(Feb. 19, 2025) – Today, the Kansas Senate took final votes on a long list of legislation and looks to continue their work into the evening. Here are the updates.
The following bills were up for a final vote today:
Sub. for Senate Bill 67 authorizes registered nurse anesthetists to prescribe, procure and administer drugs consistent with the CRNA education and qualifications. The bill passed on a final vote of 36-4.
Senate Bill 82 requires the secretary of the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services to grant physical environment waivers for certain rural emergency hospitals to provide skilled nursing facility care. The bill passed on a final vote 40-0.
Senate Bill 126 enacts the physician assistant licensure company to provide interstate practice privileges for physician assistants. The bill passed on a final vote of 39-1.
Senate Bill 70 provides for fees for electronic copies of records under the Open Records Act. The bill was amended to include the Kansas Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill passed on a final vote of 26-14.
Senate Bill 92 extends the time in which the Kansas Corporation Commission shall make a final order on a transmission line siting application. The bill passed on a final vote of 40-0.
Senate Bill 23 requires agents and insurers to respond to inquiries from the insurance commissioner within 14 calendar days. The Senate recommended it favorably for a final vote without further floor amendments. The bill passed on a final vote 40-0.
Senate Bill 24 authorizes the commissioner of insurance to set the amount of certain fees and requires the publication of certain fees in the Kansas Register. The bill passed on a final vote of 40-0.
Senate Bill 88 requires the state long-term care ombudsman and regional ombudsman to receive training in memory care. The Senate recommended it for a final vote without further floor amendments. The bill passed on a final vote of 40-0.
Senate Bill 85 directs the secretary for the Kansas Department for Children and Families to review and compare data for Public Assistance Program eligibility. Passed on a vote of 30-10.
Senate Bill 161 requires legislation approval prior to any state agency seeking or implementing a public assistance program waiver from the federal government that expands eligibility for any public assistance program or increases costs to the state. Passed on a vote of 30-10.
Senate Bill 87 expands the student eligibility for the tax credit for the Low Income Students Scholarship Program. Passed on a vote of 24-16.
Senate Bill 50 establishes uniform interest rate provisions for service scholarship programs administered by the Kansas Board of Regents that have repayment obligations. Passed on a vote of 40-0.
Senate Bill 44 expands the postsecondary educational institutions eligible to participate in the Kansas Promise Scholarship Program. Passed on a vote of 37-3.
Sub for Senate Bill 29 removes the authority of the county or joint board of health or local health officer to prohibit public gatherings when necessary for the control of infectious disease. Passed on a vote of 28-12.
Senate Bill 71 increases the criminal penalties for buying sexual relations, removes provisions regarding city ordinances related to the act and requires certain offenders to complete an educational or treatment program. The Senate recommended it favorably for a final vote without further floor amendments. Passed on a vote of 40-0.
Senate Bill 138 requires search warrants to be issued only on the statement of facts sufficient to show probable cause made by a law enforcement officer. Passed on a vote of 40-0.
Senate Bill 30 requires the secretary of labor to conduct a state and national criminal history record check on employees who have access to federal tax information received directly from the Internal Revenue Service. The Senate recommended it favorable for a final vote without further floor amendments. Passed on a vote of 40-0.
Senate Bill 78 requires postsecondary educational institutions to regularly review and update accreditation policies, prohibits accrediting agencies from compelling such institutions to violate state law and provides cause of action. Passed on a vote of 38-2.
Senate Bill 64 adjusts certain Kansas Public Employees Retirement System statutory referencing, extends time for filing administrative appeals. Passed on a vote of 40-0.
Senate Bill 24 authorizes the insurance commissioner to set the amount of certain fees. Passed on a vote of 40-0.
Senate Bill 2 validates the election results of a Greeley County USD 200 bond issue. Passed on a vote of 39-1.
Senate Bill 79 directs the secretary of the Kansas Department for Children and Families to request a waiver from supplemental nutrition assistance program rules that would allow the state to prohibit the purchase of candy and soft drinks with food assistance. Passed 29-11.
Senate Bill 58 modifies the requirements and allocations for multi-year flex accounts. Passed 40-0.
Senate Bill 166 enacts the fostering competitive career opportunities act to remove postsecondary degree requirements from state employment considerations. Passed 39-1.
Senate Bill 117 expands the property tax exemption for Strother field airport property. Passed on a vote of 39-1.
Senate Bill 98 provides for the Route 66 Association distinctive Kansas license plate. Passed on a vote of 39-1.
Senate Bill 18 provides the hunter nation license plate. Passed on a vote of 39-1.
Senate Bill 20 reduces the number of board members appointed by the commissioner on the insurance-related boards. Passed on a vote of 40-0.
Senate Bill 21 requires that third-party administrators maintain separate fiduciary accounts for individual payors and contain funds collected or held on behalf of multiple payers and requires that third-party administrators disclose to the commissioner of insurance any bankruptcy petition filed by or on behalf of such administrator pursuant to Chapter 9 or Chapter 11 of the U.S. bankruptcy code. Passed on a vote of 40-0.
Senate Bill 22 requires title agents to make their audited reports available for inspection. Passed on a vote of 40-0.
Sub for Senate Bill 45 requires the Kansas Board of Education to calculate graduation rates for all school districts for the purpose of accreditations using alternative calculations. Passed on a vote of 32-8.
Senate Bill 128 creates an exception to certain mandatory reporting obligations for licensed social workers when working under the supervision of an attorney and permits an attorney to require a licensed social worker to keep ethical obligations of attorney-client privilege while working under the supervision of such attorney. Passed on a vote of 40-0.
