Week 10 of the 2025 Session

During Week 10, the Legislature moved closer to finalizing the budget and continued to pass bills, some on their way to Governor Laura Kelly, including those related to expanding the health care workforce, licensing and scope of practice for health care providers, the authority of public health officials, allowing individuals to obtain individualized investigative health care treatments, child welfare, the procurement process for Medicaid managed care contracts, and establishment of the Kansas Office of Early Childhood. 

This edition of Health at the Capitol looks at health-related policy issues addressed by the Legislature the week of March 17. 

House Actions

House Bill (HB) 44, as amended, would expand the eligibility requirements for postsecondary education institutions to participate in the Kansas Promise Scholarship Program and increase the maximum amount that could be appropriated to the program. The bill would expand the definition of “eligible postsecondary educational institution” to include any institution with its main campus or place of operation in Kansas that offers a program eligible for the Kansas Promise Scholarship, is recognized by the State Board of Regents, is nationally accredited, and is eligible to receive funding under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. The bill also would increase the maximum amount that could be appropriated to the Program from $10.0 million to $15.0 million. The Kansas Promise Scholarship was created by the Legislature to assist students who are enrolled in specified high-wage, high-demand or critical need industry programs, including many health-related programs, at eligible Kansas community colleges and technical colleges, Washburn Institute of Technology, and certain private postsecondary educational institutions. The House amended the bill to change the effective date to be upon publication in the Kansas Register and passed it on Thursday, March 20, on a vote of 77–41.

Substitute (Sub.) for Senate Bill (SB) 67 would amend law regarding certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) to expand certain independent prescription authority to align the scope of practice more closely to an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). The bill would amend law pertaining to a CRNA’s authority to:

• Grant independent prescription authority to prescribe durable medical equipment and prescribe, procure and administer any drug consistent with a CRNA’s education and qualifications.
• Clarify that the prescription, procurement or administration of an anesthetic agent is prohibited unless upon the order of a physician or dentist requesting anesthesia or analgesia care.
• Require controlled substances to be prescribed, procured or administered in accordance with the Uniform Controlled Substances Act.
• Prohibit the performance or induction of an abortion or the prescription, procurement or administration of drugs for an abortion.

The bill would prohibit a CRNA from dispensing drugs but would allow a CRNA to request, receive and sign for professional samples and to distribute such samples to patients. The bill was subsequently passed by the House on Wednesday, March 19, on a vote of 118–5 and will be enrolled and presented to the Governor.

SB 79 would direct the Secretary of the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) to request a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to exclude candy and soft drinks from the definition of eligible foods for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). If the waiver is granted, the bill would require the Secretary to prohibit the purchase of candy and soft drinks with SNAP benefits. If declined, the Secretary would be required to request such a waiver annually until it is granted. The bill was passed by the House on Wednesday, March 19, on a vote of 65–58 and will be enrolled and presented to the Governor.

HB 2062, as amended by the Senate, would make amendments to law regarding child support guidelines established by the Kansas Supreme Court to require the guidelines to consider the direct medical and pregnancy-related expenses of the mother. The bill also would allow a personal exemption for any unborn child for the purposes of income taxation. The bill would require determination of the child support to be calculated from the date of conception of the child, and accruing interest would be determined by the current statutory rate. The House nonconcurred with the Senate amendments on Thursday, March 20, and requested a Conference Committee.

HB 2223 would amend the optometry law regarding the scope of practice for optometrists to allow the use of medical devices; allow administering, prescribing or dispensing of pharmaceutical drugs; and allow specified procedures and treatments. Passed by the House on Tuesday, March 18, a vote of 97–24.

 House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 5013, if adopted, would urge Congress to do the following:

• Give state insurance regulators authority over Medicare Advantage plans.
• Conclude that states are better equipped to oversee Medicare plans and protect vulnerable populations from abusive and fraudulent marketing and advertising of Medicare Advantage plans, just as states oversee other health plans.
• Pass legislation that allows states to enforce their own marketing and consumer disclosure laws and regulations on Medicare Advantage plans.

The House adopted HCR 5013 on Thursday, March 20, on a vote of 116–2.

Senate Actions

SB 14, as amended, would establish a system of continuing appropriation for existing appropriations to carry forward into the subsequent fiscal year when the Legislature 1) passes an appropriations bill, 2) the Governor vetoes such bill in its entirety, and 3) such veto is sustained. The bill would define “continuing appropriation” as an appropriation provided for in the previous fiscal year. The bill also would suspend compensation for legislators and the Governor should its provisions take effect, until an appropriations bill for the ensuing fiscal year is passed and signed into law. The bill was enrolled and presented to the Governor on Friday, March 21.

Substitute for SB 29, as amended, would:

• Require the Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to have probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, before taking action to prevent the introduction or spread of an infectious or contagious disease within Kansas.
• Permit any aggrieved party to file a civil action regarding an order made by the Secretary or a local health officer and establish requirements for hearings and judicial review.
• Provide for a county or joint board of health or local health officer to recommend against rather than prohibit public gatherings when necessary for the control of infectious or contagious disease.
• Remove the ability for a local health officer or the Secretary to order law enforcement to assist in the execution or enforcement of any order.

The bill was passed by the House on Wednesday, March 19, a vote of 88–36, and the Senate concurred with the amendments on Thursday, March 20, on a vote of 31–9. The bill will be enrolled and presented to the Governor.

SB 88 would amend the Long-term Care Ombudsman Act to require the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman to include Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia training in the prescribed and provided training, as specified in the bill. The bill would require the training to: 

• Address the needs and rights of long-term care residents with dementia. 
• Include strategies to care for and address the specific issues encountered by such residents. 
• Include a list of specific topics to be addressed in such training. 

The bill was enrolled and presented to the Governor by the Senate on Tuesday, March 18 and signed by Gov. Kelly on Friday, March 21. 

SB 175, as amended, would amend the Athletic Trainers Licensure Act to amend the definition of “athletic training,” provide a licensure exemption, make changes to the application for licensure as an athletic trainer and make technical amendments. The bill was enrolled and presented to the Governor by the Senate on Tuesday, March 18 and signed by Gov. Kelly on Friday, March 21. 

SB 250, as amended by the House Committee on Health and Human Services, would create the Right to Try for Individualized Treatments Act. The bill would authorize a manufacturer of investigational drugs, biologic products, or devices operating in an eligible facility to make available individualized treatments and allow an “eligible patient” to request an individualized investigational drug, biologic product or device from such manufacturers (referred to as “investigational treatment products”). The bill would define terms used in the Act; address requirements for informed consent for investigational treatments, manufacturer requirements and liability exemptions; and clarify insurance and health coverage pursuant to the Act. The bill defines “eligible patient” to mean an individual who has:

• A life-threatening or severely debilitating illness, attested to by the patient’s treating physician.
• Considered all other treatment options currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
• Received a recommendation from the patient’s physician for an individualized investigational treatment, based on analysis of the patient’s genomic sequence, human chromosomes, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA), genes, gene products (such as enzymes and other types of proteins) or metabolites.
• Given written, informed consent for the use of the investigational treatment product.
• Documentation from the patient’s physician that such patient meets the requirements of the Act.

The bill was passed by the House on Wednesday, March 19, a vote of 97–26. The Senate nonconcurred with amendments and requested a Conference Committee on Thursday, March 20.

SB 284, as amended, would enact the Defense of Drug Delivery Act, pertaining to the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program. The Act would prohibit limitations on the acquisition or delivery of a 340B drug to a covered entity and prohibit manufacturers from requiring health information not otherwise required by the 340B program as a condition of receiving 340B drugs. The bill would provide for the Attorney General to adopt rules and regulations and the creation of a fund in the State Treasury for the implementation of the Act. The bill also would provide for civil penalties to be assessed for violations of the Act and empower the State Board of Pharmacy to investigate complaints. The bill would define terms used in the Act, including:

