Topeka Buzz: January 14, 2026

It was a relatively "quiet" day yesterday, with only one new bill introduced. So, let's take a few moments and get more familiar with what BillBee can do for you.

Author

Jason Anderson
January 14, 2026 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

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Topeka Buzz 🐝
Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Table of Contents

Top Stories of the Day

🐝🐝 HB 2435: Allows gas utilities to defer costs and use interim rates

Only one new bill was introduced yesterday.

This bill creates the Natural Gas Infrastructure Availability Act and lets Kansas natural gas utilities defer depreciation and associated carrying costs for new plant placed into service. It affects utilities, residential and business customers, and the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC).

Utilities may start deferrals for qualifying plant put in service on or after July 1, 2026. Deferred balances earn carrying costs and, when later included in rates, are amortized over 20 years. Utilities can petition the KCC for interim rate adjustments; the commission must act within 120 days and interim revenue recovery is capped so total annualized revenues cannot exceed 20% of the last approved base revenue level.

Supporters say faster cost recovery helps speed pipe and facility upgrades and reduce regulatory lag. Opponents worry it could raise bills sooner and reduce initial scrutiny outside full rate cases. The KCC can later review deferred costs in a general rate case and order refunds if recovery is disallowed.

BillBee Tips and Tricks

Yesterday was a relatively "quiet" day (no new bills, no new committee assignments—just the ongoing activity within each committee). That makes today a perfect opportunity to explore what BillBee can do for you. If you've clicked a few links but haven't dug deeper, here are five things you can do in under five minutes that will transform how you track the Kansas Legislature.

Follow Your First Bill

See a bill that matters to you? Click the Follow button (look for the bookmark icon) on any bill page. That's it—you'll now receive updates when that bill moves: committee assignments, hearing schedules, amendments, and votes. No more manually checking the legislature's website. BillBee watches so you don't have to. (Be sure to check your Notifications settings.)

Pro tip: Start with bills in committees you care about most. Education? Agriculture? Taxation? Find the committee page, browse recent bills, and follow the ones worth watching.

Read the Plain-English Summary

Legislative text can be dense. Every bill in BillBee includes an AI-generated summary that breaks down what the bill actually does…no law degree required. Look for the summary section near the top of any bill page. It won't replace reading the full text for critical bills, but it's a fast way to triage dozens of bills and decide which ones deserve your full attention.

Explore Legislator Profiles

Click on any legislator's name anywhere in BillBee to see their profile. You'll find:

  • Bills they've sponsored: What issues are they championing?

  • Committee assignments: Where do they have influence?

  • Contact information: Ready to reach out?

This is especially useful when a bill you're tracking gets assigned to committee. Quickly scan who's on that committee, see their past positions, and understand the landscape before testimony begins.

Check the Committee Calendar

Under each committee's page, you'll find upcoming hearings. This is where the action happens: public testimony, amendments, and votes that determine whether a bill lives or dies. Knowing when committees meet is half the battle. The other half is showing up (virtually or in person) when it counts.

Coming soon: We're working on calendar notifications.

Why This Matters

The Kansas Legislature moves fast once session gets rolling. Bills can go from introduction to committee vote in days. By setting up your follows and checking your dashboard regularly, you're building an early warning system. You'll know about hearings before they happen, not after.

One More Thing

Quiet days like yesterday are actually valuable. They give you time to explore without feeling behind. So take five minutes today:

  1. Follow three bills

  2. Read their summaries

  3. Check who sponsored them

By the time the next wave of bills drops, you'll be ready.

Have any ideas or feedback, just let us know!

Much of what BillBee offers is free for all. If you’re a “power user” who wants to unlock even more features, consider a paid subscription—and use promo code BEEFRIEND to get 50% off the first year. It’s our way of thanking all of you for continuing on this journey with us!