Public notice bill introduced in Kansas Legislature

Posted February 15, 2019

A bill that would give governmental units the option to designate their own websites as their official publication popped up again Monday in the Kansas House of Representatives.

“We were hoping we had dodged the bullet for this year,” said Doug Anstaett, Kansas Press Association consultant and lobbyist, but it wasn’t to be.

The bill would allow for either a newspaper or a government website to be the official site for public notices.

The bill, House Bill 2237, is similar to those debated in 2015 and 2017 and is attached today,

“The names of the House Local Government Committee members and their contact information can be found on Page 2 of today’s Publisher,” Anstaett said. “As we’ve done before, we need to nip this in the bud quickly and decisively.”

Allowing government websites to be official publications would be counterproductive to the checks and balances that accompany publication in newspapers.

The KPA lobbyist said editors and publishers need to contact the following House Local Government committee members and express their opposition to HB 2237.

HOUSE LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Rep. Kent Thompson, Iola, chairman,

785-296-7451 (Topeka) or 620-365-3297 (home) kent.thompson@house.ks.gov

Rep. Emil Bergquist,Park City, vice chair,

785-296-7681 (Topeka); 316-744-9819 (home) emil.bergquist@house.ks.gov

Rep. Pam Curtis,Kansas City, Kan., ranking minority, 785-296-7430 (Topeka) or 913-626-0404 (home) pam.curtis@house.ks.gov

Rep. Mike Amyx,Lawrence, 785-296-7632 (Topeka) or 785-843-3089 (home)

Mike.Amyx@house.ks.gov

Rep. Elizabeth Bishop, Wichita,

785-296-5016 (Topeka) or 316-841-5173 (home) Elizabeth.Bishop@house.ks.gov

Rep. Michael Capps, Wichita,

785-296-7473 (Topeka) or 316-512-8890 (home) Michael.Capps@house.ks.gov

Rep. Lonnie Clark,Junction City

785-296-7483 (Topeka) or  785-375-2428 (home) lonnie.clark@house.ks.gov

Rep. Charlotte Esau,Olathe

785-296-7688 (Topeka) or 913-484-4521 (home) Charlotte.Esau@house.ks.gov

Rep. Ron Howard, Wichita

785-296-7468 (Topeka) or 316-681-2645 (home) Ron.Howard@house.ks.gov

Rep. Greg Lewis,St. John

785-296-7682 (Topeka) or 620-458-3541 (home) greg.lewis@house.ks.gov

Rep. Marty Long,Ulysses

785-296-7641 (Topeka) or 620-356-1964 (home) Martin.Long@house.ks.gov

Rep. J.C. Moore, Clearwater

 785-296-1177 (Topeka) or 316-558-7848 (home) J.C.Moore@house.ks.gov

Rep. Jarrod Ousley,Merriam

785-296-7366 (Topeka) or 913-735-0236 (home) jarrod.ousley@house.ks.gov`