Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2228

Introduced
2/4/25  
Refer
2/4/25  
Report Pass
2/14/25  
Engrossed
2/25/25  
Refer
2/26/25  
Report Pass
3/19/25  
Refer
3/25/25  
Refer
3/25/25  
Enrolled
4/10/25  

Caption

Senate Substitute for HB 2228 by Committee on Judiciary - Requiring that a political subdivision hold an open meeting to discuss a contingency fee contract for legal services before approving such contract and requiring the attorney general to approve such contracts.

Impact

The implementation of HB 2228 introduces new transparency requirements for political subdivisions in Kansas. By enforcing these open meeting protocols, the bill aims to ensure that the process behind selecting attorneys for legal representation is more visible and accountable to the public. Additionally, the requirement for approval from the attorney general adds an extra layer of oversight, ensuring that such contracts do not conflict with state interests or legal standards. This could potentially lead to both more scrutiny over legal fees and the types of services acquired through these contracts.

Summary

House Bill 2228 is designed to regulate how political subdivisions can enter into contingent fee contracts for legal services. The bill mandates that any governing body must first hold an open meeting to discuss and approve the contract. During this meeting, they are required to outline the rationale for pursuing the legal services, as well as the qualifications of the attorney or law firm involved. Furthermore, the decision to enter into such a contract must be documented through specific findings made by the governing body that justify the need for legal services that a political subdivision cannot adequately meet itself.

Sentiment

The general sentiment around HB 2228 appears to be cautious support, with many stakeholders advocating for increased transparency in government contracts while also recognizing the importance of legal representation for public entities. Proponents argue that the stipulations in the bill will prevent misuse of public funds and enhance accountability, while some critics voice concerns over potential delays and restrictions in the timely acquisition of necessary legal services. The balance between sufficient oversight and operational efficiency seems to be at the heart of the debate.

Contention

Notable points of contention arise from the balancing act required to ensure oversight without hampering the ability of political subdivisions to effectively engage legal counsel. Critics may focus on the logistical challenges posed by mandatory open meetings, especially in urgent legal situations. Concerns are also raised about the potential for inconsistencies in contract approval from the attorney general, which could lead to delays in legal proceedings and hinder the responsiveness of governmental bodies.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS SB7

Authorizing federally licensed firearm dealers, in addition to county sheriffs, to receive applications for concealed carry licenses and forward such applications to the attorney general, prohibiting sheriffs from assessing any fee related to application services and allowing dealers to assess a fee related to application services not to exceed $20.

KS SCR1602

Approving the creation of a port authority in Wyandotte County Kansas.

KS HB2001

Authorizing the secretary of commerce to enter into agreements with major professional sports franchises to establish STAR bond projects for a major professional sports complex, providing for additional revenue sources, expanding the powers and discretion of the secretary and making other changes to the STAR bonds financing act to facilitate such projects, limiting the secretary’s authority to approve such projects to one year unless extended by the legislative coordinating council, authorizing the Kansas development finance authority to issue STAR bonds for such projects, transferring funds under certain circumstances from the state gaming revenues fund to the attracting professional sports to Kansas fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and, if approved by the legislative coordinating council, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.

KS SB4

Requiring all advance voting ballots be returned by 7:00 p.m. on election day.

KS SB6

Providing a sales tax exemption for sales of electricity to residential premises by municipally owned or operated utilities.

KS SB8

Exempting the sale of firearms, firearms accessories, ammunition, firearm safes and firearm safety devices from the retatilers' sales tax.

KS HB2003

Establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing for an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals, modifying the definition of household income and increasing the appraised value threshold for eligibility of seniors and disabled veterans related to increased property tax claims and citing the section as the homeowners' property tax freeze program, providing property tax exemptions for certain personal property including watercraft, marine equipment, off-road vehicles, motorized bicycles and certain trailers, excluding internal revenue code section 1031 exchange transactions as indicators of fair market value, providing for certain exclusions from the prohibition of paying taxes under protest after a valuation notice appeal and providing four prior years' values on the annual valuation notice.

KS SB2

Eliminating the income limit to qualify for the subtraction modification exempting social security benefits, increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses, establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing for an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals, citing the increased property tax homestead refund claim section as the homeowners' property tax freeze program, decreasing the normal privilege tax rate, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, decreasing the rate of ad valorem tax imposed by a school district; providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund, reducing the state rate of tax on sales of food and food ingredients and modifying the percent credited to the state highway fund from revenue collected.

KS SB1

Modifying income tax rates for individuals, exempting all social security benefits from Kansas income tax, increasing the Kansas standard deduction and the Kansas personal exemption, increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses, decreasing the privilege tax normal tax, excluding internal revenue code section 1031 exchange transactions as indicators of fair market value for property tax valuation purposes, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund and abolishing the local ad valorem tax reduction fund and the county and city revenue sharing fund.

KS HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

Similar Bills

WV SB543

Clarifying oversight by Attorney General of political subdivision’s hiring of private attorney under contingency fee or contract to sue

WV SB974

Clarifying Attorney General oversight of political subdivision's hiring of private attorneys

WV SB891

Relating to oversight of political subdivision hiring of private attorneys

KS HB2593

Requiring that a political subdivision hold an open meeting to discuss a contingency fee contract for legal services before approving such contract and requiring the attorney general to approve such contracts.

KS SB242

Requiring that a political subdivision hold an open meeting to discuss a contingency fee contract for legal services before approving such contract and requiring the attorney general to approve such contracts.

MO HB3347

Creates new provisions for political subdivisions contracts for legal services

TN SB2418

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7; Title 8 and Title 29, relative to lawsuits.

TN HB2069

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7; Title 8 and Title 29, relative to lawsuits.