THE TRUTH REPORT

A Weekly Rundown of Important Activity in Topeka, from a Principled Perspective

Week 6 - February 17, 2024

SB 394 is a “...very common sense responsibility that we have to protect our youth from harmful content…If it's not age appropriate children shouldn’t be viewing it.

It's common sense, it's our responsibility.

-Renee Erickson-

Topeka, KS - With turn-around coming up next Friday, the capital has been extremely busy: pushing bills from one committee to the next and passing bills out on the floor. Many bills and resolutions have been voted on and passed, and this week was just a warm-up for the week to come!

Important Action in the House this Week!

HB 2592 - Protecting Kids Online Act

Both SB 394 and HB 2592 penalize pornographic websites for failing to verify that their users are at least eighteen years old. The bills require that websites containing sexual material with no educational value use a verification program to protect minors from their content. While the manner of verification is flexible, the consequences of failure are clear: a violation may result in an investigation by the attorney general and a fine of up to $10,000 –in addition to injunctive relief. Both hearings took place on February 7th in the Committee on Judiciary. On Thursday, February 15th, SB 394 was passed unanimously by emergency final action in the Senate.

HR 6035 - Kansas’s resolution to support Texas

HR 6035 and SR 1737 - On Thursday, HR 6035 was enrolled in the statute book, and a similar resolution, SR 1737, was enrolled on Friday. HR 6035 and SR 1737 both respond to Biden’s failure to protect the border by affirming Texas's right to combat illegal immigration and clarifying Kansas's intention to stand with the state. While HR 6035 encourages Governor Kelly to support Texas using Kansas's resources, SR 1737 joins with 25 other states in championing Texas Governor Greg Abbot's right to defend his state from Biden's illegal immigration policies.

HB 2749 - Reporting Reasons for Abortion

HB 2749 was heard in the Committee on Health and Human Services on Wednesday, February 14th. The bill approaches the pro-life issue from a different tactic by investigating the reasoning behind abortions. HB 2749 requires that medical care centers list the reasons, such as lack of financial or marital support for each abortion performed–asking the mother to rank the top three. If the woman declines to answer, that too will be reported. These reasons will be included in a public biannual report and can be used to alleviate outside motivations for abortion. In order to truly address the needs of women, we need to know the why behind their decisions.

Planned Parenthood opposed this bill in the House Committee's hearing on Wednesday, stating that this bill over-polices and undermines patients, and that it is medically unnecessary and deeply invasive. In fact, at around 49:39 in the committee meeting, their representative states that this bill does absolutely nothing to protect patient safety. However, the testimony Planned Parenthood gave on Thursday directly opposes their own statement given here.

HB 2653 / SB 425 - Child Support for the Unborn/The Unborn Child Protection Act

Both SB 425 and HB 2653 had hearings this week. SB 425 was heard in the Committee on Judiciary on Monday, and HB 2653 had its hearing in the Committee on Federal and State Affairs on Thursday. These twin bills tackle abortion from a different angle: requiring child support for children from the date of conception. These bills acknowledge the fact that the unborn is a child and would help aid in financial support for the immediate pregnancy expenses of the mother–thus removing one more incentive to abort.

The House committee hearing on this bill was very heated! Three minutes into the committee meeting, Representative Clayton asked the revisor if, in the bill, there was cause to have a paternity test–since you have to do this for child support cases concerning “actual children”! After that, the hearing got even more interesting, as the Planned Parenthood representative once again opposed a common-sense bill. The opponent stated that they strongly opposed the bill due to the “dangerous fetal personhood” it implied and the granting of rights to fetuses.

Click here to watch the committee at 28:05, when the Planned Parenthood representative said that, “Kansas is facing a serious maternity health crisis for which we need evidence-based policy solutions that provide meaningful support for pregnant Kansans"–despite claiming that the evidence HB 2749 would provide was unnecessary. Planned Parenthood went a step further to illustrate what they would call “meaningful support.” One of the examples they gave can be found here around 31:33, where the representative states that “improving research on maternal health to inform our healthcare system through data collection” would be a more beneficial policy to adopt.

