Legislative Update Wk #9 - March 14, 2026
- Mar 14
- 7 min read
By Reily Goyne, AIA Kansas Advocacy Manager
AIA Kansas Government Affairs Committee Opposes HB 2798
After communicating with the Government Affairs Committee (GAC), AIA Kansas is opposing HB 2798, legislation that would significantly change how the state’s research universities manage capital projects and procurement. The bill was introduced on Wednesday, March 11, and scheduled for a hearing on Thursday, March 12, in the House Higher Education Budget Committee (watch here).
The bill would give the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, and Wichita State University broad authority to handle contracts, property transactions, and construction projects while exempting them from many state oversight and procurement requirements. The universities would instead operate under their own policies approved by the Kansas Board of Regents.
AIA Kansas is concerned that the legislation removes important safeguards that help ensure transparency, fair competition, and the continued use of qualifications-based selection for architectural and engineering services. These standards are critical to maintaining quality design and responsible use of public resources.
AIA Kansas is collaborating with the American Council of Engineering Companies, Kansas Chapter, and the Associated General Contractors of Kansas to lobby for an amendment to HB 2798 to strike the provisions of the bill that would exempt universities from following the Qualifications-Based Selection statutes.
General Statehouse Update
A plan to lower property taxes remains elusive as the House rejects the Senate’s proposed constitutional amendment and the Senate skips debating the House’s protest petition bill. Legislators want to deliver a tax reduction to voters as they prepare for their reelection campaigns this summer.
Next week, a few committees will meet on Monday and Tuesday, while the rest of the week is dedicated to floor action. Friday is the deadline for non-exempt bills to pass out of the second chamber to remain alive.
House Committee Amends, Passes Bill to Increase Housing Development
On Monday, March 9, the House Commerce, Labor, and Economic Development Committee amended and passed out SB 418 (watch here), which would:
Require approval of all single-family homes, townhomes, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) if they meet existing zoning and land-use requirements.
Allow cities to use third-party reviewers for residential documents and development inspections, 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 (IRC).
Require all land zoned for residential use within a city’s limits to permit single-family homes.
Amend the law to prohibit owners from initiating a protest petition against single-family residential development.
Rep. Rui Xu (D-Westwood) brought an amendment that:
Increases the timeline from 15 to 30 days
Reduces the maximum square footage for the provision that requires single-family homes to comply with the 2018 IRC from 3,000 to 2,000. Single-family homes larger than 2,000 sq ft are subject to local IRC requirements.
It now goes to the House Committee of the Whole for a floor debate and vote. It must be passed by the House next week to remain alive.
KU Requests Bonding Authority for Architecture Facility Improvements
The University of Kansas appeared before the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Thursday, March 12, to request authority to issue up to $60 million in bonds to modernize facilities for its School of Architecture and Design (watch here). Updated facilities are needed to expand studio space and consolidate programs.
KU Chancellor Doug Girod told lawmakers the university would repay the bonds itself, emphasizing the request does not seek state funding, only legislative approval to pursue bonding.
KU officials noted that the architecture program is more than 100 years old and now enrolls over 1,000 students, about half of whom are from out of state. The program is known for its design-build studio model, where students design and construct real structures while earning their degrees.
The university has already raised $14 million in private funding toward the project and hopes to reach $20 million in donations as part of the overall financing plan of the $76 million project.
Senate Tax Committee Hears Bill Eliminating Sales Tax on Labor to Remodel Commercial Property
On Tuesday, March 10, the Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee heard SB 148 (watch here). SB 148 eliminates the sales tax on labor for remodeling and renovating commercial properties. Labor for the construction of new buildings or the remodeling and renovation of residential buildings is already exempt from sales tax.
Former Representative Mark Hutton, Hutton Construction, and Jason Watkins, on behalf of the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce, testified in support of the bill, and several others submitted written testimony in support. AIA Kansas/FOHP will continue to monitor the progress of SB 148 and its companion bill HB 2162, which had a hearing in February.
Senate Commerce Committee Hears Testimony on Statewide Electrician Licensure
On Thursday, March 12, the Senate Commerce Committeeheard HB 2588, which creates a statewide electrician licensing system administered by the Office of the State Fire Marshal (watch here).
While everyone supported the goal of reciprocity and fewer administrative paperwork and fees, opponents were concerned that the bill would preempt local governments from setting their own requirements based on local codes, which vary widely.
HB 2588 must pass the Senate by next Friday to remain alive.
Committees Hearings for Next Week
Monday (3.16.2026) - DAY 64
1:30 - House Higher Education Budget: HB 2798 discussion and action
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 had 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. Governor Kelly signed it into law on Thursday, March 12.
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 had a hearing on Thursday, March 12, in the Senate Commerce Committee.
HB 2739 prohibits municipalities from requiring fire sprinklers in multifamily residential dwellings with up to four units. It had a hearing on Wednesday, March 4, in the Senate Commerce Committee.
HB 2798 exempts KU, K-State, and Wichita State from certain statutory requirements and Board of Regents oversight regarding procurement and contracts, including for architectural design, engineering, and construction services. It had a hearing on Thursday, March 12, in the House Higher Education Budget Committee, and will be worked on and voted out on Monday, March 16.
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 or soon to be vacant positions in the largest Kansas cities. Visit your city's website regularly to see any future openings, or email Reily Goyneif you would like assistance identifying opportunities.
Code Appeals Board
Downtown Business Improvement District Advisory Board
Historic Resources Board
Manhattan Urban Area Planning Board
NOTO Business Improvement District Advisory Board
Affordable Housing Trust Fund Review Committee
Topeka Sustainability Advisory Board
Topeka Land Bank
Topeka Shawnee County Riverfront Authority Board
Landmarks Commission
Park Board
Board of Code Standards and Appeals
Community Service Block Grant Review Committee
Delano Design Advisory Committee
District Advisory Boards
Historic Preservation Board
Metropolitan Area Planning Commission
Wichita Land Bank Board of Trustees
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
