Kansas Legislative News and Analysis from a Catholic Perspective
by Chuck Weber, Kansas Catholic Conference
Anything can happen in the last week of the legislative session. Anything. That can be a good thing, or a not-so-good thing. It all depends on your perspective, of course.
Not so long ago (2022), a prairie fire of support for gambling swept through the Kansas Statehouse in the last hours of the session. Almost in the blink of an eye, Kansas had legalized widespread online sports wagering. The Gambling Bug (vintage cartoon) was suddenly Kansas law.
From where we sit, this statute has, so far, been a bad bet. The State of Kansas receives a relative pittance of revenue from sports bookies, especially compared to other states. More importantly, the negative societal consequences of gambling practices, including addiction, are beginning to seep into the lives of more and more people.
This isn't recreational gambling like a parish bingo game. Sports wagering from the smartphone is changing behavior, draining bank accounts and impacting the financial stability of families. It's a big deal.
The stunning turnaround of the legislature on gambling is an example of what can happen in the last days of the legislative session.
WHAT WE ARE WATCHING—AND WHY.
There are a number of critical legislative issues still unresolved. The name of the legislative game this week is CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.
The Conference Committee process may be one of the most consequential but least understood aspects of the legislative process. Here's a brief explanation.
As a reminder, the House and the Senate must pass the exact legislation in each chamber before a proposed bill can be sent to the Governor for action (sign into law, veto, etc.).
When members of the House and Senate vote to pass basically the same bill, but with slightly different language, a Conference Committee is appointed. This comes under the authority and responsibility of "Leadership"—the Speaker of the House and the Senate President. The Conference Committee members that Leadership selects are tasked with negotiating and resolving differences—if possible. It looks something like this.
THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE PROCESS
Conference Committee members have broad discretion over what language is inserted in a conference committee report (CCR), which is essentially a bill that all legislators must vote on. In Kansas, a typical conference committee is made up of two Republicans and one Democrat from each chamber. Conference committee membership depends on the subject matter.
As an example, a conference committee addressing an education bill would typically be made up of the Education Chair and Vice Chair of those respective House and Senate committees, as well as the "ranking member" (minority party/Democrat) from each of those committees.
There will be a great deal of watching and waiting this week for legislators not directly involved in a conference committee. When and/or if a "deal" is negotiated in a conference committee, Democrats and Republicans will gather to discuss the pros and cons of the proposal, then make their way to the floor for a vote on each CCR.
KEY KANSAS ISSUES GOING TO CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
KEY ISSUES
We are most interested in these three Kansas Budget items now in a conference committee.
1) For the past three years, mental health funding has been flowing to many of our inner city and rural Catholic schools. Now these funds are in danger of being cut. House and Senate negotiators are going back and forth on the future of the Mental Health Intervention Team (MHIT) program.
2) Funds for the Pregnancy Compassion Act. The House and Senate have agreed to again fund this program with $3 million. These funds—expected to be vetoed by the Governor—will be distributed in monitored grants to 30+ Pregnancy Resource Centers throughout Kansas. Unfortunately, a veto override will be needed to keep these funds in the Kansas Budget.
We invite you to read the latest report from the Kansas Pregnancy Care Network (KCPN). Update from the Kansas Pregnancy Care Network This is the organization responsible for receiving and then distributing these dollars. The ultimate mission is to help women in difficult pregnancies who wish to bring their babies into the world.
3) Stopping state Medicaid dollars from going to organizations or entities that provide abortions. This may happen as a one-year "budget proviso" and is currently being negotiated.
PROTECTION OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY AND THE RIGHT TO ASSEMBLE IN KANSAS
Legislation originally filed as SB 520, and now called S. Sub HB 2018, is the crime of interference with religious assembly. This legislation was advanced in response to an incident in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where protesters of ICE activity entered a church uninvited and disrupted the service.
This bill passed the Senate this past week with a strong, bipartisan vote of 34-6. We now expect this measure to be assigned to a conference committee. The Kansas Catholic Conference supports this legislation. You can read our testimony here: KCC support testimony for Religious Assembly Protection
THE APP STORE ACCOUNTABILITY ACT IS ALIVE
The App Store Accountability Act, SB 372 is still alive after being revived this past Tuesday in the House Federal and State Affairs Committee. If this bill becomes law, it gives parents more control and accountability over the smartphone Apps their children download.
