Highlights of Wednesday’s activities at the Kansas Legislature:

¢ The House sent the Senate two bills to phase out property taxes on business equipment and machinery in hopes of stimulating the economy. The bills were sought by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

¢ The Senate gave first-round approval to a bill giving some protection from harrassment to mothers nursing their infants in public places.

¢ A House committee approved a bill imposing new regulations on abortion clinics after rewriting it to make it apply only to abortion and not all office-based surgeries.

¢ The House gave first-round approval to a bill giving security officers guarding the Wolf Creek nuclear plant legal authority to use deadly force against intruders.

¢ A House committee shot down a bill repealing a law giving some illegal immigrants a break on tuition at state universities and colleges. Sponsoring Rep. Becky Hutchins vowed to get the measure attached to other legislation.

Also:

¢ The Senate passed a bill banning Kansans committed to mental hospitals from possessing a firearm. The vote was 39-0.

¢ A bill allowing local governments to begin the consolidation process passed the Senate on a 37-2 vote.

¢ On a 39-0 vote, the Senate passed a bill allowing Kansans to donate a portion of their tax refund to two causes, military benefits and breast cancer research at the University of Kansas.

¢ Senators gave tentative approval to a bill extending financial incentives for school districts to consolidate.

Clock is ticking:

Wednesday was the 38th day of the session, out of 90 scheduled. The count includes weekends because legislators still get paid.