TOPEKA (AP) – Speaker Mike O’Neal doesn’t plan to have the Kansas House debate immigration issues this year.

O’Neal, a Hutchinson Republican, commented Friday after the House sided with him and blocked debate on an immigration bill.

The bill requires companies holding contracts with state or local governments exceeding $5,000 to use the federal E-Verify database to determine whether new employees are in the U.S. Legally.

The vote was 91-31 against a request from Rep. Charlotte O’Hara, an Overland Park Republican, to remove the bill from committee.

A proposal to require state agencies – but not private companies – to use E-Verify cleared committee Thursday. But O’Neal said he’s sure a debate wouldn’t be confined to that narrow proposal.

Majority Republicans are split, and O’Neal said an immigration debate would be contentious.