The Kansas Legislature will reconvene Wednesday (5/1) for the veto session. Two KLA legislative priorities remain to be finalized.
KLA was successful in convincing the House and Senate to recommend $250,000 for the second year of the CattleTrace disease traceability pilot project in each chamber’s fiscal year 2020 budget. Prior to the end of regular session, negotiators failed to reach agreement on the budget conference committee report reconciling the House and Senate versions. Final action on the budget must occur prior to the end of the veto session. KLA will work to ensure funding for CattleTrace remains in the final budget.
HB 2248, which would allow all-terrain vehicles and utility vehicles on state and federal highways for agricultural use, was repackaged in the conference committee report (CCR) for SB 63. The CCR passed the House 121-20 during the final days of regular session. However, the Legislature adjourned before the Senate could take up the CCR. KLA expects it to be taken up by the Senate during the veto session and believes passage is likely as the bill previously passed the Senate on a unanimous vote. Passage of the CCR would send the bill to Gov. Laura Kelly for her consideration.
During the April recess, Gov. Kelly allowed HB 2209 to become law without her signature. HB 2209 contains authorization for association healthcare plans (AHP) and the Kansas Farm Bureau (KFB) health benefit plan. The AHP provision in the bill will become effective upon publication in the Kansas Register and allow associations to offer health insurance to their members through a large group plan to help lower insurance costs for Kansas businesses. Authorization for the health benefit plan will take effect July 1 and allow KFB to offer a healthcare product to members that is not compliant with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). It is expected to help lower the cost of healthcare for those who may not qualify for subsidies under ACA and provide choices outside of the ACA marketplace by driving competition and lowering costs.