SESSION OF 2025
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON HOUSE BILL NO. 2061
As Amended by Senate Committee on Judiciary
Brief*
HB 2061, as amended, would amend the definition of
“critical infrastructure facility” as it relates to the crimes of
trespassing on a critical infrastructure facility and criminal
damage to a critical infrastructure facility in the Kansas
Criminal Code.
The bill would expand the definition of a critical
infrastructure facility, when the facility is used for wireline,
broadband, or wireless telecommunications or video services
infrastructure, to include any aboveground or belowground
line, cable, or wire.
Additionally, the bill would specify that the term includes,
but is not limited to:
●Antennas, radio transceivers, towers, wireless
support structures, small cell facilities, and any
associated support structures and accessory
equipment; and
●Equipment buildings, cabinets and storage sheds,
shelters, or similar structures.
Background
The bill was introduced by the House Committee on
Judiciary at the request of a representative of Charter
Communications Operating, LLC.
____________________
*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
https://klrd.gov/ House Committee on Judiciary
In the House Committee hearing, proponent testimony
was provided by a representative of Charter
Communications. The proponent generally stated the bill
would protect cable lines, which are a component of critical
infrastructure.
Written-only proponent testimony was provided by a
representative of AT&T, stating protection of critical
infrastructure is important for customers and the public, and
requesting the Committee consider adding additional items to
the definition, including specific items related to antennas,
radio and wireless structures, and equipment buildings and
other related structures.
No other testimony was provided.
The Committee amended the bill to include the following
items requested by AT&T:
●Antennas, radio transceivers, towers, wireless
support structures, small cell facilities, and any
associated support structures and accessory
equipment; and
●Equipment buildings, cabinets and storage sheds,
shelters, or similar structures.
Senate Committee on Judiciary
In the Senate Committee hearing, proponent testimony
was provided by a representative of Charter
Communications. The proponent stated the bill would help
defend critical infrastructure, including broadband and
communications cables and wires, and limit service outages
for Kansans.
Written-only proponent testimony was provided by
representatives of T-Mobile and AT&T – Kansas.
2- 2061 No other testimony was provided.
The Senate Committee amended the bill to remove a
reference to facilities located within or outside public or
highway right-of-ways in the definition of critical infrastructure
facility.
Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note provided by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, as introduced, the Board of Indigents’
Defense Services (BIDS) indicates that enactment of the bill
would increase agency expenditures by unknown amounts.
BIDS estimates that for each additional severity 5, 6, or 7
nonperson felony case, expenditures of between $4,752 and
$7,125 would be deducted from the State General Fund
(SGF).
The Judicial Branch indicates enactment of the bill could
increase the number of cases filed in district courts, which
may increase operating expenditures. The Judicial Branch
also indicates enactment of the bill could increase the amount
of offender supervision required by court services officers,
and it could increase the collection of docket fees, fines, and
supervision fees that are deposited in the SGF. However, the
agency indicates an exact fiscal effect cannot be estimated.
The Sentencing Commission indicates that enactment of
the bill would result in a small fiscal effect.
The Department of Corrections indicates that enactment
of the bill would result in a negligible fiscal effect on the
agency.
Any fiscal effect associated with the bill is not reflected
in The FY 2026 Governor’s Budget Report.
Critical infrastructure; criminal trespassing; criminal damage; telecommunications
3- 2061