Committee advances a slate of House bills; navigable‑river measure fails in committee
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Summary
At the Committee on Local Government’s pre‑turnaround meeting lawmakers acted on several House bills: HB 2363 (conservation easement local review) received no motion and dies; HB 2495 (navigable rivers) failed in committee; HB 2698 (animal seizure authority), HB 2539 (Eudora library district elections), HB 2634 (landlord maintenance code), and HB 2571 (municipal cost‑sharing for roads, as amended) were passed out of committee.
The Committee on Local Government took final or procedural action on multiple House bills following its hearing on SB 146.
HB 2363: Revisor summarized HB 2363 as a proposal to require county or city approval for proposed conservation easements and to route proposed easements to the relevant planning commission for review. The committee took no motion on the bill and the chair noted that it will die after this meeting if not acted on.
HB 2495: The committee considered a substitute for HB 2495 that would authorize county commissions to adopt resolutions regulating activities within specified navigable rivers, including dry channels, and included language amending criminal trespass statute 21‑5808. Members debated home‑rule authority, public access, and enforcement; after discussion the substitute was moved but the noes carried in the committee vote and the bill failed in committee.
HB 2698: The committee reviewed HB 2698, which would authorize courts to order seizure and disposal of animals where owners violate county animal control resolutions or where animals pose a substantial threat to public health, safety or welfare. After discussion and questions about scope and due process the motion to pass HB 2698 out favorably carried.
HB 2539: Members amended HB 2539, which amends the statute establishing the Eudora Community Library District, to change elections from even‑numbered to odd‑numbered years to align with Kansas local practice. The amendment was adopted and the bill, as amended, passed out of committee (the record noted one abstention or negative vote but did not specify which).
HB 2634: The committee considered HB 2634, which requires landlords to comply with applicable municipal maintenance codes or, where none exist, default to the International Property Maintenance Code of 2012. After debate about whether it creates additional regulatory burden, members moved and passed the bill out favorably.
HB 2571: Revisor and members discussed HB 2571 to require cost‑sharing agreements when a road or street is abutted by two municipalities; a balloon amendment added a deadline (agreements to be executed by 01/01/2027 or within 180 days for subsequent applicability). The amendment was adopted and the bill passed out favorably.
Votes at a glance (committee record): HB 2363 — no motion (dies); HB 2495 — substitute failed in committee; HB 2698 — passed out favorably; HB 2539 — amended and passed (one member recorded an abstention or negative vote, not specified); HB 2634 — passed out favorably; HB 2571 — amended (180‑day requirement) and passed out favorably.
What happens next: Bills that passed the committee will move forward per the legislative calendar; SB 146 will return to committee for final action after turnaround.