Encourages Kansans to continue to shop local, signs five additional bills yesterday

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed several bills yesterday, including one that provides support to local licensed retail liquor stores and the Kansas citizens who own them.

“Throughout my years of serving in the Legislature, I have supported our licensed retail liquor stores and the Kansas citizens who own them,” Kelly said. “I know that April 1 has brought new challenges as well as new opportunities for these small Kansas-owned businesses.”

House Bill 2035 simplifies the tax duties of licensed retail liquor stores, as it relates to the sale of cereal malt beverages and strong beer products. It also provides for uniform law enforcement under the New Beer Law that became effective on April 1, 2019. This legislation will become effective upon its publication in the Kansas Register.

“I encourage Kansas shoppers to continue to choose to shop at local businesses where the profits and tax dollars support the local economy,” Kelly said.

The governor signed five additional bills yesterday, bringing the total number of bills signed in the 2019 Legislative Session to 18, with one being vetoed. By law, the Kansas governor has 10 calendar days to sign bills into law, veto bills or allow bills to become law without her signature.

House Bill 2104
Amending the statute governing tests related to driving under the influence (DUI), effective July 1, 2019, to amend the oral and written notice a law enforcement officer must provide when requesting a person take such a test. Specifically, the bill clarifies that refusal to submit to and complete the test or tests will result in suspension of the person’s driving privileges for a period of one year and test failure will result in suspension of the person’s driving privileges for a period of 30 days or one year.

The bill also amends preliminary screening tests and implied consent advisories. This legislation will become effective upon its publication in the Kansas Register.

House Bill 2201
Updating statutory references necessitated by 2012 Executive Reorganization Order No. 41 by transferring the powers, duties and functions of the Tuberculosis Control Program for the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). This legislation will become effective on July 1, 2019.

House Bill 2211
Allowing courts to waive or reduce driver’s license reinstatement fees if they find payment of the assessed amount would impose manifest hardship on that person or that person’s immediate family. This legislation will become effective on July 1, 2019.

Senate Bill 90
Allowing financial institutions to claim the Center for Entrepreneurship tax credit and increasing the annual tax credit limit that can be claimed. This legislation will become effective on July 1, 2019.

Senate Bill 94
Establishing a minimum course duration of four hours for motor vehicle accident prevention courses, requiring the course to utilize a driver training curriculum recognized by a state or federal agency, and other technical changes. This legislation will become effective on July 1, 2019.