Testimony was offered that showed there are many nefarious Apps being downloaded by unsuspecting children, not to mention their parents. These Apps frequently track behavior, communication and other personal data that is best kept private and not shared with the entire World Wide Web!
The conversation about this legislation is fascinating. You can watch it here, starting at about minute 18:25. This legislation appears to be heading to a conference committee.
The Kansas Catholic Conference is in support. You can read our testimony here: KCC testimony in support of APP Store Accountability Act
DECISIONS, DECISIONS. WHAT WILL SHE DO?
PROLIFE LEGISLATION
HB 2727 & HB 2729 are two ProLife bills designed to empower women against the predatory abortion industry in Kansas. These bills have passed both the House and Senate by veto-proof margins and await action by Governor Kelly. Will she veto these bills, as expected? Or will she have a change of heart to protect women?
HB 2727 streamlines the statutory damages a woman has acquired due to lack of information provided to her leading up to or at the time of the abortion. HB 2729 amends and strengthens the Woman's Right to Know Act by creating a standardized consent form from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
REAL HELP FOR RISING HEALTHCARE COSTS
Last week we told you about SB 368, which is the Health Care Sharing Ministry's Tax Deduction Act. This legislation helps families who use the HealthCare Sharing Model: HealthCare Sharing Ministries Model Explained. If signed into law, monthly HealthCare Sharing expenses will be tax-deductible, ultimately reducing the tax burden of the family. This benefit is similar to healthcare expenses that are deductible for businesses. This bill has passed both the House and Senate and awaits action from the Governor.
The Kansas Catholic Conference supports this legislation. You can read our testimony here: KCC supporting testimony for HealthCare Sharing Ministries Act
PROTECTION FOR PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTERS IN KANSAS
In addition to sidewalk counselors, Pregnancy Resource Centers are very often the last lifeline for women seeking authentic care, compassion and an alternative to abortion when experiencing a difficult pregnancy. Remarkably, in some states there has been harassment and pressure put on PRC's to hire pro-abortion employees or even refer women coming to a PRC for an abortion.
HB 2635 is the proposed CARE Act that protects Kansas PRC's from this type of harassment. This legislation passed both chambers by veto-proof margins, and awaits action by the Governor, who is expected to veto the measure. We will be working for a veto override vote if that happens. Here is our KCC testimony in favor of this legislation: KCC testimony in favor of the CARE Act
Click this link: Live Action for an informative article about this legislation.
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THE SCHOLARSHIP BATTLE RAGES ON
There are few issues at the Kansas Statehouse prompting more head scratching than the education and school choice debate. The data is clear. Kansas achievement scores (test scores) have declined or are flat. Children living in higher-income neighborhoods enjoy better resources, educational experiences, and test scores than those who do not.
Catholic schools and other non-public schools offer a lifeline option for parents and students who are seeking a better educational fit for the child. Legislation now before the Kansas Governor will offer virtually ALL Kansas students more and better educational options and resources.
HB 2468 is the Kansas Low Income Family Scholarship Act. It has passed the Senate by a margin of 27-12, and the House 76-44. It now awaits action by the Governor.
This legislation can be a true game-changer. It would make it easier for underprivileged kids to get a scholarship to a non-public school, including a Catholic school, if that is a better fit for them. It also has a federal educational element that opens up a world of new educational resources and opportunities for both public school and non-public school children. Learn more here: https://www.kansascatholic.org/issues/active-campaigns
This legislation does NOT impact financial support for public schools! And the Kansas Catholic Conference again states for the record: we support fully funded Kansas public schools!
We anticipate that the Governor will veto this common sense, middle-of-the-road legislation. We will need to override her veto, and you can help by reaching out to your legislator now and asking them to override the anticipated Governor's veto. Just click on this link, and please help! https://www.kansascatholic.org/issues/take-action
NEW KANSAS LAWS
Last Thursday, the Governor signed into law the "bell-to-bell" cell phone ban for Kansas students in both public and private (including Catholic) schools. The Kansas Catholic Conference supported this legislation known as HB 2299.
Last week the Governor also signed into law a number of other bills. Here is a list as compiled by Sunflower State Journal https://sunflowerstatejournal.com/
House Bill 2332: Establishing a seal for the House of Representatives and providing for its custody and use. The bill passed 113-10 in the House and 36-2 in the Senate.
