Legislative Update Wk #3 - January 31, 2026
- Reily Goyne
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
By Reily Goyne, AIA Kansas Advocacy Manager
General Statehouse Update
Happy Kansas Day! On Thursday, January 29, the state celebrated its 165th birthday with cake, songs, and stories. Governor Laura Kelly, Patrick Zollner, ED of the Kansas State Historical Society, and Academy Award-winning American film director and screenwriter Kevin Willmott, a Kansas native, spoke to an excited crowd in the rotunda.
Committee Hearings
Tuesday, February 3
1:30 - Senate Commerce: SB 418 hearing
Wednesday, February 4
1:30 - Senate Commerce: SB 335 hearing
Thursday, February 5
Bills to Watch
If you have questions or suggestions about the following bills, please reach out to Reily Goyne.
SB 30 was replaced with the contents of SB 229, requiring the adoption of new occupational licenses and material changes to existing licenses to be approved by the legislature. These requirements do not apply to the State Board of Technical Professions, which licenses architects. The Senate Commerce Committee has an informational briefing on Thursday, January 22.
SB 148 excludes from sales taxation the service of installing or applying tangible personal property for the reconstruction, restoration, remodeling, renovation, repair, or replacement of a building or facility. It is in the Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee, and no hearing has been scheduled.
SB 222 prohibits deference to a state agency's interpretation of a statute, rule, or regulation, or document by a state court or an officer hearing an administrative action. It had a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee in 2025 and can be advanced at any time.
SB 229 requires the adoption of new occupational licenses and material changes to existing licenses to be approved by the legislature. These requirements do not apply to the State Board of Technical Professions, which licenses architects. It is in the House Commerce, Labor, and Economic Development Committee, and no hearing is scheduled.
SB 283 eliminates the Kansas Affordable Housing Tax Credit and other tax credit programs. It had a hearing in 2025 in the Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee.
SB 335 requires public construction contracts to include a mutual waiver of consequential damages. It has a hearing on Wednesday, February 3, in Senate Commerce.
SB 418 enacts the by-right housing development act to provide a streamlined permit approval process for by-right housing developments, allows third-party review of new residential construction development documents and inspection of improvements, requires political subdivisions to allow certain building provisions for single-family residences of a certain size, excludes owner initiated rezoning to a single-family residential district from protest petition provisions and provides for all land within the corporate limits of a city to be considered zoned for single-family residential use. It has a hearing in Senate Commerce on Tuesday, February 3.
HB 2099 permits periodic inspections by a city or county for code violations of private residential rental housing where the property owner is receiving governmental rental subsidies. It is in Senate Local Government, Transparency, and Ethics, and can advance at any time.
HB 2119 discontinues the Kansas affordable housing tax credit for qualified developments receiving a 4% federal tax credit. It is in Senate Commerce and can be amended or advanced at any time.
HB 2138 authorizes school districts to levy an annual tax of up to two mills for school building safety, security, and compliance with the Americans with disabilities act. It is in the House Education Committee, and no hearing is scheduled.
HB 2162 excludes from sales taxation the service of installing or applying tangible personal property for the reconstruction, restoration, remodeling, renovation, repair, or replacement of a building or facility. It is in the House Taxation Committee, and no hearing has been scheduled.
HB 2183 was replaced with the contents of SB 222, which prohibits deference to a state agency's interpretation of a statute, rule, or regulation, or document by a state court or an officer hearing an administrative action. If the House votes to pass the bill as amended, it would go to the Governor for her signature or veto.
HB 2274 removes the active requirement from military servicemembers for occupational licensure. It has a hearing on Thursday, February 4, in the Select Committee on Veterans Affairs.
HB 2328 provides an exception to restrictions on prison-made housing units to allow the Secretary of Corrections to establish a program for delivering such units into designated areas. It is in the House Committee on Interstate Cooperation and has not had a hearing.
HB 2465 enacts the professionals' freedom of expression act to provide protection for professionals and businesses against adverse action as a result of an expression of beliefs of such professional or business that is unrelated to such profession or business. It is in the House Commerce, Labor, and Economic Development Committee, and no hearing has been set.
HB 2588 establishes statewide electrician licensing by the board of technical professions. It has a hearing on Thursday, February 4, in the House Commerce, Labor, and Economic Development Committee.
Request For Participation on Housing Affordability
Promoting Housing Affordability through I-Codes
The International Code Council (ICC) recently established an Advisory Committee for the Housing Affordability Study: Promoting Housing Affordability through the I-Codes. This initiative is currently in the information-gathering phase, and AIA strongly encourages your participation.
As an architect, your voice is essential to ensuring that affordable housing strategies remain grounded in design excellence. This study, led by Clemson University, Western Michigan University, and San Jose State University, evaluates how the I-Codes impact housing costs and delivery.
Specifically, this initiative seeks to assess the International Residential Code (IRC) to identify revisions that:
Reduce costs and simplify the code without compromising life safety;
Improve clarity and implementation in the field; and
Enhance overall quality and accessibility.
Please take a moment to complete the questionnaire to ensure the architect's perspective is represented in this critical national study: Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management
Cities and counties have advisory boards and commissions making decisions for their communities, and these groups are a great way to get involved in your community. Below is a list of boards with vacancies in the largest Kansas cities. Visit your city's website regularly to see any future openings, or email Reily Goyne if you would like assistance identifying opportunities.
Downtown Business Improvement District Advisory Board
Historic Resources Board
NOTO Business Improvement District Advisory Board
Affordable Housing Trust Fund Review Committee
Topeka Sustainability Advisory Board
Landmarks Commission
Board of Code Standards and Appeals
Community Service Block Grant Review Committee
Wichita Sustainability Integration Board
Wichita/Sedgwick County Access Advisory Board
About AIA Kansas
AIA Kansas is a state chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
The organization provides services and programs to meet the professional development needs and interests of Kansas architects and to develop public awareness for the value of architects and architecture.
Our 650-plus members are leaders in building healthy, sustainable communities that will serve our citizens into the future.
www.aiaks.org | 785-357-5308 | info@aiaks.org