During the hearing, representative Ron Bryce asked Planned Parenthood a series of poignant questions, ending with the statement: “Then really, you’re not so much in support of the pregnant woman making an informed choice as much as you are in promoting the choice of abortion.”

HB 2583 - K9 Bill

HB 2583, or the K9 bill, protects animals serving our state, such as police horses and rescue dogs, by increasing the penalties for harming them. According to the bill, such actions will result in at least 90 days’ imprisonment and a fine of at least $10,000, along with veterinary, funeral, replacement, and other associated costs. The bill was passed by the House on Wednesday (107 - 4) and was referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary on Thursday.

HB 2740 - Increasing Penalties for Domestic Battery

HB 2740 discourages domestic battery by increasing penalties for this crime. According to the bill, the third and subsequent instances of domestic battery committed within five years of the first infraction are classified as a severity level 7 person felony. The bill requires that, upon conviction, the perpetrator serves at least 90 days in prison. HB 2740 had its hearing on Wednesday in the Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice.

HB2793 - Parental Consent for Healthcare Services

HB 2793 had its hearing on Thursday, February 15 in the Committee on Health and Human Services. The bill prohibits healthcare providers from performing healthcare services on minors without parental consent. Thus, minors who wish to receive hormone therapy or other gender-affirming care must receive permission from their parents. Should a healthcare provider give services to a minor without parental consent, they will be subject to professional discipline by their licensing agency.

HB 2613 - Drug Abuse Resistance Education

HB 2613 changes current legislation to provide for an educator for the statewide drug abuse resistance education (D.A.R.E.) program. The educator will use the D.A.R.E. curriculum to educate public school students across the state on the effects of opioids such as fentanyl. In order to provide for such education, a drug abuse resistance education fund will be added to the state treasury, and money will be transferred to the D.A.R.E. fund from the Kansas endowment for youth fund. HB 2613 was recommended to be passed by the Committee on Education on Wednesday, the 14th.

HB 2588 - The Official State Locomotive

HB 2588 designates the Santa Fe #3415 as the official state locomotive. The bill passed the House on Thursday, the 15th, and it was moved to the Senate Committee on Utilities the next day.

Important Action in the Senate this Week!

This week, the Senate passed many bills–ranging from designating highways to requiring age verification–and next week's schedule is just as busy!

SB 142 - Drivers, Proceed with Caution

The Senate passed SB 142 in emergency final action on Thursday, February 15th, and the bill will now move on to the House committees. This bill requires that, when passing a stationary vehicle flashing hazard lights, drivers pass with care. Failure to do so when it is legal and safe will be penalized.

SB 414 - Increased Penalties for Fentanyl Distribution

On Thursday, February 15th, SB 414 passed in final action on the Senate floor. The purpose of this bill is to increase the current punishment for the unlawful issuance of any fentanyl controlled substance. SB 414 will now proceed to the House.

SB 419 - Increased Penalties for Endangering Children

Like SB 414, SB 419 also passed in the Senate in Emergency Final Action. This bill amends K.S.A. 21-5601 to increase penalties for harm to a child caused by fentanyl. The bill will now proceed to the House.

SB 420 - An Expectation of Privacy

Multiple hearings on SB 420 this week discussed the protections this bill provides. SB 420 states that secretly videoing or taking pictures of someone in a state of undress when an expectation of privacy is understood is defined as a breach of privacy. This bill removes wording such as “concealed” and “secret” to further protect people from being photographed through a window or filmed under their clothes.

SCR 1618 - Amendment to Section 4 of the Kansas Bill of Rights

On Tuesday, February 13th, SCR 1618 was introduced to the Senate and then referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs. This resolution amends Section 4 of the Kansas Bill of Rights to declare the right to bear arms a fundamental right–including the right to use ammunition and other components of a firearm. No hearing on this bill has been scheduled as yet.

SB 390 - Prohibiting Discrimination in Medical Treatment

SB 390 prohibits any form of discrimination against an individual who refuses medical treatment. It also creates cause for civil action to be brought against anyone who does discriminate based on the refusal. This bill also denies the power of the secretary of health and environment to demand that individuals quarantine or isolate. In fact, any such actions against an individual will be penalized. A hearing on this bill was held on Wednesday, February 14th.