House Bill 2477: Requiring the Kansas Department of Agriculture to publish a map on its official website that shows the location of all applied-for diversions of water and requested changes of more than 300 feet. The bill passed unanimously in both chambers.
House Bill 2624: Authorizing a board of county commissioners to disorganize a fire district at any time when the fire district contains no territory. The bill passed unanimously in both chambers.
House Bill 2555: Provides legislative oversight of the Rural Health Transformation Program by requiring certain information pertaining to the program be regularly submitted to certain legislative committees. The bill passed unanimously in both chambers.
House Bill 2540: Exempting contingent deferred annuities from the standard nonforfeiture law for individual deferred annuities. The bill passed unanimously in both chambers.
House Bill 2557: which enacts the revised Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children. The ICPC governs the placement of children across state lines through foster care and both public and private adoptions. Kansas is now the 21st state to join the updated version of the compact. The bill passed 39-1 in the Senate and 118-1 in the House.
House Bill 2711: Modifying and updating procedures for dissolution of cities of the third class, which have a population of less than 2,000 residents. The bill passed unanimously in both chambers.
House Bill 2733: Requiring that any person who is a candidate or who has been elected to certain offices shall be and must remain a resident of Kansas or the appropriate district. The bill passed unanimously in both chambers.
House Bill 2433: Reaffirming the state’s authority over the transfer or appropriation of water by explicitly placing such authority, except for domestic use, with the chief engineer and the water transfer hearing panel. The bill passed 36-3 in the Senate and 116-6 in the House.
House Bill 2478: Requiring that advanced practice registered nurses and registered nurse anesthetists submit to a criminal history check upon application for a nursing license. The bill passed 38-1 in the Senate and 117-4 in the House.
Senate Bill 146: Requiring the secretary for aging and disability services and the City of Osawatomie to execute and record an amendment to the original deed for conveyance of certain real property in Miami County, extending the conveyance to July 1, 2046. The bill passed 110-13 in the House and unanimously in the Senate.
ANOTHER REVIEW OF THE PAST LEGISLATIVE WEEK
Lucrecia Nold is the Public Policy Specialist for the Kansas Catholic Conference. Each week she posts a review of legislative happenings on our KCC Facebook page. We invite you to take a look at her latest take by clicking on this link.
PROLIFE MESSAGE FROM POPE LEO
This past week, the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, provided a message for those in attendance at the annual National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. The letter was communicated by Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas.
You can watch the Archbishop here, (very brief, about 5 minutes). There is also a report you can read here: article.
SAINT JOSEPH, TERROR OF DEMONS, PRAY FOR US!
This past week the Catholic Church celebrated the Solemnity of Saint Joseph. It was an occasion to set aside Lenten penances and celebrate this great Saint. Even the White House acknowledged Saint Joseph's Day in a statement you can read here.
Think about it. Joseph had one big mission in life—protect and defend Jesus and Mary. What a mission! No words of his are recorded in Scripture, yet Joseph's stature in the Catholic Church has been growing in recent years. He is the ultimate "strong, silent and holy type!"
Nearly every day of the legislative session, we extend an invitation to join us in praying a Rosary at Assumption-Mater Dei Catholic Church (right across the street from the Capitol). The group includes elected officials, staff, lobbyists and others. We have been doing this ever since Pope Francis declared December 2020 to December 2021 the Year of Saint Joseph.
We conclude each Rosary with a Litany of Saint Joseph. One of the titles of Joseph in the litany is "Terror of Demons." He fits this title due to his exceptional holiness and powerful role as an intercessor for us. As the earthly father of Jesus and husband of Mary, he surely must have had an unwavering faith and obedience to God the Father as he faced down evil forces throughout his life.
Without sounding too dramatic, there is a palpable sense of spiritual warfare taking place as we go about our daily mission at the Kansas Statehouse. We need spiritual protection. The morning Rosary, daily Mass, holy water and prayer are some of our most powerful tools.
Thank you for following our newsletter. As we hope we've communicated above, the coming week is gravely consequential for the people of Kansas. We invite the Voice of Christ into public policy, for the common good of all Kansans.
Saint Joseph, Terror of Demons, Pray for us!
Until next time, we persevere.
Chuck Weber
Kansas Catholic Conference