Capitol Comments Articles
Senate and House Take Final Action Votes on Bills

State Capital BW (March 23, 2023) – Today, the House of Representatives took final action on the following:

House Substitute for Senate Bill 113 makes appropriations for the Department of Education for fiscal years 2023, 2024 and 2025; establishes the Mental Health Intervention Team Program; authorizes certain students to participate in activities regulated by the Kansas State High School Activities Association; requires school districts to post certain enrollment and academic information on school district websites; revises school district open-enrollment procedures; authorizes local school board members to receive compensation from their school district; authorizes current-year student enrollment for determinations of state foundation aid; continues the 20 mill statewide tax levy for schools; amends the school districts that qualify for and the amount that school districts are able to levy pursuant to the cost-of-living weighting. Passed on a vote of 75-48.

House Bill 2436 enacts the Kansas Public Investments and Contracts Protection Act concerning environmental, social and governance criteria, prohibits the state and political subdivisions from giving preferential treatment to or discriminating against companies based on such ESG criteria in procuring or letting contracts, requires Kansas Public Employees Retirement System fiduciaries to act solely in the financial interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the system, restricts state agencies from adopting ESG criteria or requiring any person or business to operate in accordance with such criteria and provides for enforcement of such act by the attorney general. Passed on a vote of 85-38.

House Substitute for Senate Bill 208 amends provisions relating to the Governmental Ethics Commission's authority to investigate and enforce the Campaign Finance Act and limitations on the receipt and expenditure of contributions. Passed on a vote of 119-3.

Senate Bill 15 removes the requirement of a documented written demand for premiums as part of a prima facie case against agents or brokers who fail to pay premiums due. Passed on a vote of 104-18.

Senate Bill 18 adds certain legal entities to the definition of "person;" thereby, making such entities subject to penalties for violations of insurance law. Passed on a vote of 104-18.

Senate Bill 28 discontinues payments to certain group-funded insurance pools, refunds existing balances thereof; abolishes such funds and establishes the group-funded pools refund fund. Passed on a vote of 106-16.

Senate Bill 106 prohibits the manufacture, importation, distribution, sale, offer for sale, installation or reinstallation of a counterfeit supplemental restraint system component or nonfunctional airbag and provides for criminal penalties for violation thereof. Passed on a vote of 99-23.

Today, the Senate is slated to take final action votes on the following:

House Bill 2042 authorizes towing by self-storage unit operators of motor vehicles, watercraft or trailers for nonpayment of rent or abandonment and providing for notice to occupants, a right of redemption prior to towing and liability protection for operators

House Bill 2092 reapportions the districts of certain members of the Washburn University Board of Regents who are appointed by the City of Topeka

House Bill 2093 discontinues payments to certain group-funded insurance pools, refunds existing balances thereof; abolishes such funds and establishes the Group-Funded Pools Refund Fund

House Bill 2094 specifies certain requirements necessary to demonstrate fiscal soundness for health maintenance organizations and Medicare provider organizations applying for certificates of authority

House Bill 2130 increases certain dollar amounts in the Kansas Probate Code

House Bill 2131 provides the mission of the Judicial Council is to study the administration of justice in Kansas and make recommendations for improvements therefor

Senate Substitute for House Bill 2344 establishes childcare licensing requirements related to license capacity and staff-to-child ratios, eliminates certain license fees and training requirements, creates a process for daycare facility licensees to apply for a temporary waiver of certain statutory requirements and authorizes the secretary to develop and operate pilot programs to increase childcare facility availability or capacity

Substitute for Senate Bill 55 expands and clarifies the property tax exemption for Strother Field Airport property

House Bill 2096 requires certain premium taxes to be paid 90 days after each calendar year and bases such premium taxes upon the gross premiums collected for the previous calendar year

House Bill 2097 removes the requirement of a documented written demand for premiums as part of a prima facie case against agents or brokers who fail to pay premiums due

House Bill 2098 adds certain legal entities to the definition of "person;" thereby, making such entities subject to penalties for violations of insurance law

House Bill 2100 updates the version of risk-based capital instructions in effect

House Bill 2214 changes the name of the Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility to the Larned State Correctional Facility and removes references to facilities that no longer exist

House Bill 2298 designates a portion of Interstate 435 as the Officer Donald Burton Gamblin Jr Memorial Highway

House Bill 2285 updates certain statutory references in Chapter 40 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated