Our League of Women Voters Vote Tracking Committee tracks bills and votes in the Kansas Legislature on the following topics: abortion, civil rights, climate change, children, government, gun legislation, education, LGBTQ issues, Medicaid expansion, school issues, taxes, vetoes, voting rights, and water issues.
During the week of February 13-17, the following bills in these categories were voted on, and local legislators’ votes are indicated:
SB 73, adding domestic battery and violation of a protection order to the list of crimes a person has intent to commit. Sen. Longbine voted Yea.
HB 2021, relating to risk and needs assessment for certain children in need of care; allowing for overall case length limit extensions for certain juvenile offenders. Rep. Droge, Schreiber, and E. Smith voted Yea.
HB 2060, establishing the special education and related services funding task force. Rep. Droge, Schreiber, and E. Smith voted Yea.
HCR 5004, a concurrent resolution urging the U.S. Congress to fully fund the federal government’s original funding promise under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Rep. Droge, Schreiber, and E. Smith voted Yea.
HB 2314 would prohibit state agency employees from installing and accessing social media platforms of concern–an application or website that is owned or controlled by TikTok–on state-owned devices and networks. Rep. Droge, Schreiber, and E. Smith voted Yea.
HB 2262 would allow an individual to complete six months of an embalmer apprenticeship prior to enrolling in a school of mortuary science. Rep. Droge, Schreiber, and E. Smith voted Yea.
SB 116 would standardize firearm safety education training programs in school districts. Sen. Longbine voted Yea.
Several bills of interest are advancing through committees. On Thursday last week, the Kansas House Water Committee passed HB 2302, which would establish funding for the State Water Plan and water infrastructure projects.
Among Election bills with hearings this coming week are SB 208, which would restrict the number of remote ballot boxes that may be used in each county and requiring certain monitoring conditions and SB 209, requiring all advance voting ballots be returned by 7 p.m. on election day.
Other election bills under consideration in the Legislature are HB 2056, which would require the return of mail ballots by 7 p.m. on the day of the election and HB 2057, regulating the use of remote ballot boxes.
Friday, February 24, is the turnaround deadline when most bills that haven’t passed in either the House or Senate will be dead for the year.
Additional information about bills may be found on the Kansas Legislature website: http://www.kslegislature.org/
Prepared by League of Women Voters of Emporia members Bob Grover, Doug McGaw, Mary McGaw, and Gail Milton.
