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HB 2594 Kansas House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Modifying the elements of the crime of blackmail related to threatened dissemination of any image, video or other recording of another identifiable person who is nude or engaged in sexual activity by changing the connection to breach of privacy and describing the content of the image, video or other recording.

HB 2594 updates Kansas' blackmail law by removing the requirement that a threatened image must have been obtained illegally (violating privacy laws). The bill now makes it blackmail to threaten sharing any image of an identifiable person who is nude or engaged in sexual activity, including images altered by artificial intelligence. This change broadens the law to cover threats regardless of how the image was obtained, focusing solely on the act of threatening dissemination. The bill directly affects individuals making such threats and the people targeted by these threats.
Issues: ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill broadens blackmail law to cover threats regardless of image source, protecting victims from non-consensual sharing. Strengthens criminal justice by expanding legal tools to address harm.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill strengthens data privacy by making threats to share intimate images (including AI-altered) blackmail regardless of image source, expanding protection against non-consensual sharing.90% confidence
Bill status died 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Governor
Introduced Jan 29, 2026 Last action Apr 10, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Amended by House Committee → {As Amended by House Committee of the Whole} · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill title and summary were updated to reflect a more specific amendment process and clarify the definition of digital media. The core criminal penalties for blackmail remain unchanged, but a new definition was added to explicitly include AI-generated or digitally altered images in the scope of protected media.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly cover artificial intelligence-generated or digitally altered images depicting nude or sexual activity, ensuring these modern forms of media are treated the same as traditional photographs or videos.
DEFINITION

The definition of 'image, video or other recording' was added to explicitly include digital or computer-generated images, ensuring AI-created deepfakes are covered.

TECHNICAL

The title was updated to specify the bill was amended by the House Committee of the Whole, and the summary text was rewritten to better describe the legislative intent and specific amendments.

Minor formatting adjustments were made to the line numbering and layout of the bill text.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
20
Key actions
14
Committee
8
Mar 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 36, Nay 4
upper
Mar 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Conference committee report now available
upper
Mar 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Motion to accede adopted; Sen. Kellie Warren, Sen. Kenny Titus and Sen. Ethan Corson appointed as conferees
upper
Mar 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Nonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Rep. Susan Humphries, Rep. Laura Williams and Rep. Dan Osman
lower
Mar 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea 40, Nay 0
upper
Mar 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended
upper
Mar 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
upper
Mar 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Senate Committee on Judiciary
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Committee
Referred to Senate Committee on Judiciary
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Introduced
Received and Introduced
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea 124, Nay 0, Absent 1
lower
Feb 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended
lower
Feb 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Rep. Bradley Barrett was adopted
lower
Feb 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Rep. Bradley Barrett
lower
Feb 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
lower
Feb 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by House Committee on Judiciary
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Committee
Referred to House Committee on Judiciary
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Introduced
Introduced
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.