by Eileen Horn
We just wrapped up week 5 of the legislative session, and the pace is starting to pick up. Read below about the bills I’m co-sponsoring and the votes we took this week.
But First, Mark Your Calendars!
State Senator Tom Holland and I will be hosting town hall meetings on Sunday, March 11th in Baldwin City and Eudora to hear from YOU. Please join us:
Baldwin City: 1:00p.m. – 2:00p.m. @ Lumberyard Arts Center (718 High Street)
Eudora: 2:30p.m. – 3:30p.m. @ Community Room, Eudora Community Rec Ctr (1630 Elm Street)
Bills I’m Working On:
I’ve authored one bill, HB 2727, which will improve disclosure of oil and gas activity during the real estate transaction. This is important because it will help people buying rural property to better understand the impacts that oil and gas drilling, pumping, injection wells may have on their properties. The bill will get a hearing this Thursday, March 15. Contact me if you’d like to provide testimony on this issue!
Bills I’m Co-Sponsoring:
Medicaid Eligibility:
HB2508 - Creating a suspended eligibility status for recipients of state Medicaid services. This would allow people who are incarcerated or involuntarily committed to a state mental hospital the ability to immediately reinstate Medicaid coverage upon release. This is important so that they don’t have a coverage gap after release that would keep them from accessing the medications they need to get well.
Government Transparency:
HB2548 – This bill would end the practice of anonymous bills, and would require legislators, organizations, lobbyists, etc. who introduce bills to have their name associated with the legislation in the minutes and on the bill.
HB2699 - This bill would end the infamous “gut and go” procedure where legislators remove the contents of one bill that has already passed and replace it with unrelated legislation.
Local Food:
HB2668 – This bill would exempt farm products sold at farmers' markets from state sales tax.
Firearms:
HB2685 – This would permanently exempt postsecondary educational institutions from the public buildings law under the personal and family protection act, and allow them to ban firearms on campus.
Sexual Harassment:
HB2695 – This would prohibit state funds being used to pay sexual harassment settlements and prohibiting non-disclosure agreements for sexual harassment settlements in certain circumstances.
Bills that passed on the House Floor:
HB 2439: This bill increases the penalty for involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence.
HB 2482: This bill amends the time of day that alcohol can be served by the drink in Kansas from 9:00am to 6:00am.
HB 2042: This bill requires the state of Kansas to recognize out-of-state issued concealed carry permits and licenses. It was amended by Republican Rep. Landwehr to reduce the age to conceal carry down from 21 to 18. Democrat Rep. Ballard offered an amendment to permanently exempt Kansas college campuses from concealed carry laws. Rep. Ballard’s amendment failed; however, Republican Rep. Aurand offered an amendment that requires a permit for those who choose to conceal carry on college campuses. This amendment passed 70-52 and is an important step forward in security for Kansas college students, staff, and faculty.
HB 2145: Currently there are 9 instances where federal law prohibits individuals from purchasing a firearm and Kansas law does not. Among these are individuals under a protection from abuse order and those who have committed domestic violence. This bill will add those 9 instances to Kansas law and passed easily on a voice vote.
HB 2470: This bill allows microbreweries within the state of Kansas to contract with other microbreweries for production and packaging of beer and hard cider.
HB 2502: This bill will provide for newly authorized sales of beer containing no more than 6.0 percent alcohol by volume by cereal malt beverage (CMB) licensees to be subject to state and local sales taxes instead of the state liquor enforcement tax.
HB 2446: This bill adds a designation of ranking minority member to the Joint Committee on Kansas Security and to the Joint Committee on Information Technology.
HB 2438: This bill prohibits state agencies from contracting with a vendor on an information technology project if that vendor prepared or assisted with: 1) The preparation of the program statement; 2) The project planning documents, or 3) Any other project plans prepared prior to approval of the project by the Chief Information Technology Officer of the relevant branch of government.
