Kansas Bills

This bill (HB 2221) transfers the financial responsibilities and assets from the Department of Corrections' alcohol and drug abuse treatment fund to a newly created fund under the Department for Aging and Disability Services. It abolishes the Corrections Department fund and establishes the new fund to manage these specific treatment program finances. The bill makes no changes to policy or eligibility for treatment services - it only reassigns the existing fund's money and legal obligations to a different state agency. This is a purely administrative transfer of funds between two state departments.

This bill increases the maximum percentage of construction costs the Kansas Department of Corrections (DOC) can cover in public-private partnerships for correctional facility projects, raising it from 25% to 50% of total project costs. It directly affects the DOC and private entities - such as corporations, non-profits, or faith-based organizations - partnering on building or renovating correctional facilities. The key change modifies the legal definition of "public-private partnership" to allow the DOC to pay up to half the project costs, expanding opportunities for such collaborations. This adjustment simplifies the cost-sharing structure without altering project requirements or oversight.

SB 13 eliminates multiple administrative filing and registration requirements with the Kansas Secretary of State. It removes the need for labor organizations to submit constitutions, bylaws, or annual reports (and associated fees), business agents to register, educational institutions to file facility agreements, tax authorities to submit annual reports, property owners to file river bank easements, and warehouse businesses to obtain licenses. The bill streamlines these processes by repealing specific statutes related to these filings. This directly affects labor organizations, business agents, educational institutions, tax authorities, property owners, and warehouse businesses by reducing their paperwork obligations.

SB 67 expands the scope of practice for registered nurse anesthetists (RNAs) in Kansas by allowing them to prescribe, procure, and administer drugs during anesthesia or pain management care, consistent with their education and qualifications. This directly affects RNAs, who previously could not prescribe drugs under most circumstances, though they must still operate under a physician or dentist's order for anesthesia services. The bill requires RNAs to register with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration for controlled substances and prohibits prescribing for abortions. It repeals the existing law and replaces it with new provisions outlining RNA responsibilities and limitations during patient care.

SB 97 requires vehicle dealers to apply for a nonhighway title (a special title for off-road vehicles like tractors or construction equipment) for certain used nonhighway vehicles they acquire for inventory, if no title has been issued for the vehicle. This applies when dealers sell such vehicles, mandating they follow a process similar to regular vehicle title transfers to assign the title to the buyer. Purchasers can then obtain a new nonhighway title by applying at their county treasurer's office, paying a $10 fee, and certifying the vehicle is nonhighway. The bill directly affects vehicle dealers selling nonhighway vehicles without existing titles and streamlines title transfers for these vehicles.

HB 2338 creates two new temporary permits for cosmetologists in Kansas: "temporary location permits" for professionals moving between licensed locations, and "temporary guest artist permits" for those providing services at conventions or approved events. To qualify, applicants must hold an active cosmetology license in another state or jurisdiction (or be a foreign professional without a U.S. social security number, who may use a visa/passport instead). Permits expire after 14 days and are only valid for specific temporary activities, not regular practice. The bill directly affects out-of-state cosmetologists, event professionals, and foreign practitioners seeking short-term authorization in Kansas.

HB 2359 enacts uniform acts to standardize Kansas's approach to adult guardianship and protective proceedings, directly affecting individuals needing a guardian (for personal decisions) or conservator (for property management) and the courts handling these cases. The bill establishes clear jurisdiction rules for Kansas courts when cases involve multiple states, including procedures for requesting evidence, evaluations, or hearings from other states' courts. It replaces numerous existing Kansas statutes with these uniform provisions to simplify cross-state legal processes and ensure consistent handling of guardianship and protective arrangements. This change reduces complexity for families and courts when adult protective cases span state lines.

HB 2307 transfers authority for overseeing prenatal and postnatal diagnosed conditions awareness programs from Kansas' Department of Health and Environment to the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities. This change affects the Council, which will now manage activities like awarding grants for evidence-based information on conditions such as Down syndrome, establishing support hotlines for parents, and coordinating peer support programs. The bill amends existing law (K.S.A. 65-1,259) to replace references to the health department with the Council, while maintaining current rules until updated. It directly impacts healthcare providers who share diagnosis information and parents receiving prenatal/postnatal diagnoses of conditions like Down syndrome.

HB 2152 requires Kansas financial institutions holding government deposits exceeding FDIC insurance limits to secure those funds using a "public moneys pooled method" (investing in specific pooled securities, not cash). It directly affects all Kansas governmental units (state, counties, municipalities) and financial institutions acting as public depositaries. Key provisions include maintaining 102% market value of securities to cover unsecured deposits, requiring governmental units to first offer deposits to banks before using pooled funds, and allowing financial institutions to file complaints if units fail to comply. The bill also equalizes investment rates for municipal pools and bank deposits, with effective date January 1, 2026.

HB 2107 establishes a two-year deadline for homeowners and businesses to file claims against electric utilities for fire damage they caused. It allows recovery of economic losses for property damage, calculated as the lesser of restoration costs or the difference in the property's fair market value before and after the fire. The bill also requires the state Corporation Commission to hold wildfire risk training by July 2026, covering utility preparedness, mitigation strategies, and cost recovery for fire prevention. This directly affects utility customers with fire-related property damage and utilities facing liability claims.

HB 2109 requires public utilities to enter agreements with law enforcement agencies allowing them to attach, operate, and maintain equipment (like cameras or sensors) on utility poles in public rights-of-way. The bill exempts public utilities from civil liability for accidents, damage, or legal claims arising from these installations, shifting responsibility to law enforcement agencies. Key provisions include utilities charging only for electricity used (not pole space), law enforcement agencies securing necessary court orders, and requiring law enforcement to cover all costs and damages. This directly affects utilities (who must negotiate agreements) and law enforcement agencies (who bear liability and costs).

HB 2061 expands the legal definition of "critical infrastructure facility" for telecommunications crimes to explicitly include aboveground and belowground lines, cables, and wires. This change directly affects telecommunications and video service providers (like Charter Communications, which requested the bill) by bringing physical infrastructure such as buried fiber optic cables and overhead power lines under existing trespassing and damage laws. The bill amends Kansas law to clarify that knowingly entering or damaging these infrastructure elements - previously not explicitly covered - constitutes trespassing or criminal damage to a critical infrastructure facility. Penalties range from misdemeanors to felonies depending on the severity, aligning physical telecom infrastructure with other critical facilities like power grids under the same legal protections.