Committee advances weights-and-measures rewrite, removes annual EV-charger testing and adds app-pricing complaint authority

The Kansas Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on Monday passed House Bill 2255 as amended, a rewrite of the state's weights-and-measures laws that also addresses electric vehicle charging equipment and gives the Department of Agriculture a limited role to receive complaints about online retail pricing and app availability.

The bill undertakes a reorganization and cleanup of the weights-and-measures chapter and changes fee provisions; it also initially included new sections requiring annual testing and inspection of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) used commercially. Reviser Lawrence summarized the bill for the committee as “a reorganization and cleanup of the weights and measures chapter of law” and said it would “change the fees for weights and measures” and “include and establish the requirements for electric vehicle supply equipment that is commercially used.”

Committee members adopted two key amendments before voting the bill out. Senator Titus offered and the committee approved an amendment expanding the department’s authority to accept complaints related to online ordering apps and price-checking, described by Titus as intended to give consumers a place to raise concerns when products or lower-priced store-brand items appear available in-store but not through the store’s app. Titus said she envisioned the change as “solely a complaint based process” and that the Department of Agriculture had indicated it was comfortable with the language. The motion to adopt that amendment was made by Senator Titus and seconded by Senator Ware and carried by voice vote.

The committee also approved a substitute motion, offered by…