Regulatory Comment Letter - Kansas

REGULATORY COMMENT LETTER — KANSAS

CURRENT KANSAS COMMENT FRAMEWORK

For an ordinary new or amended rule, K.S.A. 77-420(f), as amended in 2026 Chapter 138, requires at least 15 days of early public notice and requested input before the agency submits the proposal to the Department of Administration. After the required executive review, K.S.A. 77-421 generally requires at least 60 days' notice in the Kansas Register, a public-comment period, and a public hearing. The section supplies 30-day exceptions for specified wildlife and pharmaceutical rules.

At the hearing, interested parties must receive a reasonable opportunity to present views orally or in writing. When adopting or amending the rule, the agency must prepare a concise statement addressing principal reasons, substantial arguments it did not accept, and substantial changes between proposed and final text. A material final change that is not a logical outgrowth requires new rulemaking proceedings.

Technical amendments use the narrower route in 2026 Chapter 138, § 1. That route is limited to listed nonsubstantive changes, including cross-reference updates, redesignation without substantive change, drafting-format corrections, updated titles or contact information, and updated form or publication references without changed content.

K.S.A. 77-415 distinguishes binding rules from nonbinding public guidance. Public guidance or information may describe agency policy or statutory or regulatory requirements, but it may not create a legal right or duty or serve as authority for a standard, requirement, or policy.

Comment Route

☐ Early public-input notice under K.S.A. 77-420(f)
☐ Proposed rule under the general 60-day route in K.S.A. 77-421(a)(1)
☐ Specified wildlife 30-day route under K.S.A. 77-421(a)(2)
☐ Specified pharmaceutical 30-day route under K.S.A. 77-421(a)(3)
☐ Restarted proceedings under K.S.A. 77-421(a)(4) and (c)
☐ Claimed technical amendment under 2026 Chapter 138, § 1
☐ Nonbinding guidance under K.S.A. 77-415(b)(1)(D)

Agency and division: [________________________________]
Proposed K.A.R. citation or guidance title: [________________________________]
Enabling statute: K.S.A. [________________________________]
Kansas Register citation: [________________________________]
Comment deadline and submission method from the official notice: [________________________________]

FORMAL REGULATORY COMMENT LETTER

Letterhead Block

[________________________________]
[LAW FIRM / ORGANIZATION NAME]
[________________________________]
[Street Address]
[________________________________]
[City, State ZIP Code]
[________________________________]
[Telephone]
[________________________________]
[Email Address]

Date: [__/__/____]

VIA: ☐ Official portal ☐ Email authorized by notice ☐ U.S. Mail ☐ Hand delivery ☐ Other: [________________________________]

[________________________________]
[Name of Agency Contact / Rules Coordinator]
[________________________________]
[Agency Name]
[________________________________]
[Division / Bureau, if applicable]
[________________________________]
[Agency Street Address]
[________________________________]
[Topeka, Kansas / Other City], Kansas [____]

RE: Line

Re: ☐ Comment on Proposed Regulation / ☐ Early Public Input / ☐ Comment on Nonbinding Guidance / ☐ Other

Kansas Administrative Regulation (K.A.R.) at Issue: K.A.R. [____]-[____]-[____]
Kansas Register Citation: Vol. [____], No. [____], dated [__/__/____], page [____]
Docket/Reference Number: [________________________________]
Subject Matter: [________________________________]
Public Hearing Date: [__/__/____]
Comment Period Deadline: [__/__/____]

I. INTRODUCTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF COMMENTER

Dear [________________________________]:

On behalf of [________________________________] ("Commenter"), this letter is submitted to [________________________________] ("Agency") regarding [________________________________].

Commenter Identification:

Interest and Experience:

The Commenter has a direct and substantial interest in this matter because:

☐ The Commenter is directly regulated by the Agency under K.A.R. [____]-[____]
☐ The Commenter is a Kansas business affected by the regulation
☐ The Commenter represents [____] members/constituents subject to the regulation
☐ The Commenter is a local governmental unit affected by the regulation
☐ The Commenter has relevant expertise
☐ Other: [________________________________]

[________________________________]
[Describe the specific nature of the Commenter's interest, including how the regulation, interpretation, or guidance affects the Commenter.]

II. BACKGROUND AND FACTUAL CONTEXT

A. Regulatory Provision at Issue

The regulatory provision(s) at issue are:

1. K.A.R. [____]-[____]-[____]: [________________________________]
2. K.A.R. [____]-[____]-[____]: [________________________________]
3. Enabling Statute: K.S.A. [________________________________]

B. Kansas Rulemaking Context

☐ This comment relates to a proposed regulation published in the Kansas Register
☐ This comment relates to a temporary regulation covered by the published notice
☐ This comment relates to nonbinding agency guidance or information

Note on Kansas Notice and Consultation: K.S.A. 77-421 generally requires 60 days' notice, but subsections (a)(2) and (a)(3) provide 30-day exceptions for specified wildlife and pharmaceutical rules. The consultation and solicitation requirement appears in K.S.A. 77-416(b)(2), not § 77-420(b).

