(Oct. 20, 2025) – Today, the Joint Rules and Regulations Committee, chaired by Barbara Wasinger (R-Hays) met. The committee heard from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment about a proposed change to KAR 28-53-3, which relates to eligibility criteria for a medically indigent person. The change would increase the income eligibility threshold for the Charitable Healthcare Provider Program from 200 percent to 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. The agency indicated that this is comparable to neighboring states like Missouri and Nebraska.

The committee requested additional information from KDHE about the potential financial impacts of the changes.

The committee also received input from the Kansas Board of Pharmacy about the following proposed changes:

• Revoking 68-1-1a and adopting KAR 68-7-26, extended to apply to both pharmacists and technicians. It also allows applicants to withdraw their application through inaction instead of facing disciplinary action on their record.
• 68-5-17 clarifies when a pharmacy technician must request an extension to pass an approved certification examination.

The committee also discussed proposed changes to rules and regulations in the Department of Agriculture, Division of Water Resources regarding water rights, the Kansas Department of Revenue concerning standards for vision examinations and the Kansas Corporation Commission on abandoned well plugging reimbursement.