Kansas House advances dozen-plus bills, adopts constitutional amendment on agency rules

TOPEKA — The Kansas House on Feb. 20 completed final action on a wide package of bills and adopted a proposed constitutional amendment that would give the Legislature a formal mechanism to revoke administrative rules adopted by executive-branch agencies.

House members spent much of the day on routine final actions by roll call, but several bills produced extended debate, amendments and sharply divided votes.

The most contested measure was House Concurrent Resolution 5008, a proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution that would let the Legislature adopt a concurrent resolution to revise or revoke administrative rules and regulations. Supporters described the change as a restoration of legislative oversight over what they call rulemaking by unelected officials. Representative Ron Wasinger, chief sponsor in the House, said the amendment would let elected legislators “stop legislating by regulation.” Opponents characterized the proposal as a partisan power shift that would weaken separation of powers and could inject the Legislature into technical or time-sensitive administrative matters. Representative Osman said the plan was “usurping power from the executive branch.” The resolution passed the House 86 to 37.

The House also debated and amended a number of other bills that drew extended discussion:

- Concealed-carry and licensing (House Bill 2,052). Representative Blake Carpenter said the bill “fixes that loophole that was never the intent of the law,” referring to a statutory quirk that had prevented people who obtained a provisional…