HB 2249 Kansas House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Requiring the secretary for aging and disability services to grant physical environment waivers for certain rural emergency hospitals to provide skilled nursing facility care and establishing the south central regional mental health hospital.

HB 2249 allows eligible rural emergency hospitals in Kansas to convert up to 10 existing swing beds into skilled nursing facility beds without meeting full nursing facility construction standards. To qualify, a hospital must be currently licensed as a rural emergency hospital, have previously operated as a hospital, and have provided skilled nursing or swing bed services for at least one year without safety violations. The bill requires the Secretary for Aging and Disability Services to grant these physical environment waivers upon application. This change directly affects qualifying rural hospitals seeking to expand limited skilled nursing care capacity in their communities.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

Signed into Law

Apr 2025

Introduced Feb 4, 2025 Signed Apr 10, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Amended by Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare → Enrolled · 6 edits · Apr 10, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was reorganized and expanded to include the creation of a new regional mental health hospital in Wichita, while retaining provisions for rural emergency hospitals to convert swing beds to skilled nursing beds and amending state battery laws.

Scope change

The bill's scope was significantly expanded from a single topic (rural emergency hospital waivers) to a multi-topic act that now includes establishing a new state hospital and amending criminal battery statutes.

SCOPE

Added a new section establishing the South Central Regional Mental Health Hospital in Wichita to expand mental health bed access in south-central Kansas.

Changed the bill title and introductory text to reflect the addition of the mental health hospital and battery law amendments, replacing the previous single-subject focus.

FISCAL

Created a new state treasury fund to finance the operations of the new South Central Regional Mental Health Hospital.

REQUIREMENT

Added specific requirements that the new mental health hospital must include an extension to the State Security Hospital for the custody and treatment of mentally ill inmates transferred from correctional facilities.

Added provisions authorizing the secretary for aging and disability services to supervise the new mental health hospital extension, with the superintendent of Larned State Hospital acting as the superintendent for the extension.

Added a new section amending K.S.A. 21-5413 to redefine and expand the legal definitions of battery and aggravated battery, including specific provisions regarding driving violations and habitual offenders.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 10, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by Governor on Tuesday, April 8, 2025

lower

Mar 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 123, Nay 1, Absent 1

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 40, Nay 0

upper

Mar 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee report now available

upper

Mar 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

Motion to accede adopted; Sen. Beverly Gossage, Sen. William Clifford and Sen. Cindy Holscher appointed as conferees

upper

Mar 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Nonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Rep. Will Carpenter, Rep. Ron Bryce and Rep. Susan Ruiz

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

Emergency Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea 40, Nay 0

upper

Mar 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended

upper

Mar 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted

upper

Mar 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare

upper

Feb 26, 2025

Committee

Referred to Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare

upper

Feb 25, 2025

Introduced

Received and Introduced

upper

Feb 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Final Action - Passed; Yea 122, Nay 0, Absent 3

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee of the Whole - Be passed

lower

Feb 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee Report recommending bill be passed by House Committee on Health and Human Services

lower

Feb 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to House Committee on Health and Human Services

lower

Feb 4, 2025

Introduced

lower

0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

What changed between versions

How they voted

Actions timeline

Sponsors