Education committee approves HB 2489 with naloxone and fentanyl‑education requirements; amendment to include private schools fails

The House Committee on Education voted to advance House Bill 2489 as amended after debate about implementation and funding for school naloxone supplies and fentanyl education.

Jason, the committee revisor, summarized the changes already adopted in earlier work: adding local health departments as entities with which school districts may cooperate to deliver programs and striking section 3 so the Kansas Fights Addiction Fund statute (75‑7‑77) remains unchanged. "Amendment was adopted and on page 1 in line 23 to include local health departments as, entities that a school district may work in cooperation with, to deliver such programs," he told the committee.

Committee members discussed a later amendment proposed to require accredited nonpublic (private) schools to comply with the same provisions as public school districts and to allow them access to the Kansas Fights Addiction Fund. The chair called the question on that amendment; after voice votes the chair announced, "The no's appear to have it," indicating the amendment failed. Several representatives requested a recorded vote; the transcript does not include a recorded tally.

Following that action, a motion to pass HB 2489 as amended was made and the committee approved the bill. The transcript shows the motion was moved ("So moved") and the committee voted in favor; a formal roll‑call tally is not recorded in the provided transcript.

Committee members repeatedly raised implementation concerns: who will store and maintain naloxone in schools, whether teachers will be expected to assume additional responsibilities, and how training will be provided. The chair and witnesses pointed to existing grant mechanisms and available settlement funds as funding sources for procurement and training.

Next steps: the committee advanced HB 2489 as amended; the transcript does not show the bill's next scheduled floor or calendar placement.