Activity picked up in the Kansas Legislature last week. Our Emporia League of Women Voters Vote Tracking Committee tracks bills and votes 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.
Last week, the following bills in these categories were voted on and passed; local legislators’ votes are indicated.
Government
Sub HB 2077, requiring reporting of significant cybersecurity incidents; changing membership, terms and quorum requirements for the Information Technology Executive Council. Reps. Droge, Schreiber; E. Smith voted Yea.
HB 2083, prohibiting municipalities from imposing certain fees and other requirements on vacant property. Yeas: Rep. Droge voted Yea; Rep. Schreiber and E. Smith voted Nay.
HB 2344, expanding the membership of the Council on Travel and Tourism; modifying the Department of Commerce’s matching grant program for the promotion of tourism by reducing the required allocation of funds to public and nonprofit entities and removing the restriction on the percentage of funds granted to a single entity. Reps. Droge, Schreiber, and E. Smith voted Yea.
HCR 5005, a Concurrent Resolution making application to the Congress of the United States for a limited national convention for the exclusive purpose of proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States establishing term limits for members of Congress, was considered on final action. The vote was: Yeas 69; Nays 54. Rep. Droge and E. Smith voted Yea;
Rep. Schreiber voted Nay. A two-thirds majority of the members elected to the House not having voted in the affirmative, the resolution was not adopted.
SB 244, authorizing the Attorney General prosecution of any crime that is part of an alleged course of criminal conduct that occurred in two or more counties. Sen. Longbine voted
Yea.
HB 2184, abolishing the Judicial Council Fund; transferring all moneys and liabilities to the State General Fund; repealing the transfer of funds from docket fees to the Judicial Council
Fund. Sen. Longbine voted Yea.
Guns
HB 2304, standardizing firearm safety education training programs in school districts, was considered on final action. Rep. Droge & E. Smith voted Yea; Rep. Schreiber voted Nay.
Taxation
HB 2002, continuing in existence the reimbursement for printing and postage costs for county clerks beyond calendar year 2023. Reps. Droge, Schreiber; E. Smith voted Yea.
HB 2201, concerning property taxation; providing information on prior year tax valuations. Rep. Droge, Schreiber; E. Smith voted Yea.
HB 2229, providing for a deduction for calculating tax owed when selling a motor vehicle that is purchased within 180 days of the sale of another vehicle. Rep. Droge, Schreiber; E. Smith voted Yea.
HB 2106, providing for a sales tax exemption for sales of property and services used in the provision of communications services. Rep. Droge, Schreiber; E. Smith voted Yea.
HB 2026, relating to warrants issued by the secretary of revenue; providing that the secretary of revenue file a release of warrant in the county where such warrant is docketed. Rep. Droge, Schreiber; E. Smith voted Yea.
SB 53 would exclude from sales price the amount of coupons issued by a manufacturer, supplier, or distributor when the seller accepts such coupons and is reimbursed by the manufacturer, supplier, or distributor. Sen. Longbine voted Yea.
LGBTQ Issues
HB 2238, creating the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, which would restrict participation on women’s teams to students designated female at birth. The bill passed both houses and now
goes to Governor Kelly. Sen. Longbine voted Yea.
Climate Change
SB 114, creating definitions for “advanced recycling” and related terms; separating advanced recycling from the current solid waste management system. Sen. Longbine voted Yea.
Prepared by Emporia League of Women Voters members Bob Grover, Doug McGaw and Mary McGaw.