• “340B drug” would mean a drug that:
  • Is a covered outpatient drug within the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program.
  • Has been subject to any offer for reduced prices by a manufacturer under federal law.
  • Is purchased by a covered entity — a drug would be considered purchased if the drug would have been purchased except for the restriction or limitation described in the Act.
• “Covered entity” would mean the same as defined in federal law, which includes federally qualified health centers and look-alikes; Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program grantees; certain hospitals, including critical access hospitals and disproportionate share hospitals; and specialized clinics, including sexually transmitted disease clinics and tuberculosis clinics.
• “Health information” would mean any information, including demographic information collected from an individual or a group of individuals that:
  • Is created or received by a health care provider, pharmacy, health plan, employer or health care clearinghouse.
  • Relates to the past, present or future physical or mental health or condition of an individual, the provision of health care to an individual, or the past, present or future payment for the provision of health care to an individual.
• “Manufacturer” would mean:
  • A person that holds an application approved under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act or a license issued under the Federal Public Health Service Act for a drug or, if the drug is not the subject of an approved application or license, the person who manufactured the drug.
  • A co-licensed partner of the person described above that obtains the drug directly from an approved person or affiliate.
  • An affiliate of a person described above that receives the product directly from such person.

The bill was passed by the Senate on Thursday, March 20, on a vote of 34–6 and will be presented to the House.

Senate Sub. for Sub. for HB 2007 (the current budget bill) was amended and passed by the Senate on Tuesday, March 18, on a vote of 28–12. The Conference Committee met briefly on Thursday, March 20, to review the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill and was scheduled to meet again on Monday, March 24, to work the bill.

HB 2069, as amended by the Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare, would enact the School Psychologist Compact and the Dietician Compact. The bill was passed as amended by the Senate on Wednesday, March 19, on a vote of 39–1. The House nonconcurred with the Senate amendments and a Conference Committee was requested on Thursday, March 20.

HB 2075, as amended, would amend law in the Revised Code for the Care of Children concerning the time by which a permanency hearing for a child in the custody of the Secretary of DCF must be held. The bill would require such hearings to be held within nine months of a child’s removal from the home and would require subsequent hearings be held every six months thereafter. Current law requires a permanency hearing be held within 12 months of removal, and every 12 months thereafter. The Senate amended the bill to:

• Require confirmation of the DCF Secretary’s reasonable efforts at reintegration prior to a permanency hearing.
• Require the court to make a finding at each permanency hearing regarding reasonable efforts made for reintegration.

The bill was passed as amended by the Senate on Tuesday, March 18 on a vote of 40-0. The House nonconcurred with amendments and a Conference Committee was requested on Thursday, March 20.

 HB 2101, as amended by the Senate Committee on Government Efficiency, would prohibit cities and counties from adopting an ordinance or enforcing a resolution that establishes or provides for the operation of a guaranteed income program that uses tax revenue unless the Legislature, by an act, expressly consents to and approves such program. The bill would render any such prohibited ordinance or resolution adopted prior to July 1, 2025, null and void. The bill would define “guaranteed income” to mean a program that is not expressly required by federal law or regulation and provides individuals with regular periodic cash payments. The bill, as amended, was passed by the Senate on Wednesday, March 19, on a vote of 29–11.

HB 2249, as amended by the Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare, would add provisions that would become part of and supplemental to the Rural Emergency Hospital Act. The bill would authorize the Secretary for the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), upon application by a rural emergency hospital (REH) and compliance with certain requirements, to grant a physical environment waiver for existing nursing facilities to an REH to provide skilled nursing facility care. The bill would authorize the Secretary to grant a waiver to the REH to transition a maximum of 10 swing beds to skilled nursing facility beds if it met the following requirements:

• Licensed as a REH under the Act.
• Licensed as a hospital immediately prior to licensure as an REH.
• During licensure as a hospital, the REH provided skilled nursing facility services or critical access hospital swing beds to patients for a minimum of one year without an immediate jeopardy finding.

The Senate passed the bill, as amended, on Wednesday, March 19, on a vote of 40–0. The House nonconcurred with the amendments and a Conference Committee was requested on Thursday, March 20.

HB 2280, as amended by the Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare, would amend law regarding emergency medical services (EMS) and EMS providers to clarify authorized activities of paramedics, advanced emergency medical technicians (advanced EMTs), emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and emergency medical responders; reduce operational service requirements for non-emergency ambulance services; define “public place”; and require entities placing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for use within the state in a public place to register with the Emergency Medical Services Board. The bill also would amend current law regarding ambulance services in counties with a population of 30,000 or less to operate a ground vehicle providing interfacility transfers with one person who is a qualified health care provider if the driver of the vehicle is certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation to apply the provision to the operation of ground vehicles providing ambulance services. The bill would amend definitions in law regarding EMS as follows:

