Kansas Bills

The bill title claims to address veteran licensure definitions, but the actual bill text (HB 2280) is unrelated to veterans. Instead, it amends Kansas emergency medical services statutes (K.S.A. 65-6112, 65-6149a, etc.) to: 1) Allow paramedics/EMTs to act under a healthcare professional's order, 2) Permit nonemergency ambulance services to operate less than 24/7, 3) Require AED registration with the EMS board. This directly affects EMS providers, ambulance services, and healthcare entities in Kansas. The title appears to be incorrect or mislabeled based on the provided text.

HB 2206 renames the Kansas governmental ethics commission to the Kansas public disclosure commission, effective July 1, 2025. The bill updates campaign finance rules by requiring the filing of statements for independent expenditures, prohibiting agreements that require contributions in another person's name, and mandating the termination of unused campaign finance accounts. These changes directly affect political candidates, committees, and entities managing campaign funds in Kansas. The bill also clarifies key terms in the campaign finance act to implement these requirements.

SB 114 allows students enrolled in nonpublic schools or virtual schools to participate in public school activities like sports, clubs, and events such as pep rallies or award ceremonies, provided they meet standard requirements (e.g., residency, fees, and academic eligibility). It explicitly prohibits school districts and the Kansas State High School Activities Association from denying participation based on whether a student attends a public, nonpublic, or virtual school. The bill amends existing law to include these students under the same eligibility rules as public school students, ensuring equal access to ancillary activities without requiring them to enroll in additional courses at the public school. This change directly affects nonpublic and virtual school students seeking to join public school programs.

HB 2050 renames the Kansas Insurance Department to the Kansas Department of Insurance and reorganizes the securities division, changing the title of the Securities Commissioner to Assistant Commissioner, Securities Division. It authorizes the commissioner to set and publish certain fees in the Kansas Register, reduce board sizes for insurance-related boards, and eliminates Senate confirmation for appointees to the Securities Division position. The bill also requires the commissioner to maintain a list of nonadmitted insurers, allowing these insurers to work with vehicle dealers and provide excess coverage for risks in Kansas. These changes streamline departmental structure and administrative processes without altering insurance coverage requirements.

HB 2088, known as the "fast-track permits act," requires Kansas local governments to approve or deny building permit applications within 60 days of receiving a complete application. If an application is incomplete, the local government must notify the applicant of missing requirements within 15 days; failure to do so within 15 days triggers the 60-day deadline from the initial submission date. If the local government does not issue a decision within 60 days, the permit is automatically approved. This bill directly affects developers, homeowners, and businesses seeking construction permits for residential, commercial, or industrial projects.

HB 2075 requires courts to hold a permanency hearing for children in the custody of Kansas' Secretary for Children and Families within nine months of their removal from home, followed by additional hearings every six months thereafter. The bill mandates that courts document specific progress, including reasonable efforts toward family reunification, compliance with "reasonable and prudent parenting" standards, and transition planning for youth aged 14 or older. It also requires detailed justifications for alternative placements (like "another planned permanent living arrangement") when reunification or adoption isn't feasible, including documented unsuccessful efforts to place children with relatives or for adoption. The law directly affects children in foster care, courts, and child welfare agencies, focusing on accelerating permanency decisions while involving youth in planning.

HB 2022 requires Kansas special elections to be held either on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March or on the same day as an existing primary or general election. This directly affects voters and officials filling vacancies in state or local offices, as it eliminates the option for special elections on arbitrary dates outside established election cycles. The key mechanism sets a fixed March election date while allowing alignment with regular primary or general elections, preventing off-cycle special elections. The law amends Kansas election statutes to standardize scheduling, ensuring special elections occur during periods of higher voter engagement.

HB 2069 establishes a compact enabling school psychologists licensed in one state to practice in other participating states without duplicative licensing requirements. This improves access to school psychological services by allowing qualified professionals to work across state lines, particularly to address workforce shortages in schools. The compact requires practitioners to follow the scope of practice laws of the state where services are provided and ensures only licensed professionals deliver these services, while preserving each state's authority to protect public health and safety.

HB 2249 allows eligible rural emergency hospitals in Kansas to convert up to 10 existing swing beds into skilled nursing facility beds without meeting full nursing facility construction standards. To qualify, a hospital must be currently licensed as a rural emergency hospital, have previously operated as a hospital, and have provided skilled nursing or swing bed services for at least one year without safety violations. The bill requires the Secretary for Aging and Disability Services to grant these physical environment waivers upon application. This change directly affects qualifying rural hospitals seeking to expand limited skilled nursing care capacity in their communities.

SB 9 prohibits foreign entities from countries of concern (including China, Iran, Russia, and others listed) from acquiring real estate near military installations, state agencies, or local government facilities in Kansas. It also blocks these entities from purchasing drone components manufactured in designated countries and denies them access to state economic development benefits like tax credits or grants. The law defines "countries of concern" based on U.S. designations and excludes Taiwan, while allowing limited ownership stakes (under 10%) in publicly traded companies. It directly affects foreign governments, corporations, and individuals from the specified countries seeking to invest in Kansas real estate, drone technology, or economic development programs.

HB 2255 updates Kansas weights and measures regulations to improve accuracy and oversight. It increases the minimum invoice fee for testing from $50 to $70, requires service companies to obtain licenses and have technical staff pass exams, and mandates annual inspections for most commercial scales and measuring devices (with exceptions for grain elevator equipment over 250 pounds). The bill also adds new requirements for electric vehicle charging equipment testing and reporting. Additionally, it raises the Conservation Reserve Program (CREP) acreage cap to 60,000 acres with clarified eligibility rules. These changes directly affect businesses using commercial weighing devices, service companies, and the Kansas Department of Agriculture.

HB 2160 creates the Kansas municipal employee whistleblower act, protecting employees of cities, counties, school districts, and other local government units from retaliation when reporting certain issues. The law prohibits supervisors from taking disciplinary action against employees who disclose violations of law, unsafe conditions, misuse of public funds, or specific dangers to public health or safety to authorities or the public. Employees facing retaliation can sue within 90 days for damages and attorney fees, and local governments must prominently post the law for all staff to see. This law directly affects municipal workers who report wrongdoing, ensuring they can speak up without fear of job loss or punishment.