HB 2672 updates Kansas statutes by replacing outdated and disrespectful terms like "retarded" and "mentally retarded" with "intellectual disability" in two specific laws. It amends K.S.A. 76-6b04 (which describes tax revenues for state institutions) and K.S.A. 76-17d01 (which relates to acquiring property for a state institution). The bill removes the old terminology and repeals the previous sections of these statutes. This change directly affects how state law refers to individuals with intellectual disabilities, ensuring language aligns with current, respectful standards without altering the underlying policies.
HB 2698 allows courts to order the permanent removal of an animal from an owner who violates county animal care resolutions, rather than temporary seizure. It applies when an animal poses a current threat to public safety, would likely face future abuse, or is a species prohibited by county resolution. The bill specifies that "animal" includes pets like dogs and cats (but excludes livestock) and requires courts to find one of three conditions before ordering permanent removal. It amends Kansas law to give judges this authority while clarifying that county resolutions can be enforced through fines or other penalties.
HB 2734 requires that children under two years old placed in foster care after being adjudicated as a "child in need of care" must achieve a permanent home - such as reunification with parents, placement with relatives, or adoption - within 12 months of out-of-home placement. The bill mandates a permanency hearing within three months of removal, requires concurrent adjudication and dispositional hearings to avoid delays, and prohibits unnecessary case transfers or continuances without good cause. It also establishes that transferring a child's case to another county without justification would be presumed harmful to the child's best interests. The Kansas Department for Children and Families and judicial branch must submit annual effectiveness reports to the legislature starting in 2028, with a final report due by 2036.
HB 2765 updates Kansas' controlled substances scheduling by adding specific fentanyl-related compounds to Schedules I, III, and IV of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act and removing certain other substances. It directly affects law enforcement, prosecutors, and medical professionals who must comply with these updated drug classifications under Kansas law. The bill makes technical changes to ensure the criminal code's definition of "fentanyl-related controlled substances" aligns precisely with the revised scheduling lists. This is a procedural adjustment to legal definitions, not a new policy.
HB 2717 would lower Kansas' compulsory school attendance age from seven to six years old. This change affects all parents of children aged six through seventeen who haven't earned a high school diploma or equivalent credential. The bill amends state law to require enrollment at age six instead of seven, while maintaining existing exemptions for older students (e.g., 16-17 year olds in approved programs) and special circumstances like religious instruction. It does not alter other requirements, such as school enrollment periods or religious accommodation provisions.
HB 2634 requires Kansas landlords in cities or counties without their own maintenance code to follow the International Property Maintenance Code, 2012 (IMPC 2012) for health and safety repairs, such as electrical, plumbing, and structural maintenance. This ensures rental properties meet basic safety standards in areas lacking local regulations. The bill also allows limited written agreements between landlords and tenants to share specific maintenance tasks, but only if entered in good faith and not to evade the landlord’s core responsibilities. It does not change existing obligations for properties in jurisdictions with adopted codes.
HB 2465, the "Professionals' Freedom of Expression Act," prevents government licensing bodies and private organizations from taking adverse actions (like revoking licenses or denying membership) against professionals based solely on their expression of beliefs unrelated to their work. It directly affects all licensed professionals in Kansas, including real estate agents, by prohibiting discrimination for sincerely held beliefs - such as those about marriage or family - expressed outside their professional duties. The bill adds specific protections for real estate professionals in the licensing act, banning discrimination in multiple listing services or broker organizations based on such beliefs. Violators face lawsuits for damages, attorney fees, and injunctions, with remedies available under the new provisions.
HB 2420 requires Kansas school districts to obtain written parental consent before providing school-based mental health services to students, including verbal notification about the service's purpose and plan. It directly affects students, parents, and school staff, covering services designed to address emotional, behavioral, or social needs (excluding universal tier 1 support). Exceptions allow immediate suicide risk assessments under existing law when a credible report of suicide risk exists. Violations trigger a $5,000 civil penalty per incident, recoverable by the attorney general or county prosecutor.
HB 2447 establishes a presidential preference primary election in Kansas every four years starting in 2028, replacing the current March special election date for local races. It amends election statutes to require that all local special elections (such as school board or city council votes) held in March must now occur on the same date as the presidential preference primary. This change directly affects Kansas voters participating in local elections and election administrators managing voting schedules. The bill creates a new election date alignment, eliminating separate March special elections for local offices by merging them with the presidential primary cycle. It does not change voting procedures or voter eligibility, only the timing of certain local elections.
HB 2452 changes election timing for local governments in Kansas, requiring all city, school district, community college, and similar municipal elections to occur in even-numbered years starting in 2028. It mandates that elected officials serve either two-year or four-year terms, with specific adjustments for officials elected in 2027 (e.g., those elected for a three-year term will serve two years). The bill also sets new election dates: primaries in August of even years and general elections on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. This affects thousands of local elected positions across cities, school boards, and community colleges, aligning their election cycles with state and federal elections.
HB 2450 modifies Kansas campaign finance rules by preventing automatic termination of a candidate's campaign account under specific conditions. It allows accounts holding at least $1,000 in funds or carrying at least $1,000 in debt to remain active, instead of requiring termination 90 days after a candidate loses or declines to run again. This directly affects campaign treasurers managing accounts for defeated or non-candidate officeholders who meet the financial threshold. The bill amends existing law (K.S.A. 25-4190) to create this exception, avoiding forced liquidation of accounts with minimal residual balances or obligations. It does not change the general 90-day termination deadline but provides a practical exemption for small accounts.
HB 2493 requires anyone delivering another voter's advance ballot to include their driver's license number in the written statement on the ballot envelope. It directly affects people who deliver ballots for others (e.g., family members, caregivers), mandating they provide their driver's license ID in the required written statement alongside the voter's authorization. Key provisions include limiting delivery to 10 ballots per election, prohibiting undue influence, and establishing penalties (felony for some violations, misdemeanor for exceeding limits). The bill amends Kansas election law to add these specific requirements to the ballot delivery process.
