Several bills passed through the Kansas House this week. Below is a list detailing some of these bills – to see all activity on the House floor this week, please click here: http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2017_18/chamber/journals/
Wildfire Relief Bill: HB 2387, an act concerning sales and compensating use tax; exemption for repairing, rebuilding or replacing certain property destroyed by wildfires.
Tax: HB 2162, an act concerning sales taxation; relating to time for payment of tax.
Ad Astra Rural Jobs Act: HB 2168, an act concerning rural economic development; enacting the ad astra rural jobs act.
Health: SB 32, an act relating to mental health care; medical student and resident loan assistance; medical student loan agreements; practice commitment agreements; providing for agreements for the practice of psychiatry; establishing the psychiatry medical loan repayment fund and the rural health bridging psychiatry fund; concerning mental healthcare facilities.
Campaign Finance: Sub HB 2223, an act concerning campaign finance reports for members of the legislature and reports by lobbyists; dealing with civil penalties for late filing of such reports.
State of the Judiciary
On Wednesday, the Kansas Supreme Court justices and the Kansas Court of Appeals judges appeared at the Capitol building to give the State of the Judiciary on the House floor.
Chief Justice Lawton Nuss addressed both the House and Senate, speaking on the troubles facing the courts and their employees, raising awareness of the court’s proposal to raise their budget. This is the first time the Supreme Court has appeared at the Capitol to give the State of the Judiciary since 2012. Due to prior tension with a conservative-dominated legislature, the address has been held at the Judicial Center the last few years. The new House Speaker, Ron Ryckman, re-extended the invitation to the House floor this year.
Resolution for Olathe Shooting
On Thursday, the Kansas House adopted a resolution honoring the life of Srinivas Kuchibhotla and recognizing a united community and state. The resolution condemned the recent shooting in Olathe: “These evil acts do not define us, and they will not divide us.”
The surviving victims of the shooting stood in front of the House chamber to be honored as the resolution was adopted. Read the resolution here. http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2017_18/measures/hr6023/
Upcoming Events
Legislative Update, Saturday, March 18, 9:30 a.m. at the Pittsburg Public Library.
With the arrival of spring next week, the K-State Research and Extension Office, Southwind District, are offering several gardening workshops:
Herbs – from seed to seasoning workshops. Click here for additional information: http://www.southwind.k-state.edu/docs/Herbs.pdf
Grow it, Prepare it 2017 events—click here for additional information: http://www.southwind.k-state.edu/docs/2017%20Grow%20It%20Prepare%20It.pdf
Pie & Coffee Series—click here for additional information: http://www.southwind.k-state.edu/docs/2017%20Pie%20and%20Coffee%20Series.pdf
Pasture Weed Control—click here for additional information: http://www.southwind.k-state.edu/docs/Pasture%20Weed%20Control%20Flyer%202017.pdf
It is a special honor to serve as your state representative. I both value and need your input on the various issues facing state government. Please feel free to contact me with your comments and questions. My office address is Room 50-S, 300 SW 10th, Topeka, KS 66612. You can reach me at (785) 296-7698 or call the legislative hotline at 1-800-432-3924 to leave a message for me. Additionally, you can e-mail me at adam.lusker@house.ks.gov. You can also follow the legislative session online at www.kslegislature.org.