Kansas House approves a string of bills during conference week; key votes include driver‑instructor, concealed‑carry and utility liability measures

The Kansas House on Tuesday passed a package of bills during conference week, recording final action and roll‑call votes on measures affecting driver‑instructor licensure, concealed‑carry procedures, critical‑infrastructure trespass definitions, utility liability for law‑enforcement equipment on utility poles, and several education and finance items.

The most lopsided vote was on House Bill 2,031, a measure that would allow driving instructors to hold a driver's license issued by any state; the House recorded 121 votes in favor and 0 against, and the House sponsor said the Senate amendment to make the measure effective in the Kansas Register rather than in the statute book ‘‘is a good change’’ because it will allow the policy to be in effect before summer driver‑training starts. House Bill 2,052, addressing provisional concealed‑carry licenses and related processes, passed 105 in favor and 17 opposed. House Bill 2,061, which expands the definition of critical infrastructure facilities in trespass statutes, passed 110‑12.

Law‑enforcement equipment on utility poles was the subject of House Bill 2,109, which the House approved 78‑44. The sponsor described the Senate changes as simplifying the bill; a member raising Fourth‑Amendment concerns urged the body not to concur with the Senate amendment, but the motion to concur passed. The body also approved HB 2,195 (creating the Kansas Technical College Operating Grant Fund) 122‑0 and HB 2,152 (PMIB modernization and related banking provisions) 117‑5.

Votes at a glance

- HB 2,031 (driver‑instructor licensure): House concurred with Senate amendment and passed on final action,…