / Commemorative and Cultural Acts:
🐝 SB 265: Designates Nov 14 as Ruby Bridges walk to school day.
Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources:
🐝🐝 SB 266: Require legislative approval for major electric transmission lines.
Taxes, Fiscal Policy, and Economic Development:
Education:
🐝🐝 SB 270: Create Kansas educator apprenticeship grant program.
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Session Highlights for February 10, 2025
House of Representatives
The House, presided over by Speaker Hawkins, convened at 11:00 a.m. and was adjourned until 11:00 a.m. the following day.
Roll Call:
121 members were present, with Reps. Brownlee Paige, Seiwert, and Winn excused for verified illness and Rep. Droge excused by the Speaker.
Bill Actions:
HB 2040: Passed.
HB 2046: Passed.
HB 2109: Passed.
HB 2061: Passed as amended.
HB 2120: Amended and passed as amended.
SB 5: Passage announced by the Senate.
SB 7: Passage announced by the Senate.
SB 32: Passage announced by the Senate.
SB 36: Passage announced by the Senate.
SB 84: Passage announced by the Senate.
SB 125: Passage announced by the Senate.
SB 135: Passage announced by the Senate.
Additional Notes:
Pledge of Allegiance was led by Rep. Schlingensiepen.
Senate
The Senate, presided over by Vice President Tim Shallenburger, convened at 2:30 p.m. and was adjourned until 9:00 a.m. the following day.
Roll Call:
37 senators were present, with Senators J. R. Claeys, Masterson, and Ware excused.
Bill Actions:
HB 2027: Passage announced by the House.
SB 51: Recommended for passage by Committee on Commerce.
SB 105: Amended and recommended for passage by Committee on Federal and State Affairs.
SCR 1604: Adopted by Committee on Federal and State Affairs.
SB 77: Recommended for passage by Committee on Government Efficiency.
SB 85: Amended and recommended for passage by Committee on Government Efficiency.
SB 99: Amended and recommended for passage by Committee on Government Efficiency.
SB 161: Amended and recommended for passage by Committee on Government Efficiency.
SB 138: Recommended for passage by Committee on Judiciary.
SB 82: Passed as recommended by Committee on Public Health and Welfare.
SB 88: Passed as recommended by Committee on Public Health and Welfare.
SB 29: Substitute passed by Committee on Public Health and Welfare.
SB 98: Recommended for passage by Committee on Transportation.
SB 97: Amended and recommended for passage by Committee on Transportation.
SB 92: Passed and placed on the consent calendar by Committee on Utilities.
SB 181: Passed as recommended by Committee on Ways and Means.
Additional Notes:
Prayer Highlights: Invocation delivered by guest chaplain Doug Henkle emphasized gratitude, protection for the vulnerable, and guidance for senators.
Pledge of Allegiance was led by Vice President Shallenburger.
Upcoming Actions
House of Representatives
Session Time: 11:00 AM
Committee Updates:
Appropriations (9:00 AM): Daily meeting; discussing budget appropriations.
Legislative Modernization (9:30 AM): Presentation on agency IT security audits.
Local Government (9:00 AM): Hearing on HB2160.
Higher Education Budget (1:30 PM): Final action on previous bills.
Transportation (1:30 PM): Meeting on call of the chair.
General Government Budget (3:30 PM): Meeting on call of the chair.
Judiciary (3:30 PM): Hearing on SB2347.
K-12 Education Budget (3:30 PM): No meeting scheduled.
Social Services Budget (3:30 PM): Meeting on call of the chair.
Taxation (3:30 PM): No meeting scheduled.
Transportation and Public Safety Budget (3:30 PM): Meeting on call of the chair.
Senate
Session Time: 9:00 AM
Committee Updates:
Public Health and Welfare (8:30 AM): Final action on SB250—Enacting the right to try for individualized treatments act.
Assessment and Taxation (8:30 AM): Final action on SB250.
Government Efficiency (9:30 AM): Joint meeting with the House Committee on Legislative Modernization; presentation on agency IT security audits.
Local Government, Transparency and Ethics (9:30 AM): Meeting on call of the chair.
Ways and Means (10:30 AM): Meeting on call of the chair.
Commerce (1:30 PM): Discussion and possible final action on previously heard bills.
Utilities (1:30 PM): Meeting on call of the chair.
Transportation (8:30 AM): Meeting on call of the chair.
Assessment and Taxation (9:30 AM): Meeting on call of the chair.
Federal and State Affairs (10:30 AM): Request for bill introductions; final action on SB260.
Government Efficiency (9:30 AM): Meeting on call of the chair.
Federal and State Affairs (10:30 AM): Request for bill introductions; final action on SB260.
Commerce (1:30 PM): Meeting on call of the chair.
Utilities (1:30 PM): Meeting on call of the chair.
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