Senate Bill 222 prohibits deference to a state agency's interpretation for a statute, rule or regulation by a state court of officer hearing administrative action. Passed on a vote of 31-9.
Sub for Senate Bill 193 exempts law enforcement agencies who do not provide emergency opioid antagonists pursuant to the statewide protocol from the requirement to procure a physician medical director. Passed on a vote of 40-0.
Senate Bill 27 eliminates the requirement that the commissioner submit certain reports to the governor and removes certain specific entities from the definition of a person for the purpose of enforcing insurance law. Passed on a vote of 40-0.
Senate Bill 53 provides that the attorney members of the board of trustees of a county law library be appointed by the chief judge of the judicial district. Passed on a vote of 40-0.
Senate Bill 199 defines fireworks sales season for seasonal retailers of consumer fireworks and provides for year-round sales by permanent retailers. Passed on a vote of 27-13.
Senate Bill 52 enacts the Kansas Film and Digital Media Industry Production Development Act and tax credit. Passed on a vote of 33-7.
Senate Bill 156 creates the crime of unlawful use of a laser pointer and provides criminal penalties. Passed on a vote of 40-0.
Senate Bill 157 requires warrants issued for failure to appear to be provided to a compensated surety, changing criteria for setting aside bond forfeiture. Passed on a vote of 31-9.
Senate Bill 77 requires state agencies to provide notice of revocation of administrative rules and regulations to the public and removes abolished and inactive state agencies from the agency review requirements. Passed on a vote of 40-0.
Senate Bill 13 eliminates requirements for filings for labor organizations. Passed on a vote of 40-0.
These bills will now go to the House for further review/debate.
Other bills slated to have debate on the Senate Floor today included:
Sub for Senate Bill 54 limits discovery and disclosure of third-party litigation funding agreements and requires reporting of such agreements to the Judicial Council for study.
Senate Bill 175 updates the definition of athletic trainer and provides an exemption for those licensed in another state, District of Columbia, territory or foreign country to practice in Kansas.
Senate Bill 204 requires the case and warrant information be sealed in criminal and juvenile offender cases.
Senate Bill 250 enacts the Right to Try for Individualized Treatments Act to permit a manufacturer to make an individualized investigative treatment available to a requesting patient.
Senate Bill 121, authorizes the commissioner of insurance to select and announce the version of certain instructions, calculations and documents in effect for the upcoming calendar year and cause such announcement to be published in the Kansas Register, allowing certain life insurers to follow health financial reports and adopts certain provisions from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Holding Company System Regulatory Act relating to group capital calculations and liquidity stress testing.
Senate Bill 139 updates certain definitions, terms and conditions relating to the state banking code.
Senate Bill 42 provides for the establishment of an online insurance verification system for the verification of evidence of motor vehicle liability insurance.
Senate Bill 28 updates public adjuster and insurance agent statutes pertaining to suspension, revocation, denial of licensure and licensure renewal.
Senate Bill 51 provides a sales tax exemption for the construction or remodeling of a qualified data center in Kansas and the purchase of data center equipment, eligible data center costs and certain labor costs to qualified firms that commit to a minimum investment of at least $250,000,000 and meet new Kansas jobs and other requirements.
Senate Bill 186 requires probable cause affidavits to be made available to law enforcement agencies prior to the execution of a warrant or summons.
Senate Bill 241 provides that restrictive covenants in certain contracts are enforceable and not considered a restraint of trade in certain circumstances.
Senate Bill 244 prohibits a compensated surety from making loans for certain portions of the required minimum appearance bond premium.
Senate Bill 114 authorizes nonpublic and virtual school students to participate in ancillary public school activities and makes it unlawful for the Kansas State High School Activities Association and school districts to discriminate against such students based on enrollment status.
Senate Bill 76 requires employees of school districts and postsecondary educational institutions to use the name and pronouns consistent with a student's biological sex and birth certificate and authorizes a cause of action for violations therefor.
Senate Bill 97 grants the purchasers of nonhighway vehicles the option to obtain a title for such vehicle.
Senate Bill 105 requires the governor to appoint a person to fill vacancies in the offices of United States senator, state treasurer and commissioner of insurance from a list of names approved by the legislature.
Senate Bill 227 provides for different credit percentages for the tax credit for expenditures for the restoration and preservation of historic structures based on city populations and the amount of the expenditures.
Senate Bill 89 authorizes the animal health commissioner to adopt rules and regulations to administer the Poultry Disease Control Act and to establish an annual participation fee for participation in the National Poultry Improvement Plan, a certification fee for persons performing testing and diagnostic services, and a testing fee per visit to each location participating in the plan.
Senate Bill 47 requires school districts to publicly list the names and email addresses of current school board members, authorizes local school board members to add new items to board meeting discussions, ask questions or engage in discussion with members of the public and access school property, authorizes members of the public to address school boards at board meetings and authorizes payment of annual dues to any not-for-profit organization that provides services to member school districts.
Sub for Senate Bill 197 concerns STAR bond projects, authorizes redevelopment of certain mall facilities as eligible STAR bond projects, requires quarterly visitor data reporting, requires public disclosure of project details within 90 days of approval of the project, prohibits the use of state general fund moneys for the repayment of STAR bonds, prohibits the use of eminent domain for property acquisition and extends the expiration date of the STAR bonds financing act to July 1, 2028.
These bills, if recommended favorably, will go for a final vote before making their way to the House.