Kansas House reports multiple bills favorably, including changes to 911 administration and new career campus at Lansing Penitentiary

The Kansas House of Representatives on Feb. 17 advanced a group of bills in Committee of the Whole and later adopted the committee report, directing several measures to be reported favorably for passage. The measures addressed 911 administration, veteran and military-related plates and benefits, a burn awareness week proclamation, county fair board appointments, driving-instructor licensing, memorial highway designations and a public'private career campus at Lansing Penitentiary.

The package was carried in committee and presented on the House floor by multiple members. Representative Hoffman presented House Bill 2,110, a trailer bill to align administration of 911 fee collections with the State Treasurer's office, create funds in the state treasury, and remove a $2,000,000 cap on the 911 grant fund. Representative Howell presented House Bill 2,170, designating February as Kansas Burn Awareness Week. Representative Ward presented House Bill 2,117 to modify business filing statutes to reduce rejections and fix technical issues. Representative Collins presented House Bill 2,031 to allow driving instructors licensed in other states to instruct in Kansas. Representative Van Houten presented House Bill 2,124 to designate a portion of U.S. Highway 160 as the Corporal Monty Wayne Forrest Memorial Highway (from the eastern city limits of Aragonia east to its junction with Eden Road) and reported an amendment (House Bill 2105) to designate a portion of U.S. Highway 77 as the POW-MIA Memorial Bridge near Milford Lake at Wakefield in Clay County. Representative Essex presented House Bill 2,169 to align eligibility and proof requirements for military veteran license plates with statutory changes made in 2024. Representative Wolf presented House Bill 2,185 to allow a National Guard member to designate a dependent to use unused earned credits toward a postsecondary degree or certificate, with funding to be available only after Guard member requests are satisfied and funds permit. Representative Collins presented House Bill 2,145 to allow the Butler County Commission to appoint five additional at-large members to its fair board. Representative Chuck Smith presented House Bill 2,215 to authorize a public'private career campus at Lansing Penitentiary with a 1:1 public/private funding match; the bill was described as taking effect July 1, 2025.

Floor procedure on each item followed a similar pattern: adoption of committee reports in the Committee of the Whole, a motion on the floor to report bills favorably, and a voice vote. Where the committee or standing committee had recommended that a bill be passed as amended, the committee report recorded that status and the House adopted the committee report.

Votes and formal actions were recorded as voice motions on the floor; specific numerical tallies or roll-call votes were not provided in the transcript. After the Committee of the Whole completed general orders, Representative Adam Smith moved adoption of the Committee of the Whole report; the motion carried and the committee report was adopted.

Bills and key provisions reported or passed (summary): - HB 2,110 (presented by Rep. Hoffman): Transfers the local collection point administrator role for 911 remittances to the State Treasurer, creates funds required before moving money into the state treasury, and removes the $2,000,000 cap on the 911 grant fund. Committee report: reported favorably. - HB 2,170 (Rep. Howell): Designates February as Kansas Burn Awareness Week. Committee report: reported favorably. - HB 2,117 (Rep. Ward): Makes technical changes to business filing statutes to reduce filing rejections; proponent testimony only (Secretary of State's office). Committee report: reported favorably. - HB 2,031 (Rep. Collins): Allows out-of-state holders of a valid driver's license to serve as driving instructors in Kansas (expanded from motorcycle instructors to all driving instructors at the Department of Revenue's request). Committee report: reported favorably. - HB 2,124 (Rep. Van Houten): Designates a portion of U.S. Highway 160 as the Corporal Monty Wayne Forrest Memorial Highway; co-discussed amendment HB 2105 designating a portion of U.S. Highway 77 as the POW-MIA Memorial Bridge. Committee report: reported favorably. - HB 2,169 (Rep. Essex): Clarifies eligibility and acceptable proof of service for distinctive military veteran license plates, aligning plate and driver's-license veteran designators; fiscal note reported as $1,200 to update agency forms/policies. Committee report: reported favorably. - HB 2,185 (Rep. Wolf): Allows a National Guard member to designate one dependent to use unused earned credits toward a postsecondary degree or certificate; funding for dependents is contingent on satisfying Guard member requests and available fund balance. Committee report: reported favorably. - HB 2,145 (Rep. Collins): Allows Butler County to appoint five additional at-large members to its fair board (increasing possible membership to 15). Committee report: reported favorably. - HB 2,215 (Rep. Chuck Smith): Authorizes development of a career campus at Lansing Penitentiary providing adult education, career and technical training, and college-credit opportunities; the project was described as a public'private project with a 1:1 funding match and an effective date of 07/01/2025. Committee report: reported favorably.

Why this matters: The bills advance administrative and commemorative measures (911 administration change, memorial designations, awareness week) and several measures with operational impact on veterans, National Guard families, workforce development for incarcerated adults, and county governance. The package does not, in the transcript, include recorded roll-call tallies or expenditure line-item detail beyond a small fiscal note on HB 2,169 and the stated funding-match terms for HB 2,215. The House adopted the Committee of the Whole report and moved these measures forward for subsequent consideration.

Next steps and procedural notes: Committee recommendations were read into the record and Representative Adam Smith moved adoption of the Committee of the Whole report; the House adopted the committee report by voice vote. Individual bills reported favorably will follow the regular legislative process for further readings and final disposition. Where the committee recommended passage "as amended," the committee report indicated that status; the transcript does not provide the full amendment text for each amended bill.

Ending note: The session concluded routine announcements and adjourned to reconvene Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 9:30 a.m. House committee referrals and temporary committee appointment changes were read as part of reports to the House.