• Update the definition of “advance practice registered nurse” to refer to individuals licensed and with the authority to prescribe drugs as provided in the definition within the Kansas Nurse Practice Act.
• Create a definition of “qualified healthcare provider,” which would mean a physician, a physician assistant when authorized by a physician, an advanced practice registered nurse or a professional nurse when authorized by a physician.
• Define “public place” to mean any enclosed areas open to the public or used by the general public including, but no limited to: Banks, bars, food service establishments, retail stores, public means of mass transportation, passenger elevators, health care institutions or any other place where health care services are provided to the public, medical care facilities, educational facilities, libraries, courtrooms, public buildings, restrooms, grocery stores, school buses, museums, theaters, auditoriums, arenas and recreational facilities.

The bill also would amend language regarding the authorized activities of paramedics, advanced EMTs, and EMTs to specify that such activities would be authorized after successfully completing an approved course of instruction, local specialized device training and competency validation, and when ordered by medical protocols or upon the order of a qualified health care provider. The Senate passed the bill, as amended, on Wednesday, March 19, on a vote of 40–0. The House nonconcurred with the amendments and a Conference Committee was requested on Thursday, March 20.

HB 2284 would require the Department of Administration (DOA) to adopt written policies regarding the negotiated procurement of contracted Medicaid services provided by managed care organizations (MCOs). The bill would require the written policies to include the following:

• Prohibition on the destruction of records, including evaluation documents, which would be in compliance with the Kansas Open Records Act.
• Adoption of a tiebreak procedure if part of the evaluation process used to make award recommendations involves scoring by individuals or committees.
• Requirement to be transparent with the Legislature during each step of the procurement process to the fullest extent permitted by state law.
• An appeals process overseen and adjudicated by an appeals committee. The committee would oversee and adjudicate appeals in accordance with the policies adopted by the DOA.

The bill was passed by the Senate on Wednesday, March 19, on a vote of 32–8 and will be enrolled and presented to the Governor.

HB 2307, as amended, would transfer the authority over the prenatally and postnatally diagnosed conditions awareness programs from KDHE to the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities, create the Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Programs Fund, and direct a one-time $25,000 transfer from the State General Fund to the new fund on July 1, 2025. The bill was passed by the Senate on Wednesday, March 19, on a vote of 40–0 and will be enrolled and presented to the Governor.

HB 2333, as amended by the Senate Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance, would rename the Kansas Insurance Department as the Kansas Department of Insurance and would remove the requirement for the Senate to confirm the Department of Insurance Assistant Commissioner. (The bill also includes renaming related to the Office of Securities). The bill also would make technical and conforming amendments and would be in effect upon publication in the Kansas Register. The Senate passed the bill, as amended, on Tuesday, March 18 on a vote of 40-0. The House nonconcurred with the amendments on Thursday, March 20 and requested a Conference Committee.

HB 2365, as amended by the Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare, would establish the South Central Regional Mental Health Hospital (South Central) as well as a fee fund, update the catchment areas for the state hospitals, rename “Parsons State Hospital and Training Center” to “Parsons State Hospital,” and make technical and conforming amendments in statute. The bill would provide that South Central would follow the same rules and regulations as other state hospitals. South Central would be established in Wichita, Sedgwick County, Kansas and would be for the surrounding regional area to expand access to mental health beds in south-central Kansas. The Senate passed the bill on Wednesday, March 19 on a vote of 40-0. The House nonconcurred with the amendments and requested a Conference Committee on Thursday, March 20.

Committee Actions

Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare
(Sen. Beverly Gossage, Chair) 

On Tuesday, March 18, the Committee held a hearing on HB 2217, which, as amended, would expand the scope of the Inspector General (IG) within the Office of the Attorney General to include the audit, investigation and performance review of all state cash, food and health assistance programs. Proponent testimony was provided by the Office of the Attorney General. Opponent testimony was provided by a representative of the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF), and written-only proponent testimony was submitted by a representative of Kansas Action for Children. No neutral testimony was submitted.

