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- Topeka Buzz: Thursday, January 17
Topeka Buzz: Thursday, January 17
Buckle up! Over 40 bills were introduced in the Kansas House and Senate yesterday. We've added a 🐝 rating system to help identify the proposed laws that would have the largest impact (details below). Also: Bitcoin for KPERS? Universal vaccine exemptions?
Jason Anderson
January 17, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 32 minutes
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Introducing the 🐝 Rating System
To help you quickly understand the potential significance of proposed legislation, we've introduced 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 🐝
Thursday, January 17, 2025
Below is today’s morning update on published activities in the Kansas Legislature.
Table of Contents
Top Stories of the Day
The Constitutional Right to Health Freedom Act
SB 29 ignites debate by revoking Kansas health officials' authority to mandate quarantines or isolation measures. It also establishes legal protections for employees penalized due to vaccination status or for adhering to public health recommendations. While supporters champion the legislation as a stand for individual liberties and personal responsibility, critics warn it could significantly undermine the state’s ability to manage public health crises effectively. The bill reflects broader national tensions around public health and personal freedom.
Kansas Retirement Fund Bitcoin Investment Act
This bold proposal authorizes the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) to invest up to 10% of its funds in Bitcoin exchange-traded products. Proponents highlight the potential for higher returns and the opportunity to modernize state investment strategies. However, critics cite Bitcoin's volatility as a risk to the financial stability of the state’s retirement fund. SB 34 underscores the ongoing debate about integrating cryptocurrency into traditional financial frameworks while safeguarding public funds.
Defend the Guard Act
SB 38 seeks to limit the Kansas National Guard’s deployment to active-duty combat unless Congress issues a formal declaration of war. This legislation is viewed as a reaffirmation of constitutional principles, asserting state sovereignty over military deployments. While supporters argue it protects guard members from federal overreach, detractors question whether the restrictions could complicate the state’s relationship with federal military operations. The bill’s introduction comes at a time of increasing scrutiny over the use of state militias in foreign conflicts.
Bills and Resolutions
New Bills Introduced (41!)
House:
HB 2015: Seeks federal approval to restrict food assistance purchases for candy and soda.
HB 2016: Expands the use of private obituary notices for removing deceased voters from registration rolls.
HB 2017: Requires advance voting ballots to be returned by 7:00 p.m. on election day.
HB 2018: Prohibits disqualification of active military members, spouses, or dependents as poll workers based on residency or voter registration status.
HB 2019: Allows county commissioners to appoint individuals to vacant county-elected offices when no candidate runs.
HB 2020: Requires monthly reporting of noncitizen driver’s license holders to the Secretary of State.
HB 2021: Authorizes the Secretary of State to establish rules for remote ballot boxes.
HB 2022: Clarifies the scheduling of special elections.
HB 2023: Creates the crime of interfering with an election official and establishes penalties for violations.
HB 2024: Provides tax credits for firefighters’ unreimbursed medical expenses related to cancer screening.
HB 2025: Eliminates city authority to regulate planning and zoning for land outside city boundaries.
HB 2026: Prohibits marriage for individuals under 18 and updates waiting period calculations.
HB 2027: Reorganizes and updates public assistance statutes for clarity and cross-references.
HB 2028: Mandates discounted hunting and fishing licenses for residents aged 65 and older and removes expiration dates for lifetime licenses for children.
Senate:
SB 12: Requires unanimous approval from governing body members for municipalities exercising eminent domain for recreational projects.
SB 13: Eliminates various filing and registration requirements for labor organizations, business agents, and other entities with the Secretary of State.
SB 14: Introduces a continuous state budget provision, subject to legislative amendment or expiration.
SB 15: Allows felons to apply for liquor licenses if conviction occurred over 10 years ago with demonstrated rehabilitation.
SB 16: Prohibits financial services discrimination based on social credit scores and requires consent for investments in ideological boycotts.
SB 17: Exempts agricultural haulers from gross weight limitations.
SB 18: Reduces the guarantee requirement for distinctive license plate production and introduces a hunter-themed plate.
SB 19: Enacts a "conscientious right to refuse" law, protecting individuals declining specific medical interventions.
SB 20: Reduces the number of board members appointed by the insurance commissioner and limits meeting frequencies for certain insurance-related committees.
SB 21: Requires third-party insurance administrators to maintain separate fiduciary accounts for individual payors and report bankruptcy filings.
SB 22: Requires title agents to provide audit reports upon request and mandates $100,000 surety bonds, while removing controlled business exemptions in some counties.
SB 23: Mandates insurers and agents respond to inquiries within 14 days and allows extended rebate pilot programs.
SB 24: Authorizes the insurance commissioner to set and publish certain fees in the Kansas Register.
SB 25: Establishes insurance savings accounts with tax modifications under the Kansas income tax act.
SB 26: Provides a sales tax exemption for certain purchases by bowling centers.
SB 27: Eliminates specific reporting requirements for the insurance commissioner and redefines certain entities under insurance law.
SB 28: Revises licensing requirements for insurance agents and public adjusters, including renewal processes.
SB 29: Enacts the "constitutional right to health freedom act," addressing medical care refusals, quarantine authority, and civil protections for employees.
SB 30: Requires state and national criminal history record checks for labor department employees with access to federal tax information.
SB 31: Requires dentists to provide patient information upon request, prohibits restrictive agreements, and removes certain in-office presence requirements.
SB 32: Reduces insurance premium tax rates and modifies associated fund remittance processes.
SB 33: Exempts certain custom meat processing services from sales taxation.
SB 34: Authorizes KPERS to invest up to 10% of its funds in Bitcoin exchange-traded products, with limitations and requirements.
SB 35: Ends state property tax levies for educational and state institution funds, replacing them with state general fund financing.
SB 36: Increases state disbursements to conservation districts and adjusts matching fund calculations.
SB 37: Removes city authority to regulate planning and zoning for areas outside city limits.
SB 38: Establishes the "Defend the Guard Act," limiting National Guard deployment to active-duty combat without a Congressional declaration of war.