SB 391 - Constitutional Right to Health Freedom Act

SB 391 acts upon the Constitutional Right to Health Freedom Act by prohibiting the secretary of health and environment from quarantining individuals and penalizing such quarantines. A hearing for this bill was held on Thursday, February 15th.

SB 453 - Property Tax and Social Security Exemptions

SB 453 excludes payments on social security and expands the eligibility for increased homestead property tax refund claims. The bill had a hearing on Thursday, February 15th.

Upcoming Action in the House

HB 2732 - Chaplains in Public Schools

HB 2732 allows Kansas public schools to employ chaplains and accept them as volunteers. Chaplains may support students and provide services and programs as directed by the board of education, the superintendent, or other designated administrators. Although chaplains will not be required to receive a teacher’s license, they will be required to pass the same background check as other school employees. HB 2732 will have its hearing in the Committee on Education on Monday, February 19th.

HB 2729 - Kansas Specie Legal Tender Act

On Wednesday, HB 2729 was referred to the Committee on Financial Institutions and Pensions. The bill encompasses both the Kansas Specie Legal Tender Act and the Kansas Bullion Depository Act. Similar to SB 303, the Kansas Specie Legal Tender Act rules that gold or silver coins and bullion (specie) are considered legal tender in Kansas. Additionally, HB 2729 allows online currency to be considered viable–provided it is backed by specie. In order to keep this specie safe, the Kansas Bullion Depository Act provides for secure depositories for gold and silver and limits the percentage of specie that the state of Kansas can invest in.

HB 2676 and HB 2488 - Criminalizing Encouraging Suicide

HB 2676 and HB 2488 both criminalize encouraging someone to attempt or commit suicide. While HB 2676 is more specific–addressing emotional manipulation and influence–HB 2488 targets the larger category of advising and encouraging suicide. Both bills emphasize the intentionality of the act, and both bills criminalize such actions. HB 2488 was heard in the Committee on Judiciary on January 31 and February 1, and HB 2488 was heard in the same committee on February 8. We look forward to seeing more action on these bills in upcoming weeks.

HB 2766 - The Kansas Land and Military Installation Protection Act

HB 2766, or the Kansas Land and Military Installation Protection Act, prohibits certain countries from investing in Kansas property. The act forbids companies, political entities, and citizens of historically hostile countries, meaning Venezuela, Cuba, China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran, from maintaining an interest in real property within a 150-mile radius of any military installations in Kansas. Persons and entities whose property fall into this category must divest that interest. HB 2766 was introduced and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Labor, and Economic Development on February 8. We look forward to hearing more about this bill in the coming weeks.

HB 2801 - New Laws on Electronic Cigarettes

HB 2801 puts in place regulations, requirements, and fees for manufacturers of electronic cigarettes. This bill will have its first hearing on Tuesday, February 20th.

HB 2803 - the Kansas Gun Rights Preservation Act

HB 2803 prohibits the use of state resources to enact federal gun control on law-abiding citizens. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Federal and State Affairs and awaits a hearing.

Upcoming Action in the Senate

SB 446 - Keeping Kansas Land Local

SB 446 proposes a policy to ban foreign individuals from obtaining Kansas property unless such ownership has been permitted by the state land council. This bill also creates the state land council, defining the membership, power, and duties of such council. SB 446 was heard in the Committee on Federal and State Affairs on February 7th, and we look forward to hearing more about it in the upcoming weeks.

SB 469 - Education Freedom

SB 469 establishes the Sunflower Education Equity Act. This bill takes a huge step toward bringing educational choice back to the parents and students, rather than allowing the State to control education. This bill establishes an education savings account for certain students. Additionally, SB 469 guarantees the parents' right to choose at what level their child needs to be because every child is unique, learns differently, and needs specific help. SB 469 had a hearing scheduled for Monday, February 19th, but that has been cancelled for the time being.

This Week's Events!

We are excited to have you all join us for our 6th meeting of the 2024 session! We will be meeting in David Kensinger's office on the fifth floor of 825 S. Kansas this Monday night, February 19th at 5 p.m.. Our guest speaker this week will be James Frank with Kansas Policy Institute who will be discussing tax policy! We look forward to seeing you all there!