Committee members asked questions regarding if the power to execute search warrants was new (Revisor stated this is new authority explicitly given in the bill); how many fraud cases have been found (IG stated seven cases have been referred for prosecution and there have been 36 civil actions); whether a future IG could abuse the bill’s authority (IG stated yes, which is why there are restrictions in the bill to limit abuse); whether the bill adds duplication (DCF representative stated yes, as they already investigate with federal dollars); and whether the bill gives the AG’s office more power (DCF representative stated that the IG still has to refer cases for prosecution). The Committee then worked the bill and passed it favorably out of Committee as amended by the House committee. The bill was subsequently passed by the Senate on Thursday, March 20, on a vote of 30–10 and will be enrolled and presented to the Governor.

The Committee then worked HB 2039, which would amend statutes relating to home health agencies to clarify the definition of “home health agency” for the purposes of credentialing. The bill would exempt from the definition entities that are not reimbursed by Medicare Part A and only provide services of persons licensed or certified under the Physical Therapy Practice Act and Occupational Therapy Practice Act and persons licensed as speech-language pathologists. The Committee amended the bill to change the effective date and passed it favorably out of Committee, as amended. The bill was subsequently passed by the Senate on Thursday, March 20, on a vote of 40–0. The House nonconcurred with amendments and a Conference Committee was requested on Monday, March 24.

The Committee then worked HB 2311, which would prohibit the Secretary of DCF from adopting, implementing or enforcing certain policies with respect to who can be considered for selection as out-of-home or adoptive placement, custody, or appointment as permanent or Support, Opportunity, Unity, Legal Relationships (SOUL) custodian for a child in need of care. Policies that would be prohibited include any that:

• Require a person to affirm, accept or support any governmental policy regarding sexual orientation or gender identity that may conflict with the person’s sincerely held religious or moral beliefs.
• Prohibit selection, appointment or licensure, if otherwise eligible, of a person because of such person’s sincerely held religious or moral beliefs regarding sexual orientation or gender identity or intent to guide or instruct a child consistent with such beliefs.

The bill also would specify that nothing could be construed to prohibit the Secretary from considering the religious or moral beliefs of a child or the child’s biological family or community, including beliefs regarding sexual orientation and gender identity, in relation to those persons who are being considered for out-of-home or adoptive placement, custody or appointment when determining what placement is in the best interests of the child. The bill also would allow a person aggrieved by a violation of the prohibited conduct in the bill to recover actual and punitive damages, injunctive relief, costs and reasonable attorney fees. The Committee amended the bill to take effect upon publication in the Kansas Register and passed it favorably out of Committee, as amended. The bill, as amended, was subsequently passed by the Senate on Thursday, March 20, on a vote of 31–9. The House concurred with amendments on Monday, March 24, on a vote of 84–38 and the bill will be enrolled and presented to the Governor.

The Committee also worked HB 2335, which would add maternity center to the definition of health care provider for purposes of the Health Care Provider Insurance Availability Act. The bill also would require a maternity center participating in the Health Care Stabilization Fund (professional liability coverage) to have accreditation by the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers and meet the licensure definition for maternity center in K.S.A. 65-503. Under this statute a “maternity center” is a facility that provides delivery services for normal, uncomplicated pregnancies but does not include a medical care facility, as defined by K.S.A. 65-425. The Committee amended the bill to change the effective date to upon publication in the Kansas Register and passed it favorably out of Committee, as amended. The bill was subsequently passed by the Senate on Thursday, March 20, on a vote of 40–0. The House nonconcurred with amendments and a Conference Committee was requested on Monday, March 24.

House Committee on Child Welfare and Foster Care
(Rep. Cyndi Howerton, Chair)

On Monday, March 17, the Committee heard a presentation by Ed Klumpp, representing the Kansas Sheriffs Association, Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police and Kansas Peace Officers Association regarding police protective custody (PPC) under the Child in Need of Care Act, concerns about Sub. for HB 2132, which amends the definition of “neglect” in the Revised Code for Care of Children and would make changes concerning when the State may remove a child from the child’s home under the Code, and findings from a law enforcement survey on child welfare cases. The term “protective police custody” is not found in Kansas statute but refers to taking individuals into custody without a court order or arrest for their protection. Klumpp stated that because of DCF’s limited hours of operation of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, law enforcement officers are often the primary responders to complaints of neglect and are left to take action if they reasonably believe a child will be harmed if not immediately removed from the place where the child is found, making efficient collaboration essential. He outlined concerns about HB 2132 and stated that officers want clearer definitions to ensure consistency and confidence in making removals and are concerned about redefining neglect leading to fewer children being protected. Based on survey results, Klumpp stated that officers report difficulty contacting DCF and over 80 percent believe it would be helpful to consult with DCF before removing a child. Officers also reported a desire for more training and easier access to case workers.

