Bills passed and executive orders in March 2020

After a flurry of legislative actions, the Kansas Legislative session was ended early for the safety of legislators and staff at the Capitol. This is an important report of final legislative actions this month -- including passage of a budget. We are tentatively scheduled to return on April 27 for the veto session. You can get daily updates by following my Facebook page. Below are the final bills that were passed the last week of session, including the budget bill.

SB 66

Appropriations for FY 2020, 2021 and 2022 for various state agencies.

Passed 99-16

The FY 2020 revised budget totals $18.7 billion, including $7.8 billion from the State General Fund (SGF). This approved amount includes $108.7 million of expenditure authority carried forward from FY 2019. The approved budget includes full-time equivalent (FTE) positions totaling 40,787.

The FY 2021 approved budget totals $19.9 billion, including $8.0 billion from the SGF. The budget is an all funds increase of $1.2 billion, or 6.4 percent, and a SGF increase of $192.9 million, or 2.5 percent, above the FY 2020 approved budget. The approved budget includes FTE positions totaling 40,720.

$65 million dollars were allocated for Coronavirus response efforts

SB 27

AN ACT concerning employment security law; relating to the maximum benefit eligibility period; compensation for the pre-payment waiting period; amending K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 44-704 and 44-705 and repealing the existing sections.

Passed 119-0

SB 102

AN ACT concerning courts; relating to extension or suspension of deadlines or time limitations to secure the health and safety of court users, staff and judicial officers; amending K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 22-3402 and 60-206 and repealing the existing sections.

Passed 113-5 I voted Yes

SB 142

AN ACT concerning education; relating to the duration of the school term; authorizing the grant of a waiver from school term requirements; amending K.S.A. 72-3117 and repealing the existing section.

Passed 117-2

SB 173

AN ACT concerning transportation; providing for the Eisenhower legacy transportation program; amending K.S.A. 68-416, 68-2315, 68-2316, 75-5035, 75-5048, 75-5061, 79-3603 and 79-3703 and repealing the existing sections.

Passed 112-3

HCR 5025

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ratifying the March 12, 2020, State of Disaster Emergency declaration issued by Governor Laura Kelly and providing for the continuation thereof for the entire 105 counties of Kansas through January 25, 2021.

Passed 115-0

Proposed Executive Orders

In addition to Gov. Kelly's executive stay-at-home order, she has proposed several executive reorganization orders to the legislature. Under the law the legislature needs to take an in depth look at them. By House Rules committees have 15 days to consider EROs. If they do nothing the ERO will go into effect automatically. The entire legislature has 60 days to: 1) have either house reject the ERO which kills it; 2) both houses approve the same amendments; or 3) do nothing by March 31 in which case the ERO goes into effect on July 1.

I feel that we need to give Governor Kelly the ability to react quickly to the needs of addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, but we also need to make sure there is oversight by the legislative body so that there is no governmental overreach during this time of crisis.

EO20-13 Extends Kansas tax filing deadline to July 15.

This puts Kansas in line with the changes in Federal tax filing deadlines.
E020-12 Extension of Vehicle registration renewal, temporary tags
This extends vehicle registration renewal, extends any temporary tags, state sixty day permits for recently purchased vehicles. It extends the terms of Drivers Licenses and Identification Cards. This will be in force until 60 days following the expiration of the State of Emergency.

E020-11 Trash services shall not be canceled or suspended due to nonpayment.

E20-10 Temporarily prohibits foreclosures and evictions through May 1, 2020