SESSION OF 2025
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT BRIEF
SENATE BILL NO. 30
As Agreed to March 25, 2025
Brief*
SB 30 would require adoption of new occupational licenses and material changes to
existing licenses by certain state agencies to be approved by the Legislature. The bill would also
require agencies to annually report certain information to the Joint Committee on Administrative
Rules and Regulations (JCARR).
The Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board, Board of Examiners in Optometry, Board of
Nursing, Kansas Dental Board, State Board of Healing Arts, State Board of Pharmacy, and the
State Board of Technical Professions would be exempt from the provisions of the bill.
For purposes of the bill, an “occupational license” would mean an exclusive authorization
in law establishing the personal qualifications necessary to engage in an occupation or
profession and any associated rules and regulations.
Legislative Review and Approval of Licenses
The bill would require any new occupational license or material change to an existing
license adopted by an agency on or after July 1, 2025, to be approved by the Legislature by
joint resolution, unless ratified by an enactment of a bill.
Before consideration of such a resolution, a standing committee of each chamber to which
the subject matter of the license is customarily referred would be required to conduct a review of
the proposed license, which would include a review of a report prepared by the Kansas
Legislative Research Department (KLRD). The KLRD report would be required to be prepared
for the committee within two weeks of assignment and would include the following information:
●The necessity of such license for public health, safety, or welfare;
●Alternative, less-restrictive measures;
●Whether the licensing requirement is the least-restrictive means to achieve its
purpose;
____________________
*Conference committee report briefs are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express
legislative intent. No summary is prepared when the report is an agreement to disagree. Conference committee
report briefs may be accessed on the Internet at https://klrd.gov/
1 - 30 ●Whether and how other states regulate the profession;
●The effect the license will have on job creation or retention; and
●An explanation of certain costs and benefits associated with the requirement.
Each committee would be required to submit a written recommendation for adoption or
denial of such license to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the
Senate for consideration by the Legislature.
Annual Agency Reports to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and Regulations
In September of each year, each agency would be required to submit an annual report to
the JCARR containing a list of each license the agency oversees. The list would be required to
contain certain information, as specified by the bill, related to the rationale for and administration
and regulation of each occupational license administered by the agency.
Conference Committee Action
The Conference Committee agreed to remove the contents of SB 30, and to insert the
contents of SB 229, as amended by Senate Committee on Commerce regarding legislative
approval of certain occupational licenses, and to include an amendment clarifying that the
standing committee chairperson would request KLRD to conduct the review and prepare the
written report.
[Note: The contents of SB 30, requiring employees of the Department of Labor with access
to federal tax information to undergo criminal record checks and amendments to criminal history
record information that may be released to certain agencies, is included in the Conference
Committee Report for HB 2342.]
Background
SB 229 (Legislature Approval of Certain Occupational Licenses)
The bill was introduced by the Senate Committee on Commerce at the request of Senator
Blew on behalf of a representative of Catalyst. Senate Committee on Commerce
In the Senate Committee hearing, proponent testimony was provided by representatives
of Americans for Prosperity Kansas and United WE. The proponents generally stated the bill
would make the occupational licensing process more efficient by reducing institutional red tape
and help move Kansas toward voluntary certification. The proponents also stated the bill would
increase workforce participation and economic growth.
Written-only proponent testimony was provided by representatives of the cities of Arkansas
City and Winfield.
2 - 30 Neutral testimony was provided by a representative of the Secretary of State, who
generally stated they have no opinion on the substance of the bill, but its implementation needs
to be clarified.
Written-only opponent testimony was provided by a representative of Kansas Grain and
Feed Association and Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association.
No other testimony was provided.
The Senate Committee amended the bill to:
●Clarify the bill would only affect new occupational licenses and material changes to
existing occupational licenses;
●Remove a blanket exception for unspecified regulatory agencies for health care
providers;
●Remove a requirement that the Legislature review existing occupational licensing
requirements and terminate unreviewed licenses by July 1, 2030;
●Remove a limit on each occupational license of five years’ duration unless reviewed
and renewed by the Legislature;
●Exempt cities, counties, and unified governmental agencies from the provisions of the
bill; and
●Remove certain requirements of the Revisor of Statutes.
[Note: The Conference Committee retained these amendments.]
Fiscal Information
SB 229 (Legislature Approval of Certain Occupational Licenses)
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of the Budget on the bill, as
introduced, KLRD states that enactment of the bill would add an additional task for the
Department but a fiscal impact cannot be estimated. Legislative Administrative Services
estimates enactment of the bill would have no fiscal effect on the Legislature’s budget.
The Secretary of State indicates that enactment of the bill would require expenditures
totaling $225,000 from the State General Fund in FY 2026. This estimate includes salaries,
wages, and fringe benefit costs for two full-time equivalent (FTE) positions of an attorney
($130,000) and a paralegal ($80,000), and other operating expenditures.
Any fiscal effect associated with enactment of the bill is not reflected in The FY 2026
Governor’s Budget Report.
Occupational licensing; labor; employment; rules and regulations
ccrb_sb30_00_0000.odt
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