(Feb. 20, 2025) – Today, the Kansas House took final votes on a long list of legislation and looks to continue their work into the evening. Here are the updates.

Final Action votes were take on:

House Bill 2274 removes the active requirement from military service members for occupational licensure. The legislation passed on a final vote of 121-1.

House Bill 2219 enacts the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact to provide interstate practice privileges for physician assistants. The legislation passed on a final vote of 121-0.

House Bill 2249 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 legislation passed on a final vote of 122-0.

House Bill 2246 enacts consumer protection related to the Hospital Price Transparency Act. The legislation passed on a vote of 80-42.

House Bill 2335 adds maternity centers to the definition of health care provider for the purposes of the Healthcare Provider Insurance Availability Act. The legislation passed on a vote of 123-0.

House Bill 2365 establishes the South Central Regional Mental Health Hospital. The legislation passed on a vote of 121-2.

House Bill 2221 abolishes the Kansas Department of Corrections Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Fund and transfers to the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Fund. The legislation passed on a vote of 122-0.

House Bill 2033 includes programs and services provided by nonprofit organizations accredited by the International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council as approved at-risk educational programs. The legislation passed on a vote of 89-32.

House Bill 2086 adjusts the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System's 3 dividend interest credit by lowering the dividend interest credit threshold to 5 percent and increasing the dividend share to 80 percent. The legislation passed on a vote of 116-5.

Sub for House Bill 2102 provides for the advance enrollment of a military student whose parent or person acting as the parent to be stationed in this state and corrects the federal statutory citations in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. The legislation passed on a vote of 121-0.

House Bill 2113 transfers $5 million each July 1 to match federal funding for soil conservation districts. The legislation passed on a vote of 106-15.

House Bill 2177 increases the criminal penalties for certain violations of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer when the person has prior convictions for the offense. The legislation passed on a vote of 94-28.

House Bill 2263 designates a future interchange on K-10 Kris Norton Memorial Interchange. The legislation passed on a vote of 122-0.

House Bill 2273 adds a citation to the Federal Register to the definition of veteran and disabled veteran. The legislation passed on a vote of 122-0.

House Bill 2289 modifies certain requirements for the production and issuance of license plates. The legislation passed on a vote of 116-6.

House Bill 2307 transfers power to oversee certain activities regarding prenatal and postnatal diagnosed conditions awareness programs from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities. The legislation passed on a vote of 122-0.

House Bill 2312 excludes certain offenders convicted of a nonperson felony from participation in certified drug abuse treatment programs and authorizes community correctional services officers to complete criminal risk-need assessments for divertees who are committed to such programs. The legislation passed on a vote of 123-0.

House Bill 2128 authorizes the insurance commissioner to select and announce the version of certain instructions, calculations and documents in effect for the upcoming calendar year, allows 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. The legislation passed on a vote of 121-0.

House Bill 2047 provides for the establishment of an online insurance verification system for the verification of evidence of motor vehicle liability insurance. The legislation passed on a vote of 121-0.

House Bill 2087 authorizes certain non-admitted insurers to transact certain businesses in Kansas and requires the insurance commissioner to maintain a list of eligible non-admitted insurers. The legislation passed on a vote of 121-0.
House Bill 2333 renames the Insurance Department as the Department of Insurance and eliminates Senate confirmation of the insurance assistant commissioner and securities division appointees. The legislation passed on a vote of 117-6.

House Bill 2334 updates the terms and conditions of the Captive Insurance Act, providing certificates of authority. The legislation passed on a vote of 113-10.

House Bill 2164 authorizes persons who are 20 years of age or older to apply for certification as a police officer or law enforcement officer under the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Act. The legislation passed on a vote of 97-24.

House Bill 2166 continues certain exceptions to the disclosure of public records under the Open Records Act. The legislation passed on a vote of 121-0.

House Bill 2242 authorizes the governor to accept requests of concurrent jurisdiction from the federal government in certain circumstances. The legislation passed on a vote of 112-10.

House Bill 2371 amends the Kansas Revised Limited Liability Company Act. The legislation passed on a vote of 112-11.

House Bill 2119 eliminates the Kansas affordable housing tax credit. The legislation passed on a vote of 85-36.

House Bill 2030 excludes dealers and manufactures of trailers from certain provisions of the Vehicle Dealers and Manufacturers Licensing Act. The bill passed on a vote of 117-4.

House Bill 2160 enacts the Municipal Employee Whistleblower Act. The legislation passed on a vote of 121-0.

House Bill 2255 amends definitions concerning weights and measures increases minimum invoice fees requiring licenses and education for service company operators, mandates annual device inspections, except for devices with a nominal capacity of 250 pounds or greater used in grain elevators and requires electric vehicle supply equipment to be tested and inspected annually. The legislation passed on a vote of 120-2.

House Bill 2275 provides countywide retailers' sales tax authority for Finney County for the purpose of financing the construction and remodeling of a courthouse, jail, law enforcement center facility or other county administrative facility. The legislation passed on a vote of 118-4.

House Bill 2311 prohibits the secretary from adopting and enforcing policies for placement, custody and appointment of a custodian that may conflict with sincerely held religious or moral beliefs regarding sexual orientation or gender identity and creating a right of action for violations. The legislation passed on a vote of 86-37.

House Bill 2172 establishes the Water Program Task Force to evaluate the state's water program and funding for such program and requires a report thereon to the legislature and the governor. The legislation passed on a vote of 109-12.

House Bill 2323 establishes procedures for a civil action instituted by the commissioner of insurance related to fraudulent insurance acts, providing that expunged criminal records will be disclosed in any application for licensure as an insurance producer or public adjuster if the arrest, conviction or diversion is for a fraudulent insurance act and includes automobile assigned claim plans in provisions related to fraudulent insurance acts. The legislation passed on a vote of 122-1.

