Election Integrity, Business Growth & Local Control

This was a shorter week at the Capitol due to Turnaround Week, where bills transition between the House and Senate. While legislative activity was somewhat limited, we made progress on election security, regulatory reform, and local decision-making on water quality.

Fluoridation of Drinking Water: A Local Issue

The Water Committee held an informational hearing on the fluoridation of drinking water, with experts providing data on its benefits and concerns.

Key takeaways:

• Most Kansas cities do not fluoridate their water.

• Naturally occurring fluoride levels range from 0.3 ppm to 4 ppm, with higher concentrations requiring removal.

• KDHE recommends 0.7 ppm, but excessive levels above 1.5 ppm can have negative effects.

Ultimately, the state will not mandate fluoridation, leaving the decision to local governments—a policy I fully support. Local control is always the best approach.

SB 4 – Ensuring Every Vote Counts

SB 4 was a key bill passed this week, requiring all mail-in ballots to be received by 7:00 PM on Election Day. This eliminates the current three-day grace period and ensures every vote is counted accurately.

Why is this necessary?

• Thousands of mail-in ballots are rejected each year due to postal delays or missing postmarks.

• In the August 2024 primary, about 1,000 ballots were disqualified due to postmark issues.

• Many voters are unknowingly disenfranchised due to inconsistencies in the postal system.

By ensuring ballots arrive by Election Day, SB 4 strengthens election integrity and prevents legitimate votes from being discarded due to bureaucratic issues. This bill is now in conference committee.

HB 2291 – Cutting Unnecessary Regulations

Kansas businesses often face excessive regulations that hinder growth and job creation. To address this, the House passed HB 2291, creating a Regulatory Relief Division within the Attorney General’s office.

Key provisions of HB 2291:
✔️ Gives businesses a way to challenge burdensome regulations
✔️ Creates a full-time reviewer to assess unnecessary rules
✔️ Establishes a bipartisan oversight committee for accountability

Kansas entrepreneurs deserve a government that supports growth, not one that slows them down. This bill ensures that businesses aren’t held back by outdated or excessive regulations.

What’s Next?

As these bills move forward, I appreciate hearing from you! If you have any questions or feedback, please reach out to me at [email protected].

Thank you for allowing me to serve. Please continue to pray for wisdom as we work to improve Kansas for everyone.

Best,
Dale Helwig
State Representative, District 1