Kansas Bills

signed · Kansas · Senate Apr 11, 2025

SB 125: Making and concerning supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2025 and appropriations for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 for various state agencies, authorizing certain capital improvement projects and fees, authorizing certain transfers authorizing the payment of certain claims against the state.

SB 125 authorizes specific payments from existing state funds to settle verified claims against Kansas state agencies. It directs the Department of Corrections to pay inmates for lost property (e.g., $50 to Perry Isley) and the Departments of Aging and Health to pay Hillside Village LLC $3,100 each for delays in processing home care eligibility that caused reimbursement losses. The bill does not create new programs or funding streams but authorizes state agencies to settle identified claims using current appropriations. It applies directly to the named claimants (inmates and Hillside Village LLC) and requires written releases before payments are made. The legislation is procedural, focusing solely on settling specific, documented claims rather than policy changes.

vetoed · Kansas · House Apr 11, 2025

HB 2228: Senate Substitute for HB 2228 by Committee on Judiciary - Requiring that a political subdivision hold an open meeting to discuss a contingency fee contract for legal services before approving such contract and requiring the attorney general to approve such contracts.

HB 2228 requires Kansas corrections officials to help inmates obtain essential identification and employment documents at least nine months before release. The law mandates providing certified birth certificates, social security cards, driver's licenses or state ID cards, and employment-related records like vocational training, work history, and educational certifications. Corrections officials must coordinate with state agencies to secure these documents if inmates lack them, with exceptions for inmates released to other jurisdictions or deemed unable to return to work. This policy aims to support successful reintegration by addressing common barriers to employment and identification.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

vetoed · Kansas · Senate Apr 11, 2025

SB 79: Directing the secretary for children and families to request a waiver from supplemental nutrition assistance program rules that would allow the state to prohibit the purchase of candy and soft drinks with food assistance.

SB 79 requires Kansas to request a federal waiver from the USDA, allowing the state to prohibit Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients from using benefits to purchase candy and soft drinks. This bill directly affects Kansas residents who receive SNAP benefits, as it would change how those benefits can be spent. The key mechanism is seeking a waiver to override standard federal SNAP rules that currently permit these purchases. If enacted, it would restrict SNAP usage for specific items without altering eligibility or benefit amounts.

vetoed · Kansas · House Apr 11, 2025

HB 2028: Reviving a law providing for discounted hunting and fishing licenses for persons who are 65 years of age or older; changing the amount charged for lifetime hunting and fishing licenses for children five and younger to $300 and for those children ages six to 15 to $400, prohibiting non-residents from hunting migratory waterfowl on public lands during the hunting season except on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays; raising certain hunting fees; and requiring the department of wildlife and parks to report to the house and senate committees on agriculture and natural resources on the impact of limiting out of state waterfowl hunters.

HB 2028 modifies Kansas hunting and fishing license fees and restrictions. It requires discounted resident senior licenses (65+ years) at up to 1/8 the standard fee, revives lifetime licenses for children (ages 5 and under pay $300; ages 6-7 pay $500), and prohibits non-resident hunting of migratory waterfowl on public lands during most of the hunting season - except Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays. The bill also mandates annual reports from the Department of Wildlife and Parks to agriculture committees on the impact of restricting out-of-state waterfowl hunters and the issuance of children’s lifetime licenses. These provisions expire on July 1, 2032.

vetoed · Kansas · Senate Apr 11, 2025

SB 18: Providing for the hunter nation distinctive license plate.

SB 18 creates a new "Hunter Nation" distinctive license plate option for Kansas vehicle owners. It allows residents to obtain this plate for passenger vehicles or trucks (under 20,000 lbs gross weight) by paying an annual $25-$100 "logo use royalty" fee to Hunter Nation, Inc., which designs the plate. The plate must be renewed yearly with the fee and is non-transferable between vehicles or owners. The bill also amends Kansas law to reduce the minimum required guarantee of distinctive plates from 250 to 100 units.

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 11, 2025

SR 1709: Commending Senator Jerry Moran for his unwavering support of Kansas farmers.