House Bill 2183 includes any photograph, film, video picture, digital or computer-generated image or picture created, altered or modified by artificial intelligence or any digital means in the definition of a visual depiction for certain criminal offenses. The legislation passed on a vote of 118-4.

House Bill 2327 establishes procedures and requirements for the secretary of corrections to issue a certificate of employability to certain inmates. The legislation passed on a vote of 122-1.

House Bill 2340 provides for an exemption from remediation costs or other liability from prior commercial pesticide application by the United States Army for owners of certain property located in Johnson County. The legislation passed on a vote of 94-29.

House Bill 2342 authorizes national criminal history background checks for final applicants for certain sensitive positions with the Kansas Department of Commerce and employees in such positions and authorizes the secretary of commerce to request the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to conduct the background checks and provide the results to the secretary. The legislation passed on a vote of 123-0.

House Bill 2343 creates the No-Impact Home-Based Business Fairness Act, supports the development and growth of such businesses by limiting the regulatory power of municipalities. The legislation passed on a vote of 74-49.

House Bill 2088, enacts the Fast-Track Permits Act to require local governments to meet specified deadlines for issuing building permits and other required approvals for real estate development. The legislation passed on a vote of 82-39.

These bills will now go to the Senate for further review/debate.

 Other bills slated to have debate on the House Floor today included:

House Bill 2254 requires milk processors to hold payments in trust for milk producers until full payment is received, with funds in escrow considered held in trust.

Sub for House Bill 2060 changes references to judicial branch agencies to the office of judicial administration in cybersecurity statutes.

House Bill 2338 authorizes the Kansas Board of Cosmetology to issue temporary location and temporary guest artist permits and establishes criteria therefor.

House Bill 2271 removes the expiration of provisions relating to moving cybersecurity services under the chief information technology officer of each branch of government.

House Bill 2104 standardizes firearm safety programs in school districts. During the debate following a dust-up between house members, the House went to recess. Following the recess, this bill was referred back to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs.

House Bill 2052 updates cross references in the Personal and Family Protection Act regarding the eligibility requirements to obtain a license to carry a concealed handgun, requires the surrender of a suspended or revoked license, provides for a transition from a provisional license to a standard license and prohibits the collection of personal information of an off-duty law enforcement officer entering buildings while armed or requiring such officer to wear any item identifying such person as a law enforcement officer or being armed.

HCR 5006 proposes a constitutional amendment to amend section 4 of the Kansas Bill of Rights to recognize the right to bear arms as a fundamental right that includes the possession and use of ammunition, firearm accessories and firearm components, and that any restrictions on such right are subject to the strict scrutiny standard.

HCR 5008 proposes a constitutional amendment to provide for legislative oversight of rules and regulations adopted by executive branch agencies and officials.

SCR 1602 encourages the governor to fully cooperate with federal enforcement of immigration laws.

House Bill 2299 prohibits discriminatory practices on the basis of religion at public educational institutions and authorizes the attorney general to investigate violations and assess civil penalties under the Kansas Act Against Discrimination.

House Bill 2304 requires local governments to report certain local economic development incentive program information to the secretary of commerce, defining such programs, requires the secretary of commerce to post such information on the economic development incentive program database maintained by the secretary and requires certain search result presentation and report formats.

House Bill 2134 amends the Kansas Open Records Act regarding charges for records in the state executive branch and other public agencies other than the state legislative and judicial branches, prohibits charges for electronic copies of records and for determining whether a record exists and limits charges for the employee's time required to make records available.

House Bill 2228 requires the secretary of corrections to assist inmates with obtaining identification and employment related documentation prior to release from custody.

House Bill 2347 changes the culpability required for certain types of theft and increases the criminal penalty for theft of property that is a motor vehicle to a felony.

House Bill 2192 limits or prohibits work release for people convicted of a second or third offense of domestic battery.

House Bill 2195 establishes the Kansas Technical College Operating Grant Fund administered by the Kansas Board of Regents.

House Bill 2240 requires legislative approval of any Medicaid state plan, state plan amendment, demonstration or waiver that expands coverage or increases cost to the state.

House Bill 2284 directs the Kansas Department of Administration to adopt written policies governing the negotiated procurement of managed care organizations to provide state Medicaid services pursuant to a contract with the Kansas Program of Medical Assistance.

House Bill 2313 prohibits the use of the artificial intelligence platform DeepSeek and other artificial intelligence platforms of concern on state-owned devices and on any state network.

House Bill 2238 directs legislative administrative services to prepare all committee minutes.

House Bill 2245 transfers officers, employees, powers, duties and functions relating to the Kansas Health Care Benefits Program from the Division of the Kansas Employee Health Benefits Plan of the Kansas Department of Administration to the insurance department, establishes the commissioner of insurance as the chairperson of the Kansas State Employees Health Care Commission, provides that all management functions of such commission be administered by the commissioner of insurance and eliminates a pilot program regarding employer contributions for certain children.

House Bill 2359 enacts the Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act and the Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship and Other Protective Arrangements Act.

House Bill 2099 permits periodic inspections by a city or county for code violations of private residential rental housing where the property owner is receiving governmental rental subsidies.

House Bill 2101 prohibits municipalities from adopting and implementing a guaranteed income program.

House Bill 2291 creates the Regulatory Relief Division within the office of the attorney general and establishes the General Regulatory Sandbox Program to waive or suspend rules and regulations for program participants.

House Bill 2222 requires ignition interlock device manufacturers to pay fees to the state for the administration of the ignition interlock program.

These bills, if recommended favorably, will go for a final vote before making their way to the Senate.