The House Committee on Local Government convened on February 17, 2025, to discuss House Bill 2160, which aims to establish the Kansas Municipal Employee Whistleblower Act. This proposed legislation is designed to extend legal protections to municipal employees who report unlawful or dangerous actions within their agencies, mirroring the protections currently available to state employees.

The bill outlines that municipal employees will be shielded from disciplinary actions for disclosing malfeasance, misappropriation of funds, or significant threats to public health and safety. Notably, it allows employees to file a direct lawsuit in District Court if their rights under the Act are violated, bypassing the Civil Service Board process required for state employees.

During the meeting, committee members discussed amendments to clarify definitions within the bill, specifically for terms like "malfeasance" and "misappropriation." These definitions are intended to provide clearer guidance on what constitutes protected disclosures. The committee also addressed concerns regarding the bill's relationship to the Open Records Act, confirming that employees could face disciplinary action for disclosing confidential information.

The committee moved forward with a motion to approve the bill, with amendments aimed at refining its language and ensuring comprehensive protections for whistleblowers. If enacted, the Kansas Municipal Employee Whistleblower Act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025. The discussions highlighted the importance of safeguarding employees who expose wrongdoing while ensuring that the definitions used in the legislation are broad enough to protect whistleblowers effectively.