House Adopts Occupational Licensing Overhaul Requiring Legislative Sign-Off on New Licenses

The Kansas House adopted the conference committee report on SB 30 Monday on an 89-35 vote, advancing a measure that would require state agencies to submit annual reports on occupational licensing and mandate legislative ratification before any new occupational license or material change to existing licensing requirements could take effect.

The bill represents a significant shift in how Kansas regulates professions, transferring power from executive branch agencies to the Legislature. Proponents have framed the measure as a check on regulatory overreach and a way to reduce barriers to employment, a message that resonates with the Republican majority's deregulatory agenda. But the 35 dissenting votes — a notable bloc — suggest some lawmakers have reservations, potentially over concerns that the ratification requirement could slow the state's ability to respond to emerging public safety needs in regulated professions.

The conference committee report now heads to the Senate for consideration. The split vote stands in stark contrast to the unanimity on HB 2653, illustrating how licensing policy can fracture even a supermajority caucus.