Committee members asked questions regarding the impact of redefining neglect (Klumpp stated that redefining could result in missed interventions); who transports children during PPC and if DCF could be called in real time (Klumpp stated law enforcement officers often are transporting children due to limited DCF availability); and the consistency in reporting and data collection (Klumpp agreed there is a need for standardized reporting and better data sharing).

Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs
(Sen. Mike Thompson, Chair)

On Tuesday, March 18, the Committee worked SB 1, which would exempt Kansas from observing federal daylight saving time beginning the first Sunday of November 2025 at 2:00 a.m. If the federal government were to adopt permanent daylight saving time, the bill specifies that the Kansas exemption would no longer be in effect. The Committee amended the bill to specify that the adoption of permanent standard time in Kansas would take effect only in the event that Missouri adopts permanent standard time, and other technical amendments, and passed it favorably out of Committee, as amended. The bill was subsequently passed by the Senate on Thursday, March 20, on a vote of 33–7 and will be presented to the House.

House Committee on Commerce, Labor, and Economic Development
(Rep. Sean Tarwater, Chair)

On Monday, March 17, after rereferral of the bill, the Committee again worked HB 2294, which would establish and update law regulating child care centers and child care homes and would establish the Kansas Office of Early Childhood. The bill would provide certain definitions, modify license capacity and staff-to-child ratios, and establish staffing requirements, including professional development training. References to the Secretary for DCF would be replaced with references to the Executive Director of the Kansas Office of Early Childhood. The provisions establishing and updating law regulating child care centers and child care homes would expire on June 30, 2026, and would be replaced by provisions under the Kansas Office of Early Childhood. The Committee amended the bill to:

• Modify requirements for program directors, lead teachers and assistant teachers at child care centers.
• Update language regarding individuals who do not require licensure.
• Rename the Executive Director of the office to Director.
• Provide a purpose statement regarding the creation of the Kansas Office of Early Childhood.
• Modify the responsibilities of the Office and Director.
• Rename the Director of the Division of Child Care as the Deputy Director of Child Care Licensure and Finance and clarify responsibilities of the role.
• Rename the Director of the Division of Home Visitation as the Deputy Director of Home Visitation.
• Rename the Director of the Cabinet as the Deputy Director of the Cabinet.
• Remove the Director of the Division of Head Start Collaboration.
• Add the Deputy Director of Child Care Advocacy and clarify responsibilities of the role.
• Update the definition of a summer instructional camp.
• Consolidate definitions throughout the bill.
• Add a reporting requirement for awards granted to school districts through parent education programs.
• Clarify exemptions for immunizations and immunization records based on religious beliefs.

The Committee placed the amended contents of the bill into House Sub. for HB 2294 and passed the substitute bill favorably out of Committee. The House subsequently passed the substitute bill on Thursday, March 20, on a vote of 103–15.

Senate Committee on Ways and Means
(Sen. Rick Billinger, Chair)

On Monday, March 17, the Committee held a hearing on HB 2221, which would create a new fund within KDADS for alcohol and drug abuse treatment, transfer funds and liabilities to the fund, and abolish a corresponding Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) fund. The bill also would create the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Fund within KDADS and direct that on July 1, 2025, all moneys in the KDOC Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Fund be transferred to the KDADS Fund and all liabilities of the KDOC Fund be assumed by the KDADS Fund. Proponent testimony was provided by representatives of KDADS and KDOC. No opponent or neutral testimony was submitted. The Committee then worked the bill and passed it favorably out of Committee. The bill was subsequently passed by the Senate on Thursday, March 20, on a vote of 40–0 and will be enrolled and presented to the Governor.

Senate Committee on Government Efficiency
(Sen. Renee Erickson, Chair)

On Monday, March 17, the Committee worked HB 2240, passed by the House on Feb. 20, which would prohibit state agencies, on or after July 1, 2025, from seeking or implementing the following without express consent and approval of the Legislature or the Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC):

• A Medicaid state plan, state plan amendment, state demonstration, or waiver under Section 1115 or 1915 of the federal Social Security Act from the federal government that expands coverage to any additional individuals or class of individuals or would increase any cost to the state.
• Certain changes to services for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

The bill also would authorize the LCC to approve or deny any such agency requests when the Legislature is not in session or designate a standing committee or special committee to review the request and make recommendations to the LCC.

