Rest up for floor action next week.
"Reprinted from Hawver’s Capitol Report"
Worn out after Turnaround, things were slow enough for long lunches Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for most committees. But this is also the week to get some of those Turnaround-exempt bills across the rotunda, including tax cuts…
The Senate still has on hand a number of less-publicized tax cuts – for residential solar and wind energy costs, “government competition” tax cuts for business, a boost in homestead property tax relief, and up to $300 a month for businesses which collect Kansas sales tax.
The House? It’s looking at its own bill (narrower than the Senate-passed version) to reduce state income tax on Social Security benefits – over four years, not immediately as the Senate has approved.
This week and next are probably when leadership of both chambers huddle to plan just how far they want to push Gov. Laura Kelly on tax issues that outspend her tax plans… what can make a trade-off with the governor, and what can be pitched to the public as so good that even without another term possible, Kelly may have to sign on behalf of Democrats.
As a reminder, below is the status of bills of interest as they stand now.
STATUS OF BILLS OF INTEREST TO LONG TERM CARE:
HB 2264 hb2264_01_0000.pdf (kslegislature.org) Enacting the no patient left alone act to allow in-person visitation to certain patients at hospitals, adult care homes and hospice facilities.
House Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea: 103 Nay: 19
SB 6 sb6_00_0000.pdf (kslegislature.org) - Restricting the authority of the secretary of health and environment and local health officers to prevent the introduction and spread of infectious or contagious diseases; repealing the authority of the secretary to quarantine individuals and impose associated penalties.
Senate Final Action - Passed; Yea: 22 Nay: 18
Thu, Feb 23, 2023
House Emergency Final Action - Passed; Yea: 120 Nay: 1
HB 2292 hb2292_02_0000.pdf (kslegislature.org) Enacting the Kansas apprenticeship tax credit act to encourage development of apprenticeship programs in Kansas by providing income tax credits for participating businesses that employ apprentices.
Thu, Feb 23, 2023
House Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea: 115 Nay: 7
HB 2246 - Establishing requirements for the involuntary discharge or transfer of a resident in an adult residential care facility and authorizing the secretary to investigate and assess a penalty for violations.
This bill was amended hb2246_01_0000.pdf (kslegislature.org) in committee on February 22 recommended to be passed by the Judiciary Committee. The following day, it was removed from the calendar by Rule 1507 which means it’s dead.
SB 191 sb191_00_0000.pdf (kslegislature.org) Establishing requirements for the involuntary discharge or transfer of a resident in an adult residential care facility, the right to appeal such discharge or transfer and a process for such appeal.
This bill which is a counterpart to HB 2246 also did not move out of committee so is considered dead for this year.
SB 62 sb62_00_0000.pdf (kslegislature.org) - Enacting the protect vulnerable adults from financial exploitation act, requiring reporting of instances of suspected financial exploitation under certain circumstances and providing civil and administrative immunity to individuals who make such reports.
On February 23, 2023 it was Withdrawn from Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance; Referred to Committee on Ways and Means (exempt from the Turnaround Week rule).
HB 2267 hb2267_01_0000.pdf (kslegislature.org) - An act concerning motor vehicles; relating to license plates; allowing adult care homes a qualified facility to apply for disability special license plates; amending K.S.A. 8-1,125 and repealing the existing section.
On February 23, it was stricken from House Calendar by Rule 1507, however, KHCA/KCAL accomplished what we set out to do by receiving this memo from the Kansas Department of Revenue.
This bill did not move out of committee and is therefore dead for the year.
I am honored and privileged to serve each and every one of you. Thank you for this opportunity.