SB 262: This bill authorizes the Capitol Preservation Committee to approve plans to place a permanent statue of Dwight D. Eisenhower on the Kansas Capitol grounds.
HB 2441: This bill transfers responsibility for procuring independent audits from the Legislative Division of Post Audit (LPA) to the audited agencies.
HB 2492: This bill increases the maximum local sales tax rate that could be imposed by Thomas County from 1.50 percent to 1.75 percent
HB 2469: This bill prohibits local units of government from imposing restrictions or enforcing local licensing or registration ordinances on insurance claims’ handling operations during any catastrophic event threatening life or property.
In service,
Eileen
by State Senator Caryn Tyson
We just wrapped up week 5 of the legislative session, and the pace is starting to pick up. Read below about the bills I’m co-sponsoring and the votes we took this week.
 |
| Representative Eileen Horn |
But First, Mark Your Calendars!
State Senator Tom Holland and I will be hosting town hall meetings on Sunday, March 11th in Baldwin City and Eudora to hear from YOU. Please join us:
Baldwin City: 1:00p.m. – 2:00p.m. @ Lumberyard Arts Center (718 High Street)
Eudora: 2:30p.m. – 3:30p.m. @ Community Room, Eudora Community Rec Ctr (1630 Elm Street)
Bills I’m Working On:
I’ve authored one bill, HB 2727, which will improve disclosure of oil and gas activity during the real estate transaction. This is important because it will help people buying rural property to better understand the impacts that oil and gas drilling, pumping, injection wells may have on their properties. The bill will get a hearing this Thursday, March 15. Contact me if you’d like to provide testimony on this issue!
Bills I’m Co-Sponsoring:
Medicaid Eligibility:
HB2508 - Creating a suspended eligibility status for recipients of state Medicaid services. This would allow people who are incarcerated or involuntarily committed to a state mental hospital the ability to immediately reinstate Medicaid coverage upon release. This is important so that they don’t have a coverage gap after release that would keep them from accessing the medications they need to get well.
Government Transparency:
HB2548 – This bill would end the practice of anonymous bills, and would require legislators, organizations, lobbyists, etc. who introduce bills to have their name associated with the legislation in the minutes and on the bill.
HB2699 - This bill would end the infamous “gut and go” procedure where legislators remove the contents of one bill that has already passed and replace it with unrelated legislation.
Local Food:
HB2668 – This bill would exempt farm products sold at farmers' markets from state sales tax.
Firearms:
HB2685 – This would permanently exempt postsecondary educational institutions from the public buildings law under the personal and family protection act, and allow them to ban firearms on campus.
Sexual Harassment:
HB2695 – This would prohibit state funds being used to pay sexual harassment settlements and prohibiting non-disclosure agreements for sexual harassment settlements in certain circumstances.
Bills that passed on the House Floor:
HB 2439: This bill increases the penalty for involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence.
HB 2482: This bill amends the time of day that alcohol can be served by the drink in Kansas from 9:00am to 6:00am.
HB 2042: This bill requires the state of Kansas to recognize out-of-state issued concealed carry permits and licenses. It was amended by Republican Rep. Landwehr to reduce the age to conceal carry down from 21 to 18. Democrat Rep. Ballard offered an amendment to permanently exempt Kansas college campuses from concealed carry laws. Rep. Ballard’s amendment failed; however, Republican Rep. Aurand offered an amendment that requires a permit for those who choose to conceal carry on college campuses. This amendment passed 70-52 and is an important step forward in security for Kansas college students, staff, and faculty.
HB 2145: Currently there are 9 instances where federal law prohibits individuals from purchasing a firearm and Kansas law does not. Among these are individuals under a protection from abuse order and those who have committed domestic violence. This bill will add those 9 instances to Kansas law and passed easily on a voice vote.
HB 2470: This bill allows microbreweries within the state of Kansas to contract with other microbreweries for production and packaging of beer and hard cider.
HB 2502: This bill will provide for newly authorized sales of beer containing no more than 6.0 percent alcohol by volume by cereal malt beverage (CMB) licensees to be subject to state and local sales taxes instead of the state liquor enforcement tax.
HB 2446: This bill adds a designation of ranking minority member to the Joint Committee on Kansas Security and to the Joint Committee on Information Technology.
HB 2438: This bill prohibits state agencies from contracting with a vendor on an information technology project if that vendor prepared or assisted with: 1) The preparation of the program statement; 2) The project planning documents, or 3) Any other project plans prepared prior to approval of the project by the Chief Information Technology Officer of the relevant branch of government.
SB 262: This bill authorizes the Capitol Preservation Committee to approve plans to place a permanent statue of Dwight D. Eisenhower on the Kansas Capitol grounds.
HB 2441: This bill transfers responsibility for procuring independent audits from the Legislative Division of Post Audit (LPA) to the audited agencies.
HB 2492: This bill increases the maximum local sales tax rate that could be imposed by Thomas County from 1.50 percent to 1.75 percent
HB 2469: This bill prohibits local units of government from imposing restrictions or enforcing local licensing or registration ordinances on insurance claims’ handling operations during any catastrophic event threatening life or property.
It is an honor to serve as your state representative. I both value and need your input on the various issues facing our state government!
Please feel free to contact me with your comments and questions.
My office address is Room 54-S, 300 SW 10th, Topeka, KS 66612.
You can reach me at (785) 296-7652 (office) or (913) 708-3929 (cell).
Additionally, you can e-mail me at eileen.horn@house.ks.gov.
You can also follow the legislative session online at www.kslegislature.org
In service,
Eileen
by State Senator Caryn Tyson
February 9, 2018
2018 Session –Week Five
Transportation Plan – For two decades Kansas has developed 10-year transportation plans. Senate Bill (SB) 285 will officially begin the process for the next 10-year plan. It forms a task force with members from the legislature and industry who will develop an initial transportation plan. The plan will then be presented to the legislature for final changes and possible approval. The bill passed the Senate 33 to 5. I voted Yes to begin the process for a ten-year plan. Kansas has some of the best roads in the nation. In 2016, Kansas roads were ranked 3rd by a national group, the Reason Foundation.
 |
| Senator Caryn Tyson |
Transparency in the Capitol has been a hot topic for a couple of years. Our government should be transparent. Transparency shouldn’t be bantered around for political volley. Last week a bill was introduced that would require committee minutes to record who made the motion to introduce a bill. As the Chair of the Senate Tax Committee, this has been standard procedure. I didn’t need legislation to do the right thing.
Kansas Money Transmitter Act (KMTA) – SB 284 modifies the KMTA to allow the State Bank Commissioner to issue an order to address any violation of Rules and Regulations. It also allows for an informal agreement that would be considered confidential. This information is already protected and is not subject to the Open Records Act. The bill passed 34 to 5. I voted Yes.
Tax Committee – The Senate and House Tax Committees will have joint meetings to hear from the Kansas Department of Revenue (KDOR) regarding changes to the federal tax code and the impact on Kansas taxpayers. The federal government cut income tax in 2017 and if we do not make changes to the Kansas tax code, the federal changes could force Kansas income taxpayers to pay more in Kansas tax. Kansans have been hit hard with two massive tax increases in the past three years. We don’t need another increase! In 2015, Kansas legislators passed a $400 million sales tax increase (the largest at the time). Last year, the legislature passed the largest ever tax increase, $1.2 billion income tax increase in two years. I voted No against these increases. As Senator Bob Dole said, “The purpose of a tax cut is to leave more money where it belongs: in the hands of the working men and women who earned it in the first place.” I will do everything possible to make sure Kansans enjoy the full benefit of the federal tax cuts and NOT grow state government as a result of these federal changes.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator. CarynOffice Telephone: 785.296.6838Telephone: 913.898.2366Email: Caryn.Tyson@senate.ks.gov
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