The Committee removed the contents of HB 2240, inserted the contents of SB 161, and made additional amendments to create Senate Substitute for HB 2240, which would:

• Prohibit state agencies after July 1, 2025, from seeking or implementing any public assistance program waiver or other authorization from the federal government that expands eligibility for any public assistance program or would increase any cost to the State.
• Prohibit making certain changes to services for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) without the express consent or approval of either the Legislature or the Legislative Coordinating Council.
• Add language allowing the LCC to designate a standing or special committee to review an agency request.
• Establish a deadline of 14 calendar days by which action on an agency request must be taken by the LCC or its designee.

The Committee then passed the substitute bill favorably out of Committee. The Senate subsequently passed the bill on Wednesday, March 19, on a vote of 29–11. The House nonconcurred with the amendments and requested a Conference Committee on Monday, March 24.

Senate Committee on Education
(Sen. Renee Erickson, Chair)

 On Monday, March 17, the Committee worked HB 2382, as amended by the House Committee on K-12 Education Budget, which would require that members of the State Board of Education receive compensation in an amount that corresponds to the daily rate of compensation provided to members of the Legislature during session. The Committee removed the contents of the bill and inserted the contents of SB 275, which would require that any school district that offers any instruction that addresses human growth, human development or human sexuality would be required to present information regarding the development of the brain, heart and other vital organs in early human fetal development. The presentation would be of high quality, computer-generated animation or high-definition ultrasound of at least three minutes of duration. The Committee then recommended a substitute bill and passed Senate Sub. for HB 2382 favorably out of Committee. The Senate subsequently passed the substitute bill on Thursday, March 20, on a vote of 29–11. The House nonconcurred with the amendments and requested a Conference Committee on Monday, March 24.

The Committee also worked SB 263, which would establish standards and requirements for active shooter drills conducted by public and accredited nonpublic elementary and secondary schools. The school would be required to notify each parent or acting parent at least 24 hours prior to an active shooter drill. The parent may opt their child out of the drill and would have the opportunity to participate in alternative safety education without punitive treatment by the school. The Kansas Department of Education would be required to establish criteria for alternative safety education for students who are opted out of the drill and would be required to partner with KDHE to create guidelines for measuring the effectiveness of active shooter drills. The guidelines would be provided to every school and would be made available to the public for review. The Committee amended the bill to allow teachers, school personnel and other school staff to opt out of a school shooter simulation and passed it favorably out of Committee, as amended.

Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
(Sen. Virgil Peck, Chair)

On Tuesday, March 18, the Committee worked HB 2172, which would create the Water Program Task Force that would consist of 23 voting members and 10 non-voting ex officio members. The bill would require the Task Force to:

• Evaluate major risks to the quality and quantity of the state’s water supply, including any impact on current and future economic growth and population stability.
• Determine steps the state must take to define and achieve an ongoing, multi-generational promise of water for Kansans.
• Evaluate current funding for water in the state and determine whether such funding is sufficient to address the water issues included in the State Water Plan, including the state’s current and future water infrastructure needs.

The Committee amended the bill to:

• Reduce the number of members of the Task Force from 23 to 13.
• Allow for chairpersons and ranking minority members of certain legislative committees to appoint a designee for the Task Force.
• Authorize the Speaker of the House to appoint one member of the House of Representatives who does not serve on the House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources or House Committee on Water to the Task Force.
• Authorize the President of the Senate to appoint one member of the Senate who does not serve on the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources to the Task Force.
• Authorize the Speaker of the House and Senate President to jointly appoint six members to the Task Force.
• Establish the Water Planning Work Group, including membership, meetings, purpose, recommendations, staffing and reporting requirements to the 2026 Legislature.

The Committee recommended a substitute bill and passed Senate Sub. for HB 2172 favorably out of Committee. The Senate subsequently passed the substitute bill on Thursday, March 20, on a vote of 40–0. The House nonconcurred with the amendments and requested a Conference Committee on Monday, March 24.