Committee work wound to its high point this week as we approach the “turnaround” deadline. Committees will still meet on Monday, but all bills must be passed out and on the full chamber for debate before the full House the rest of the week.

Bills need to get out of their chamber of origin this week to be passed (or turned around) to the other chamber for consideration before the general session concludes the end of March.

The Insurance and Pension committee continued hearings and passed out several bills. I expect these to be among issues debated on the House Floor this week.

HB 2510 adjusts requirements to insurance general funds to provide flexibility for companies to manage risk and return, especially in the current environment where they are facing increasing interest rates. Equity holdings are allowed to go from a maximum of 15 percent to a maximum of 20 percent and regulatory requirements are reduced.

HB 2547 amends to Captive Insurance Act to allow a Technology-Enabled Fiduciary Financial Institution to operate in Kansas and insure risks in their portfolios using in-kind investments. We are excited about the growth potential of this industry. This will help Kansas to continue to hold a competitive advantage for these companies.

HB 2110 moves the insurance mandate covering Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome forward to a pilot test within the state employee health plan next year. This well let us assess the cost and whether to move this coverage into other insurance plans in the future.

Reducing debt is one of the biggest priorities determined by Kansans and legislators on both sides of the aisle. HB 2561 is the bill that would reduce our KPERS debt by $1 billion.

We debated 11 bills on the House floor that passed unanimously or nearly unanimously. While this is common on a majority of our bills, those where we have agreement generally don’t make headlines. The bills included two adjustments to the provisions governing our Technology-Enabled Fiduciary Financial Institutions Act, naming sections of highways, authorizing construction of a memorial honoring our Gold Star Families, amending the definition of “project” related to the diversion of water acquired through a water transfer and requiring the insurance department to hold a hearing in certain cases.

If you would like more information on these or any other issues, please contact my office at (785) 296-7696 or e-mail at steven.johnson@house. ks.gov.

I look forward to hearing from everyone who attends the legislative forum Saturday at Wilson.

I was fortunate to have another pair of pages work with me Tuesday in the Capitol. Gina McGowan brought her son Cooper and Ethan Tully from Ellsworth. Gina is very familiar with Topeka and the Capitol from her work with the Kansas Association of School Boards. It is always a pleasure to engage with students and leaders from our district.

Have a great week!