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Minutes for HB2174 - Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
Short Title
Enacting the attorney training program for rural Kansas act to provide financial assistance to lawyers and law students who practice law in rural areas.
Minutes Content for Thu, Feb 13, 2025
Chairperson Rahjes opened the hearing on HB2174 and requested Revisor Kyle Hamilton, Office of Revisor of Statutes, to give the bill brief. (Attachment 5) There were no questions.
Research Analyst, Heather O'Hara, Legislative Research Department, gave details of the fiscal note.
The first Oral Proponent to convey testimony on this bill was The Honorable K.J. Wall, Kansas Supreme Court. (Attachment 6) He stood for questions.
Others presenting Oral Proponent testimony were:
JuliAnn Mazachek, President, Washburn University, delivered testimony (Attachment 7). She introduced supporters of this bill who came to the meeting with her: Law School Dean, Jeffery Jackson; Shawn Leisinger, Associate Dean, Centers and Extension Programs; and Roger McEowen, Adjunct Instructor. President Mazachek stood for questions.
Ann Sagan, Director of Special Projects, Kansas State Board of Indigents' Defense Services (Attachment 8) There were no questions.
Angela Meyer, owner of Mayer Law Firm, LLC, on behalf of the Rural Justice Initiative Committee and the Kansas Bar Association (Attachment 9) There were no questions.
Ashley Comeau, Kansas Women Attorneys Association Ad Hoc Committee on Rural Recruitment and Solo and Small Firm Committee (WebEx) (Attachment 10) There were no questions.
Susan H. Richmeier, Finney County Attorney and Kansas County and District Attorneys Association Board Member (WebEx) (Attachment 11) There were no questions.
Anne Marie Yatsula, Student, University of Kansas School of Law (Attachment 12) There were no questions.
Additional questions were directed to The Honorable K.J. Wall.
Written-Only Proponent testimony was received from the following:
Tabitha Owen, Smith County Attorney and President of the Kansas County and District Attorneys Association (Attachment 13)
Joseph Molina, on behalf of the Kansas Bar Association (Attachment 14)
Marilyn Harp, Citizen Lobbyist (Attachment 15)
Nick Levendofsky, Executive Director, Kansas Farmers Union (Attachment 16)
Jay Hall, Deputy Director and General Counsel, Kansas Association of Counties (Attachment 17)
Sarah Bootes Shattuck, The Shattuck Law Office, LLC (Attachment 18)
Joslyn M. Kusiak, Kelly & Kusiak Law Office, LLC (Attachment 19)
Etta L. Walker, Attorney (Attachment 20)
Wendee Grady, on behalf of the Kansas Farm Bureau Members (Attachment 21)
John Goodyear, General Counsel, The League of Kansas Municipalities (Attachment 22)
There was no other proponent, opponent, or neutral testimony presented and Chairperson Rahjes closed the hearing on HB2174.