C. Factual Background

[________________________________]
[Provide a detailed factual narrative describing the circumstances giving rise to this comment. Include relevant dates, business operations, compliance history, and prior agency communications.]

D. Compliance Context

☐ The Commenter is currently in compliance and seeks clarification
☐ The Commenter has identified an ambiguity requiring interpretation
☐ The proposed text creates an implementation problem requiring revision
☐ The Commenter believes the regulation exceeds statutory authority
☐ The Commenter believes the regulation conflicts with Kansas or federal law
☐ The Commenter believes the economic impact statement is inadequate (K.S.A. 77-416)
☐ Other: [________________________________]

E. Prior Communications with Agency

☐ No prior communications regarding this matter
☐ Prior informal inquiry on [__/__/____] — Response received: ☐ Yes ☐ No
☐ Prior formal petition on [__/__/____] — Disposition: [________________________________]
☐ Prior enforcement action — Case No. [________________________________]
☐ Prior consultation under K.S.A. 77-416(b)(2) — Date(s): [________________________________]
☐ Other: [________________________________]

III. LEGAL ANALYSIS

A. Statutory Authority

The Agency identifies K.S.A. [________________________________] as authority for the proposal. K.S.A. 77-420(d) requires Attorney General review of legality, including whether the rule is within authority conferred by law.

[________________________________]
[Analyze whether the regulation is within the Agency's statutory authority.]

B. Regulatory Text Analysis

[________________________________]
[Provide a close textual analysis of the K.A.R. provision at issue. Identify ambiguities, undefined terms, or provisions susceptible to more than one reasonable interpretation.]

C. Compliance with Kansas Rulemaking Requirements

Under the cited current provisions of the Rules and Regulations Filing Act, the rulemaking record may present issues including:

☐ Early public notice and input before Department of Administration submission for an ordinary new or amended rule (K.S.A. 77-420(f))
☐ Filing the adopted rule and required material with the Secretary of State (K.S.A. 77-416(a))
☐ Publication and comment for the applicable 60-day or 30-day period (K.S.A. 77-421(a))
☐ Economic impact statement (K.S.A. 77-416)
☐ Consultation and solicitation from affected parties (K.S.A. 77-416(b)(2))
☐ Public hearing conducted in compliance with K.S.A. 77-421 for ordinary substantive rulemaking
☐ Notice to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and Regulations under K.S.A. 77-421(a)
☐ Review by the Attorney General and other officials, including Budget Director review or approval when required, under K.S.A. 77-420

[________________________________]
[Analyze compliance with Kansas rulemaking requirements.]

D. Economic Impact Analysis (K.S.A. 77-416)

Under K.S.A. 77-416, agencies proposing regulations must prepare an economic impact statement. The Commenter's analysis:

[________________________________]
[Provide detailed analysis of the economic impact, comparing the Agency's economic impact statement with the Commenter's own assessment where applicable.]

E. Alternative Approaches

[________________________________]
[Propose alternative regulatory approaches that achieve the Agency's statutory objectives while reducing burden. K.S.A. 77-416(b)(2) requires consultation and solicitation of information from affected and knowledgeable sources.]

IV. SPECIFIC REQUEST

Based on the foregoing analysis, the Commenter respectfully requests that the Agency:

☐ Adopt the Commenter's proposed interpretation of K.A.R. [____]-[____]-[____]

☐ Withdraw or modify the proposed regulation to address the concerns identified herein

☐ Revise the economic impact statement to reflect the actual costs to regulated entities

☐ Issue nonbinding guidance or information consistent with K.S.A. 77-415(b)(1)(D)

☐ Other: [________________________________]

Proposed Language (if applicable):

Current text of K.A.R. [____]-[____]-[____]:

[________________________________]

Proposed revised text:

[________________________________]

V. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

The following documents are submitted in support of this comment:

☐ Exhibit A: [________________________________]
☐ Exhibit B: [________________________________]
☐ Exhibit C: [________________________________]
☐ Exhibit D: [________________________________]
☐ Exhibit E: [________________________________]

VI. REQUEST FOR HEARING / ORAL PRESENTATION

☐ The Commenter requests an opportunity for oral comment at the public hearing scheduled for [__/__/____]

☐ The Commenter requests correction or republication of the notice if it does not state the hearing information required by K.S.A. 77-421(a)(1)(E)

☐ The Commenter does not request oral presentation at this time but reserves the right to attend the scheduled hearing

VII. SIGNATURE

The Rules and Regulations Filing Act does not impose a universal notarized verification requirement for public comments. Add any certification required by the published notice or agency-specific law here: [________________________________].

