Commission hears legislative update on bills affecting regulatory boards and licensing rules

Staff provided the commission with a legislative update summarizing several bills that could affect regulatory-board membership rules, renewal timelines and other administrative requirements.

Staff described SB0886 as a bill that would remove language encouraging appointing authorities to seek racial-minority representation on regulatory boards; the transcript indicates the bill passed the legislature on April 7, 2025, and was enrolled for the speaker’s signature on April 8, 2025, after which it will be forwarded to the governor. Staff said they would provide more information in June.

Another bill discussed (referred to in the materials as the "Less Is More Act" and cited in the record with a shorthand similar to "KSC 1316") was described as proposing changes to provisions about out-of-town meetings, renewal penalties and expiration windows. Staff said the bill had amendments under negotiation, including changing some proposed two-year expiration or lapse windows back toward one year, and that the measure remained pending in the General Assembly.

Staff also summarized SB0226/HB0470 (referred to in the transcript as a professionals’ Freedom of Religion Act). That bill would have limited adverse administrative action by boards for religious or moral beliefs and would have required certain real-estate organizations not to bar membership based on such beliefs. The presenter said that bill had been taken off notice and would not move forward at that time.

Staff told commissioners that, if enacted, some of these bills would require at least one rulemaking package for the commission and that the staff would provide further updates as the legislative session progressed.

The commission did not vote on any of these bills during the meeting; the item was an informational update from staff.