Rep. Steve Howe

Maddy summaryHB 2670 requires video streaming services operating in Kansas to ensure commercial advertisements are not louder than the main video content they interrupt, effective July 1, 2026. It adopts the federal CALM Act standards (originally for TV broadcasts) to set volume limits for ads. The law applies specifically to internet-based streaming services targeting Kansas consumers, excluding cable operators, broadcasters, and ad-free platforms. It does not create private lawsuits for violations.

Maddy summaryHB 2677 requires all Kansas health insurance plans (excluding small employer plans and limited-benefit policies) to cover hearing aids and related services for insured children under 18 with diagnosed hearing impairments, effective January 1, 2027. The coverage includes devices, evaluations, programming, repairs, ear molds, and auditory training, with a $5,000 maximum per child over 48 months. Insurers cannot deny coverage or terminate plans based on a child's hearing impairment. This applies to all plans issued, renewed, or modified in Kansas, excluding small employer group plans and certain specialized policies.

Maddy summaryHB 2650 requires noncompete agreements between employees and employers to be reasonable and necessary for protecting the business. It makes such agreements automatically unenforceable if the business is sold or if ownership changes. This directly affects employees who might face restrictions after leaving a job, as well as employers who use noncompete clauses. The bill replaces the default enforceability of these agreements with these two specific conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires prescribers to provide parents with FDA medication guides detailing psychotropic drug risks (including pediatric-specific side effects and black box warnings) before prescribing to children on Kansas' medical assistance program. It mandates the Department of Health and Environment to create a secure online reporting system for parents to document adverse reactions like seizures, mood changes, or cardiovascular symptoms. The law directly affects children under 18 enrolled in medical assistance, particularly infants (0-5 years) who frequently receive off-label prescriptions. Key mechanisms include standardized risk disclosure before prescribing and centralized digital tracking of side effects to improve safety monitoring.

Maddy summaryHB 2523 allows Kansas technical colleges, community colleges, and state universities to form formal partnerships with Kansas universities or accredited independent institutions. It directly affects Kansas public colleges, technical schools, and qualifying private institutions by creating standardized procedures for these affiliations. Key provisions include allowing institutions to change their official designations in legal documents, transferring operational powers and responsibilities to the partnering institution, and establishing rules for faculty, staff, and student transitions during the affiliation. The bill also ensures continuity for existing contracts, legal actions, and debt obligations during the partnership process.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific segment of K-5 highway in Wyandotte County (from the junction of K-5 and N. 18th Street west to N. 38th Street) as the "Representative Marvin S. Robinson II Memorial Highway." It also redesignates a portion of Interstate 635 (from the Kansas-Missouri border south to its junction with K-5 highway) as the "Harry Darby Memorial Highway." The bill requires the Kansas Secretary of Transportation to install highway signs marking both routes, following standard procedures. This is a procedural memorial designation with no substantive policy changes to transportation law.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to Kansas to explicitly define the right to bear arms as a natural and fundamental right that includes owning ammunition, firearm accessories, and components. It requires that any government restrictions on this right must pass the strict scrutiny legal standard, which is the highest level of judicial review. If passed by the legislature and approved by voters, the change would strengthen existing gun protections by clarifying the scope of items covered and the level of protection they receive.

Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution urges the U.S. Congress to grant state insurance regulators the authority to oversee Medicare Advantage plans, which are currently managed primarily by the federal government. The bill argues that state-level oversight would be more effective at preventing deceptive marketing and protecting vulnerable seniors from aggressive sales tactics. It specifically calls for states to enforce their own consumer protection laws regarding plan advertising, network access, and benefit disclosures. While the text cites complaints from Kansas about misleading practices, the resolution itself is a non-binding recommendation rather than a law that directly changes federal regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 2410 allows public library taxing districts that levy at least 0.25 mills for library support to withdraw from regional library systems without requiring state library board approval. This directly affects districts meeting the 0.25 mill tax levy threshold, removing the previous requirement for state board discretion in withdrawal requests. The bill amends Kansas law to automatically permit such withdrawals when conditions are met, streamlining the process for districts wishing to leave regional cooperation. It does not change the requirement for districts to meet the 0.25 mill levy condition to qualify for withdrawal.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House resolution that honors the life and public service of Representative Melody McCray-Miller, who passed away in February 2026. It recognizes her decades of work in education, business, and government, including her roles as a teacher, restaurant owner, county commissioner, state representative, and community leader. The resolution formally acknowledges her contributions to Kansas families and communities but does not create new laws or change any policies. Its only effect is to officially celebrate her legacy within the Kansas House of Representatives.