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Minutes for HB2188 - Committee on Federal and State Affairs
Short Title
Regulating the sale and distribution of kratom products, requiring the secretary of agriculture to adopt rules and regulations and requiring licensure of kratom product dealers.
Minutes Content for Wed, Feb 1, 2023
Chairperson Carpenter opened the hearing on HB2188. The revisor provided an overview of the bill (Attachment 11). In response to a question by Representative Houser, the revisor stated that this bill is more thorough in terms of regulation than HB2084.
Chairperson Carpenter recognized Representative Eplee as a proponent on HB2188 (Attachment 12). He stated that the Kansas Legislature has already concluded that kratom is safe and appropriate to use as a food substrate in many clinical settings. He stated that it is very effective in treating people who have addiction disorders. Kratom needs to be regulated by the Department of Agriculture since it is a food substrate. Many questions were asked by members of the Committee.
Chairperson Carpenter recognized Mac Haddow as a neutral on HB2188 (Attachment 13).
Chairperson Carpenter noted that there was written neutral testimony from Kelsey Olson (Attachment 14). He asked her to clarify why the fiscal note on one of these bills is a lot higher than the other bill. There was discussion between the conferee, the Chairman and the revisor concerning this matter. The revisor stated, and the conferee concurred, that HB2084 does not give the Department of Agriculture the authority to license the retailers of kratom. HB2188 would require licensing of the retailers who sell kratom, and the conferee believes those retailers already exist within the food safety licensing program.
There being no further testimony, the hearing was closed on HB2188.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:21 a.m.
