Topeka, Kansas – The Kansas House is taking steps to increase transparency and accountability in its legislative process. In an unprecedented move, the House now requires bills to list not only their sponsors but also the individuals or lobbyists who requested them. This new rule, established in January, aims to provide constituents with a clear understanding of the interests behind proposed legislation.
Unlike the Kansas Senate and most other state legislatures, the Kansas House is the first to implement such a practice. While some states require lobbyists to disclose bills of interest in public reports, none have gone as far as explicitly identifying lobbyists and groups on legislative proposals.
Advocates of the change, such as Heather Ferguson, Director of Operations for the government transparency group Common Cause, applaud the enhanced accountability. Ferguson believes it helps rebuild trust in elected officials and the legislative process overall.
House Bill 2527, which seeks to amend regulations on electric rates in Kansas, was requested by a lobbyist representing Evergy, the state’s largest electricity company. Another example is HB 2691, proposed by a Kansas Farm Bureau lobbyist, which calls for utilities seeking to use eminent domain to pay landowners 50% more than fair market value.
While the new disclosure requirement has received overall positive feedback, some lobbyists express indifference or reservation. Eric Stafford, who lobbies for the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, finds it acceptable as long as the practice remains consistent.
The rule change to include more information on bills was initiated by Democratic state Representative Boog Highberger, as part of the House Rules Committee. Although some perceive it as a modest step, it marks progress in enhancing government transparency.
Such reforms aim to address concerns raised in The Kansas City Star’s 2017 series on Kansas state government, which criticized the lack of transparency in the legislature’s lawmaking process. Critics argue that the public often struggles to stay informed about major bills until it’s too late to oppose them.
However, caution accompanies these changes. David Adkins, former Kansas legislator and current executive director of the Council on State Governments, acknowledges the potential benefits of listing requesters but raises concerns about legislation becoming transactional and resembling a NASCAR vehicle with sponsors prominently displayed.
While the Kansas House’s effort signifies a significant step forward, it remains to be seen if other state legislatures will follow suit in their pursuit of increased transparency and accountability.
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