Respectfully submitted,

___________________________________________
[________________________________]
[Name — Printed]

[________________________________]
[Title / Position]

[________________________________]
[Organization / Firm]

[________________________________]
[Kansas Attorney Registration No., if applicable]

Date: [__/__/____]

COMMENT PREPARATION CHECKLIST

Before Drafting

☐ Identified the specific K.A.R. provision at issue
☐ Obtained complete text of the regulation from Kansas Administrative Regulations
☐ Reviewed enabling statute in Kansas Statutes Annotated (K.S.A.)
☐ Reviewed Kansas Register notice (if proposed regulation)
☐ Checked public hearing date and comment period deadline
☐ Reviewed Agency's economic impact statement (K.S.A. 77-416)
☐ Reviewed any Joint Committee materials identified in the official record
☐ Identified prior agency interpretations relevant to the proposal
☐ Verified submission requirements (format, address, electronic submission)

During Drafting

☐ Clearly identified the Commenter and stated the nature of the interest
☐ Cited specific K.A.R. provisions by article, number, and section
☐ Cited enabling statute provisions (K.S.A.)
☐ Provided factual context with specificity
☐ Included economic impact data with supporting documentation
☐ Compared Commenter's impact analysis with Agency's economic impact statement
☐ Proposed specific alternative language or approaches
☐ Addressed small business and local government impact

Before Submission

☐ Reviewed for accuracy of all legal citations
☐ Confirmed comment was submitted by the deadline in the official notice
☐ Attached all supporting exhibits referenced in letter
☐ Retained copy of comment and proof of submission
☐ Confirmed correct submission address and method
☐ Considered whether to attend and present at public hearing
☐ Identified whether any separate submission to the Joint Committee is authorized and useful

NO UNIVERSAL DECLARATORY-ORDER ROUTE

K.S.A. 77-536 governs emergency proceedings; it is not a general declaratory-order statute. Do not convert a public comment into a declaratory-order petition unless an agency-specific statute or regulation expressly supplies that route. Identified authority, if any: [________________________________].

TEMPLATE: COMMENT ON GUIDANCE / POLICY DOCUMENT

To: [________________________________]
Agency: [________________________________]
Date: [__/__/____]

COMMENT ON AGENCY GUIDANCE / POLICY DOCUMENT

The undersigned submits this comment on the following Agency guidance document or policy:

Document Title: [________________________________]
Document Date: [__/__/____]
Subject Matter: [________________________________]

Nature of Comment:
☐ The guidance is inconsistent with K.A.R. [____]-[____]-[____]
☐ The guidance imposes requirements beyond what the regulation requires
☐ The guidance is ambiguous and requires clarification
☐ The guidance appears to establish a binding standard or policy of general application and should be analyzed under the Rules and Regulations Filing Act
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Comment:
[________________________________]

Requested nonbinding clarification or revision:
[________________________________]

K.S.A. 77-415(b)(1)(D) provides that public guidance or information does not create a legal right or duty and may not be treated as authority for a standard, requirement, or policy.

NO UNIVERSAL WAIVER OR NO-ACTION ROUTE

The Rules and Regulations Filing Act does not itself create a general waiver, variance, no-action-letter, or advisory-opinion procedure. Use such a request only after identifying the agency-specific authority, eligibility standard, decision-maker, procedure, and effect: [________________________________].

RULEMAKING WORKFLOW REFERENCE

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• 2026 Kan. Sess. Laws ch. 138 — current amendments to K.S.A. 77-415, 77-416, 77-420, and 77-421; technical amendments and priority processing: https://sos.ks.gov/publications/sessionlaws/2026/Chapter-138-HB-2719.html
• 2026 Kan. Sess. Laws ch. 155, § 22 — reconciled current K.S.A. 77-421: https://sos.ks.gov/publications/sessionlaws/2026/Chapter-155-HB-2029.html
• Kansas Secretary of State — Early Public Input Notices: https://sos.ks.gov/publications/early-public-input-notices.aspx
• Kansas Secretary of State — Proposed Regulations Open for Comment: https://sos.ks.gov/publications/pubs_kar_inprocess.aspx
• K.S.A. 77-536 — emergency proceedings, not a general declaratory-order route: https://ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch77/077_005_0036.html
• 2026 Session Laws of Kansas, Vols. 1-2 (amended/repealed index): https://www.sos.ks.gov/publications/sessionlaws/2026/2026-Session-Laws-Book-1.pdf and https://www.sos.ks.gov/publications/sessionlaws/2026/2026-Session-Laws-Book-2.pdf

This template is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You must have this template reviewed and customized by a qualified attorney licensed in Kansas before use. Legal requirements and agency procedures may change; verify all citations and procedures before submission.