Legislative Update Wk #8 - March 7, 2026
- 5 days ago
- 6 min read
By Reily Goyne, AIA Kansas Advocacy Manager
General Statehouse Update
There are only two weeks left for non-exempt committees to hold hearings and pass bills out to the House or Senate Chambers. There are still a few major issues to be settled this session, including property tax reform, the state budget, and some legislation to facilitate the Kansas City Chiefs' move to Kansas.
Senate Passes Budget After Protracted Debate
The Senate stayed late on Tuesday, March 3, to debate and pass its budget proposal. Twenty-five amendments were proposed, but only a handful were accepted. One of the biggest proposed amendments came from gubernatorial candidate Sen. Cindy Holscher(D-Overland Park), whose $24 million increase in special education funding was rejected 9-31 on a party-line vote. Senate Vice President Tim Shallenberger (R-Baxter Springs) proposed a pay increase for state employees, which was also rejected. Meanwhile, Sen. Joe Claeys (R-Wichita) successfully passed an amendment adding $1 million to fund public transportation in Wichita.
House Passes Bill Requiring Mutual Waiver of Consequential Damages in Public Contracts
The House Commerce, Labor, and Economic Development Committee passed SB 335 with no discussion on Tuesday, February 3. On Thursday, the House Committee of the Whole took up the bill, where progress was less swift (watch here).
Rep. Pam Curtis (D-Kansas City) brought forward an amendment to allow cities and counties to place wage and compensation requirements in their public construction contracts. However, the amendment was ruled not germane to the bill because it expanded the bill’s scope from damages to include prevailing wages. SB 335 was passed 84-34.
SB 335 now goes to Governor Laura Kelly for her signature or veto.
House Committee Hears Bill to Increase Housing Development
On Wednesday, March 4, the House Commerce, Labor, and Economic Development Committee heard SB 418, a bill that seeks to increase housing development by reducing regulations and speeding up permitting timelines (watch here).
The bill would:
Require approval of all single-family homes, townhomes, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) if they meet zoning and land-use requirements
Allow cities to use third-party reviewers of residential documents and inspections of developments, provided that the reviewers are qualified as described in the bill
Require cities to allow single-family homes with less than 2,000 square feet of living space to be built to the 2018 International Residential Code
Require all land zoned for residential use within a city’s limits to permit single-family homes
Amend the ability for owners to initiate a protest petition against single-family residential development
Thirty-five individuals and organizations submitted testimony on the bill. Proponents include homebuilders and national think tanks, while cities presented neutral or opposition testimony. Several of those testifying indicated that there will be further amendments to move the neutral and opponent conferees to the proponent or neutral side. AIA Kansas is closely monitoring this bill to ensure its scope does not expand.
Senate Committee Hears Bill on Fire Safety in Multiunit Residences
The Senate Commerce Committee heard HB 2739 on Wednesday, March 4, and Thursday, March 5. HB 2739 allows townhomes with up to four attached residences to use a 2-hour fire-resistance-rated separation wall between units, rather than requiring fire sprinklers.
The home builders and a coalition of Kansas developers testified in favor of the bill, citing a memo released last year by the Office of the State Fire Marshal that halted development of a housing development in Garden City funded by Moderate Income Housing grants. The Association of Fire Marshals and the Kansas Association of Fire Chiefs, as well as fire chiefs from Lenexa and McPherson, testified in opposition to the bill, saying that allowing multi-unit residences to be built without fire sprinklers poses a risk to lives and property.
Several conferees pointed to the outdated state fire codes as a significant contributor to the problem, with some going so far as to ask the Committee for a legislative solution to bring the state’s fire code within the past two iterations, per FEMA best practices.
Several amendments will likely be brought forward, and AIA Kansas will continue monitoring to ensure that the balance between affordable housing development and life safety is maintained.
Committees Hearings
Thursday (3.12.2026) - DAY 60
9:30 AM - Senate Local Government, Transparency, and Ethics: Home inspections information hearing
1:30 PM - Senate Commerce: HB 2588 hearing
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. It was amended in conference committee to include the Board of Technical Professions. The House approved the new language and sent it to the Senate for a vote.
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 has a hearing on Tuesday, March 10, in the Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee.
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 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 passed the House 84-34 on Thursday, March 5, and goes to the Governor for her signature or veto.
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 residential land within the corporate limits of a city to be considered zoned for single-family residential use. It had a hearing on Wednesday, March 4, in House Commerce, Labor, and Economic Development.
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 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 had a hearing on Wednesday, February 25, in the House Taxation Committee.
HB 2588 establishes statewide electrician licensing by the Office of the State Fire Marshal. It has a hearing on Thursday, March 12, in the Senate Commerce Committee.
HB 2739 prohibits municipalities from requiring fire sprinklers in multifamily residential dwellings up to four units. It had a hearing on Wednesday, March 4 in the Senate Commerce Committee.
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
