Knowing how to communicate with Kansas legislators is important to promoting public health, but it can be daunting for those not familiar with the process. Thanks to a generous grant from the Kansas Health Foundation, KALHD has worked on a number of templates to help with communication. Many of these items are modeled on actual 2020 Legislative Session activities, but should be quite helpful for any future communication needs. Remember, templates are just guides, change elements (even non-highlighted elements) to best meet your needs!

Testimony Templates

These templates are for submitting testimony or public comments to the Kansas Legislature. Most are oriented towards local health departments but some are designed for the board of county commissioners.

HB 2720 (replacing the nonrefundable food sales tax credit with a refundable one): Proponent-oriented written testimony for the House Committee on Taxation.

HB 2714 (increasing minimum payment in the State Formula): Proponent-oriented written testimony, from the perspective of an LHD that gets more than the minimum, for House Appropriations.

HB 2714 (increasing minimum payment in the State Formula): Proponent-oriented written testimony, from the perspective of an LHD that only gets the $7,000 current minimum, for House Appropriations.

Public Comment (increasing State Formula funding): Written public comment regarding State Formula (Aid to Local Health Department) funding, requesting an enhancement of $1.9 million. This version stresses public health modernization. Comments designed for the Health Subcommittee, Senate Ways and Means.

Public Comment (increasing State Formula funding): Written public comment regarding State Formula (Aid to Local Health Department) funding, requesting an enhancement of $1.9 million. This version stresses working on the social determinants of health. Comments designed for the Health Subcommittee, Senate Ways and Means .

Public Comment (increasing State Formula funding): Written public comment regarding State Formula (Aid to Local Health Department) funding, requesting an enhancement of $1.9 million. This version stresses core services of the local health department. Comments designed for the Health Subcommittee, Senate Ways and Means.

HB 2601 (Moving Childcare and School Immunization Requirements from Regulation into Statute): Opponent-oriented written testimony, talking about regulatory speed and expertise for determining required immunizations, for the House Committee on Education.

HB 2563 (Raises Tobacco Age to 21, Prohibits Cigarette Vending Machines, Prohibits Flavored Vaping Products): Proponent-oriented written testimony, touching on tobacco risks in general and the value of these changes, for the House Committee on Federal and State Affairs.

SB 308 (Allowing On-Farm Unpasteurized Milk Sales): Opponent-oriented written testimony, focused on pointing out the health risks of raw milk, for the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

Public Comment for commissioners (increasing State Formula funding): Written public comment regarding State Formula (Aid to Local Health Department) funding, requesting an enhancement of $1.9 million. This version is designed for a county commission to approve and sign for the Senate Ways and Means Health Subcommittee.

Public Comment for commissioners (increasing State Formula funding): Written public comment regarding State Formula (Aid to Local Health Department) funding, requesting an enhancement of $1.9 million. This version is designed for a county commission to approve and sign for the House Social Services Budget Committee.

Public Comment (increasing State Formula funding): Written public comment regarding State Formula (Aid to Local Health Department) funding, requesting an enhancement of $1.9 million. This version stresses public health modernization. Comments designed for the House Social Services Budget Committee.

Public Comment (increasing State Formula funding): Written public comment regarding State Formula (Aid to Local Health Department) funding, requesting an enhancement of $1.9 million. This version stresses working on the social determinants of health. Comments designed for the House Social Services Budget Committee.

Public Comment (increasing State Formula funding): Written public comment regarding State Formula (Aid to Local Health Department) funding, requesting an enhancement of $1.9 million. This version stresses core services of the local health department. Comments designed for the House Social Services Budget Committee.

HB 2459 (Limits on Utilization Review for Certain Mental Illnesses): Proponent-oriented written testimony, focused on the value of not having insurance delays stall receiving treatment for certain behavioral health issues, for the House Insurance Committee.

SB 300 (Prohibiting Unpasteurized Milk Sales for Human Consumption): Proponent-oriented written testimony, focused on pointing out the health risks of raw milk, for the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

SB 252 (Medicaid Expansion): Proponent-oriented written testimony, , focused on commending the lack of a work requirement in the bill, for Senate Public Health and Welfare.

SB 252 (Medicaid Expansion): Proponent-oriented written testimony, focused on how the safety net system does not close the access gap for the uninsured population, for Senate Public Health and Welfare.

SB 252 (Medicaid Expansion): Proponent-oriented written testimony, focused on talking about the impact of the uninsured tending to skip preventive services, for Senate Public Health and Welfare.

SB 144 (Expedited Partner Therapy): Proponent-oriented written testimony for Senate Public Health and Welfare.

Email/Letter Templates

These templates are for emails or letters to be sent to legislators or county commissioners directly.

Letter for HB 2016 Changes: For Senators to make numerous changes to HB 2016 and its impact on home rule, contact tracing, and local health officer authority.

Letter for Support on State Formula: for Senate Ways and Means Committee members, specifically to increase the State Formula more than proposed by the Senate Health Subcommittee.

Letter for a Hearing on HB 2714: for House Appropriations Committee members, asking them to schedule a hearing on HB 2714 (upping the minimum LHDs receive on the State Formula).

Letter for Support on State Formula: for county commissioners to solicit their support for increases to the State Formula funding and its minimum payment threshold. This version does not reference specific bill numbers.

K.S.A. 65-242 Minimum Change Email: for Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee members

K.S.A. 65-242 Minimum Change Email: for House Health and Human Services Committee members.

State Formula Increase Email: for Senate Ways and Means Committee members.

State Formula Increase Email: for House Appropriations Committee members.

Talking Points Templates

These templates are to produce talking points/handouts to help local health departments communicate with legislators (good for in-person interactions!).

Local Health Department QuickFacts: With a focus statement on modernization due to public health evolving.

Local Health Department QuickFacts: With a focus statement on State Formula funding and the need for an increase.