This Senate resolution formally commends Senator Jerry Moran for his consistent support of Kansas farmers over the past 14 years. The document highlights his recent appointment to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and acknowledges the significant economic contributions of Kansas agriculture, which includes producing a large portion of the nation's sorghum and winter wheat. It also notes the state's partnership with USAID to address global food insecurity and the financial challenges currently facing local farmers. The resolution concludes by directing the Secretary of the Senate to send official copies of the text to both Senator Moran and the sponsor, Senator Sykes.

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 11, 2025

SR 1706: Condemning the pardons and commutations of sentences for those individuals involved in the attack at the United States capitol building on January 6, 2021.

This Senate Resolution expresses the Kansas Senate's disapproval of President Trump's decision to pardon over 1,500 individuals connected to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. The measure specifically targets those who were convicted of crimes like assaulting law enforcement officers or using deadly weapons during the event. By formally condemning these pardons, the resolution aims to signal that violence against police should result in accountability rather than leniency. The document is sent to state law enforcement groups and Kansas's U.S. congressional delegation to reinforce this stance.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

passed · Kansas · House Apr 11, 2025

HR 6019: Recognizing April 15, 2025, as Jackie Robinson Day.

This Kansas House Resolution designates April 15, 2025, as Jackie Robinson Day to honor the baseball legend's legacy. The measure formally recognizes Robinson's historic role as the first African American to play in Major League Baseball and his broader contributions to civil rights and the military. By passing this resolution, the Kansas House of Representatives acknowledges Robinson's achievements in sports, his service in the Army, and his efforts to advance human rights.

Topics ✓ Veterans

passed · Kansas · House Apr 11, 2025

HCR 5018: Providing for the adjournment sine die of the 2025 regular session of the Senate and House of Representatives.

This bill officially ends the 2025 regular legislative session of the Kansas Senate and House of Representatives on April 11, 2025. It changes the previously scheduled end date of April 12, 2025, to close business one day earlier. Additionally, the resolution confirms that legislators and select committee members attending authorized meetings will continue to receive their standard pay and travel expenses after the session concludes.

signed · Kansas · House Apr 11, 2025

HB 2045: Reducing certain license fees and training requirements for child care staff, creating a process for day care facility licensees to apply for temporary waiver of certain statutory requirements, authorizing the secretary of health and environment to develop and operate pilot programs to increase child care availability or capacity, transferring certain child care programs to the Kansas office of early childhood and creating day care licensing duties of the director of early childhood.

HB 2045 reduces the size of a governing board overseeing a risk-sharing plan for auto insurance, cutting members from nine to five. The new board will include three insurer representatives, one independent insurance agent, and one public member, replacing the previous structure. The bill also reduces meeting frequency for the committee on surety bonds and insurance and amends several insurance-related statutes. These changes streamline oversight of the plan that helps insurers share coverage risks for applicants unable to secure standard auto insurance.

vetoed · Kansas · Senate Apr 11, 2025

SB 24: Expanding the postsecondary educational institutions eligible to participate in the Kansas promise scholarship program and increasing the maximum annual appropriation limit.

The bill title mentions expanding scholarship eligibility, but the provided bill text (SB 24) actually concerns insurance regulations, not education. The bill amends multiple Kansas insurance statutes (e.g., 40-205a, 40-218) to authorize the insurance commissioner to set and publish annual fees for licenses and legal processes. It requires the commissioner to publish these fees in the Kansas Register by December 1 each year and specifies procedures for serving legal process on insurance companies. The bill does not address scholarship programs or educational institutions as implied in the title. This appears to be a discrepancy between the title and the actual legislative text.

signed · Kansas · House Apr 11, 2025

HB 2007: Senate Substitute for Substitute for HB 2007 by Committee on Ways and Means - Reconciling multiple amendments to certain statutes.

HB 2007 is a state budget bill allocating funding for Kansas government agencies across fiscal years 2025-2027. It specifically provides $25,723 for the Abstracters' Board of Examiners (2026) and $483,965 for the Board of Accountancy (2026), with annual spending limits on official hospitality ($1,600 max). The bill also establishes strict conditions for using a special litigation reserve fund, requiring budget director approval for expenditures tied to unforeseen circumstances or legislative policy compliance. These provisions ensure state funds are spent within defined limits for authorized agency operations and capital projects.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill results