KS Senate passes bill that restricts power of public health officials in future pandemics

The Kansas Senate Thursday voted to pass a bill which would restrict the power of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to enforce and adopt rules and regulations to prevent the spread of disease. The KDHE secretary would only be able to recommend rules and regulations.

The bill, which passed 22-18, would also not require teachers and school administrators to report infectious or contagious diseases and would limit the power of state, local and county health officials from prohibiting public gatherings to control the spread of a disease.

The bill, sponsored by Hutchinson Republican Sen. Mark Steffen, now heads to the Kansas House. It comes after a multi-year backlash to COVID-19 mitigation strategies from conservatives in the Legislature.

Sen. Kristen O’Shea, a Topeka Republican who opposed the bill, said she was frustrated that this bill took priority over other health care legislation.

“This is an overreaction to an overreaction,” she said. “Extreme people seem to like reacting. I’m frustrated we are passing bills like this but not even willing to provide hearings on bills that could provide solutions to health care challenges.”

Though the bill significantly restricts health officials’ power to enforce and adopt rules and regulations, the bill allows for health officials to track and prevent the spread of tuberculosis.