The Governor , who has shown a willingness to work across the aisle on some issues , will need to exercise bipartisan efforts as she again faces a deeply Red legislature . We ’ ll soon see how record reserves and election year politics influence 2024 . •
ADVOCACY
Republican-led legislature will resist those ideas in favor of reductions in corporate and individual income taxes , including a measure that would migrate Kansas from three tax brackets to a single , lower rate .
POLICY DEBATES AHEAD
Beyond the politics of taxing and spending , we anticipate seeing several other policy debates which will grab the headlines this session . After the failure of the Value Them Both constitutional amendment last year and a 2023 court order blocking some existing abortion laws , there may be renewed , creative attempts that legislators may pursue regarding abortion and increased adoption access .
Republican legislative leaders continue to signal that they plan their ongoing pursuit of policies creating more transparency in K-12 public schools and giving parents more choices in where they send their kids to school . Further , look for so-called medical marijuana to be in the mix . Kansas remains one of the few states that does not allow medical or recreational marijuana .
Finally , we anticipate legislation health-related legislation on matters such as childhood vaccinations and restrictions on so-called “ gender-affirming care ” for minors .
On matters directly impacting agents and brokers and the insurance industry , we expect this session to be relatively quiet . However , KAIA joins the business community in negotiations with labor advocates on adjusting and updating certain provisions in Kansas workers ’ compensation laws . At this point , it is unclear if the discussions will bear legislative fruit in the 2024 session .
Regarding legal reform , we expect there to be renewed efforts to restrict frivolous lawsuits in light of the Kansas Supreme Court decision tossing out caps on non-economic damages . KAIA continues to partner with the business community on the issue of third party-financed lawsuits .
Further , legislation relaxing the continuing education requirements for certain agent licensure remains alive from the 2023 session . and KAIA will continue to navigate a path forward on understanding what has driven the rising costs of Motor Vechicle Records ( MVRs ) in recent years , including who is making those decisions and how we can reduce this expense for members .
Finally , the Kansas Insurance Department ( KID ) has indicated that they plan to introduce several items impacting our profession . In addition to the annual perfunctory bills they file , KID also plans to pursue legislation giving them flexibility to lower fees and legislation to downsize some of the boards and authorities KID oversees .
THE LANDSCAPE
Republicans continue to enjoy a supermajority in the House and Senate which provides enough votes to potentially override any veto made by Democrat Governor Laura Kelly – the legislature successfully exercised this override power on some key issues last session . But , in her second term , Governor Kelly has become familiar with contending with a Republicancontrolled legislature .
The Governor , who has shown a willingness to work across the aisle on some issues , will need to exercise bipartisan efforts as she again faces a deeply Red legislature . We ’ ll soon see how record reserves and election year politics influence 2024 . •
Dan Murray serves as KAIA lobbyist and as state director of the National Federation of Independent Business . For the last nine years , Murray has been a partner at Devine , Donley & Murray Governmental Affairs .
Prior to his work in government relations , Murray was a Captain in the U . S . Army , where he was Brigade Fire Support Planner before and during the 4th Infantry Division ’ s deployment in Al Dour , Iraq . He holds a master ’ s degree in public administration from the University of Kansas and earned his bachelor ’ s degree in American politics from the U . S . Military Academy at West Point .
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2023
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