Kansas Bills

SB 335 requires all public construction contracts in Kansas to include a mutual waiver of consequential damages between the government entity and the contractor. This means both parties agree in advance not to claim certain indirect financial losses, such as lost rental income, profits, or management costs, if a dispute arises. The waiver must follow a specific form outlined in the bill, though it allows for limited additional items to be waived. However, the bill does not affect claims for direct damages from delays or liquidated damages already specified in contracts. This change applies to all new public construction contracts entered after the law takes effect.

HB 2347 changes Kansas theft law by reclassifying the theft of a motor vehicle valued at less than $1,500 from a misdemeanor to a severity level 10 felony. This specifically affects individuals who steal motor vehicles under $1,500, increasing the penalty from a misdemeanor to a felony charge. The bill amends K.S.A. 21-5801 to add this provision under subsection (b)(9), directly impacting theft cases involving low-value vehicles. It does not change penalties for theft of vehicles valued at $1,500 or more, which remain classified as higher-level felonies. The bill was requested by the City of Wichita and Wichita Police Department.

HB 2183 updates Kansas laws to address AI-generated and manipulated images of children in sexual contexts. It prohibits creating, possessing, or distributing visual depictions that appear to show real children (including AI-generated images, morphed images from real children, or images with no child involvement) in sexually explicit conduct. The bill also adds a specific exception for cable services in breach of privacy cases. These changes directly affect individuals who produce or share such digital content, expanding existing child exploitation laws to cover new technological threats while clarifying protections for legitimate cable services.

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.

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.

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.

SB 237, known as the Support Compliance and Accountability for Responsible Support Act (SCARS), requires Kansas courts to consider the value of retirement accounts (such as 401(k)s and IRAs) when setting or modifying child support orders for parents who lost income due to criminal conduct, professional misconduct, or voluntary underemployment. It removes the legal exemption protecting retirement funds from child support claims, allowing courts to order lump-sum distributions from these accounts to cover unpaid support arrears. The bill also prohibits modifying child support orders for the reasons listed above, ensuring obligations remain enforceable during such circumstances. This law directly affects parents obligated to pay child support and ensures retirement savings can be used to meet those payments.

SB 204 requires Kansas courts to keep criminal and juvenile case records, warrants, and subpoenas confidential until warrants are executed or requests are denied. Law enforcement may still access these records for warrant execution, but public access is restricted otherwise. The law applies retroactively to all pending cases and mandates courts to make written "good cause" findings before sealing records, balancing privacy/safety concerns against public access to court proceedings. It directly affects defendants in criminal/juvenile cases, courts, and law enforcement by changing how sensitive case information is handled.

SB 186 requires law enforcement to have access to written statements or sworn testimony supporting probable cause before executing a warrant. After a warrant is executed, these documents can be shared with the defendant, their attorney, and the public, but sensitive information - such as victim identities, confidential sources, or details endangering safety - must be redacted. The bill establishes a five-day window for the defendant, their attorney, or prosecutor to request redactions or a seal on the documents. This change aims to balance transparency in criminal proceedings with protections for vulnerable individuals and ongoing investigations.

The bill title incorrectly references inmate reimbursement, but the actual text of SB 156 defines a new criminal offense: knowingly directing a laser pointer at law enforcement officers during duty or at aircraft in flight. It establishes two penalty levels: a class A misdemeanor for targeting officers, and a severity level 9 felony for targeting aircraft. The bill includes exceptions for authorized personnel (e.g., aircraft manufacturers, military personnel, or emergency signaling devices). This law directly affects individuals who use laser pointers in these specific contexts, adding criminal penalties to existing assault/battery charges. The bill does not address inmate reimbursement or corrections funding as implied by its title.

HB 2231 increases tax relief for specific Kansas taxpayers and modifies business tax rules. It adds a $2,320 personal exemption for heads of household filers (affecting individual taxpayers filing as head of household) and maintains a $2,250 exemption for disabled veterans certified at 100% disability by the VA. The bill also updates the definition of household income for property tax homestead refunds and changes how businesses calculate Kansas tax on out-of-state sales, requiring single sales factor apportionment for most businesses and receipts factor for financial institutions. These changes apply to tax years 2024 and later.

This bill amends Kansas law to include accredited maternity centers as healthcare providers under the state's insurance regulations. To qualify, a maternity center must be accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Birth Centers and meet the state's definition in K.S.A. 65-503. This change requires such centers to maintain professional liability insurance, aligning them with other healthcare providers under existing insurance rules. The bill does not create new insurance requirements but expands the scope of entities covered by current law.