News from Kansas Senator Elaine Bowers

Senate Highlights

This week marked the sixth week of session with the first half of the legislative session almost behind us. As we approach “turn-around” the Senate held floor debate on Tuesday and Thursday and worked bills which were sent out of committees to the full Senate. The bills voted on by the full Senate now cross over to the House of Representatives where the process starts over.

Remembering Senator Bud Estes

On February 13th, our friend Senator Bud Estes passed away. Senator Estes was first elected to the Kansas Senate in 2016 and was re-elected in 2020. He also served in the Kansas House prior to his Senate elections. The funeral for Senator Estes will was held on Monday, February 22nd, and the Senate will not be operating other than on a pro-forma basis.

Floor Action—12 Bills Passed Off Senate Floor

SB 49 would extend the sunset on the single city port authority tax credit from the end of tax year 2021 to the end of tax year 2024 to corporation income taxpayers.

SB 52 establishes the Sedgwick County Urban Area Nuisance Abatement Act (Act).

SB 60 requested by Attorney General Derek Schmidt would amend the statute governing jurisdictional application of the Kansas Criminal Code to define “proximate result.”  Currently, a crime is considered to have been committed partly within the state if the proximate result of the person’s act occurs within the state. This bill will help the state go after the bad actors who have filed fraudulent Kansas Unemployment claims.

SB 65 would decouple participation in the Kansas Industrial Training (KIT) program or the Kansas Industrial Retraining (KIR) program as a method to qualify for the High Performance Incentive Program (HPIP) tax credit.

SB 66 would reauthorize the Kansas Angel Investor Tax Credit Act (Act) until tax year 2026. The bill would also make changes to the definitions and elements of how the Act operates.

SB 67 would amend the definitions for all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and recreational off-highway vehicle and would increase the maximum width of such a vehicle from 50 inches to 55 inches.

SB 77 would enact the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact.

SB 85 would require a foster care case management contractor under contract with the Department for Children and Families (DCF) to notify DCF whenever a child in foster care has gone missing or spent any overnight period in a location not licensed as a placement for foster youth. The bill would establish time frames and actions that would be required to be taken, should the contractor notify DCF of the missing child or overnight stay at a non-licensed location and also establish fines on the contractor.

SB 88 would amend law regarding the process for vacation of city streets or other public easements and would add law regarding challenging a street vacation ordinance.

SB 103 would amend the Kansas Power of Attorney Act to state a power of attorney executed on or after July 1, 2021, would be deemed sufficient if in substantial compliance with a form set forth by the Judicial Council.

SB 107 would enact the Uniform Fiduciary Income and Principal Act (UFIPA).

SB 118 would establish a procedure by which a city or county may assume the powers, responsibilities, and duties of a special district within the city’s corporate boundary or the county’s boundaries.

Full texts of the bills and supplemental notes as well as the Final Action vote on these measures can be found at www.kslegislature.org.

 
Additional Resources  

Kansas Legislature YouTube: Here you can follow the legislature live as it happens, or access archives of past sessions and committee meetings.

Kansas Legislature Audio: Here you can listen in on session or committees when they are in session, or access prior committee meetings, as well.

Kansas Legislature website: www.kslegislature.org - has extensive information on legislators, committees, bills, and past sessions.

Tour The State Capitol &  State-owned Historical Sites From Home

Take an online tour of the magnificent Kansas State Capitol, floor by floor at  https://www.kshs.org/p/kansas-state-capitol-online-tour/15843.  The classically inspired building is an impressive public monument as well as the working offices for the governor and legislators. The building holds a dramatic array of art, architecture, and colorful Kansas history.  There are also 16 state-owned sites, administered by the Kansas Historical Society, explore different topics in our state’s fascinating history.  Two of these sites in Senate District #36 are Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Hanover and Pawnee Indian Museum in Republic.

I always encourage you to stay informed of the issues under consideration by the Kansas Legislature. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and suggestions. An email is the best at this point in the session.

Thank you for the honor of serving you!