(Feb. 14, 2025) – Today, the House Insurance Committee, chaired by Representative Bill Sutton (R-Gardner), took up House Bill 2446. The committee saw a motion by Representative Paul Waggoner (R-Hutchinson) to strike section 4, which created a new cause of action. The committee saw comments that this bill is unnecessary from Representative Cindy Neighbor (D-Shawnee) and Ken Collins (R-Mulberry). Representative Kristey Williams (R-Augusta) mentioned a need for stakeholders in multiple industries to come together for consumers. Representative Silas Miller (D-Wichita) noted that state laptops block some of the information, and he was able to pull them up at home. Representative Kirk Haskins (D-Topeka) suggested the bill should be tabled without any proponents. The committee then recommended the bill favorably for passage. The bill will now go to the House floor.

The committee also worked House Bill 2445. The legislation transfers officers, employees, powers, duties and functions relating to the Kansas Health Care Benefits Program from the Division of the State Employee Health Benefits Plan within the Kansas Department of Administration to the Kansas Insurance Department, establishing the commissioner of insurance as the chairperson of the Kansas State Employees Health Care Commission, providing that all management functions of such commission be administered by the commissioner of insurance and eliminating a pilot program regarding employer contributions for certain children.