Committee Minutes — HB2410
Wed, Feb 4, 2026

Chairman Bergquist opened the hearing on HB2410.

Revisor Jason Long, Revisor of Statutes (Attachment1) gave an overview of the bill.  He explained that the bill authorizes the unilateral withdrawal of a public library taxing district from a regional system of cooperating libraries.

Brandon Hines, Director, Hays Public Library (Attachment 2) testified as a proponent to the bill.  He explained  that if a local county or taxing district chooses to create its own library and remove itself from the regional library system tax, it should be allowed to to so.

Melanie Hedgespeth, Library Director, Salina Public Library(Attachment 3) testified as a proponent to the bill.  She explained that the bill makes reasonable updates to outdated statutes and ensures that taxpayers have a voice in how their dollars are used.

The following provided Proponent Written Only

Ray Walling, State Librarian, State Library of Kansas (Attachment 8) provided written only neutral testimony to the bill.

The following provided opponent written only testimony:

  • Wendy Moulton, Chair, North Central Kansas Library System(Attachment 9)
  • Jessica Pierpoint, President, Kansas Library Association (Attachment 10)
  • Sharon Moreland, Southeast Kansas Library System (Attachment 11)
  • Paul Hawkins, Director, South Central Kansas Library System (Attachment 12)
  • Richard Brookman Jr., Southwest Library System (Attachment 13)
  • Mary Boller, Director, Northwest Kansas Library System (Attachment 14)
  • Michael Berges, , Ellis County Public Library Board (Attachment 15)
  • Alicia Ahlvers, System Librarian/Director (on behalf of the Executive Board of the Central Kansas Library System Cooperating Libraries) (Attachment 16)
  • Michael McDonald, Director, Northeast Kansas Library System (Attachment 17)

Chairman Bergquist closed the hearing on HB2410.