Kansas Bills

HB 2169 exempts owners of nonresidential property in Johnson County from cleanup costs or liability related to pesticide applications made by the U.S. Army before 2005. It specifically removes responsibility for soil, groundwater, or surface water remediation if the property remains nonresidential. However, if the property is later converted to residential use or used as a daycare, the owner becomes liable for cleanup costs. The bill also requires sellers to include a permanent disclosure notice in property deeds about potential pesticide contamination if the land is ever used residentially.

HB 2039 amends Kansas law to clarify that physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology providers are not classified as home health agencies under the Kansas credentialing act. The bill adds maternity centers to the definition of healthcare provider for insurance purposes under the healthcare provider insurance availability act. It also permits certain ambulance services to operate fewer than 24 hours daily, requires entities controlling automated external defibrillators to register with the emergency medical services board, and clarifies that paramedics may provide services under a healthcare professional's authorization.

HB 2201 creates a special FFA (Future Farmers of America) license plate option for Kansas vehicle owners. It allows Kansas residents who own passenger vehicles or light trucks to obtain one FFA plate per vehicle starting January 2026, requiring a $25-$100 annual "logo use royalty" payment to the county treasurer (not the standard registration fee). The plate is non-transferable between owners, must be renewed annually with the royalty payment, and includes data sharing consent for the Kansas FFA Foundation. This directly affects Kansas vehicle owners who choose this plate, with all royalty payments funding the FFA Foundation.

SB 35 discontinues two property tax levies in Kansas: one for the Kansas educational building fund (used for state universities) and one for the state institutions building fund (used for facilities at mental health, juvenile justice, and vocational rehabilitation institutions). The bill replaces these levies with funding from the state general fund, starting in 2026. For the educational building fund, it requires an initial $50 million transfer in 2026, followed by annual increases of 2% of $50 million. This shift directly affects how the state finances building projects at educational and state institutions by moving funding from property taxes to general state funds.

HB 2313 prohibits Kansas state agencies from using artificial intelligence platforms controlled by specified "countries of concern" (including China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuela) or the DeepSeek AI platform on state-issued devices or state networks. It requires state agencies to delete existing accounts for these AI tools and ban installation of related applications. The law also extends to prohibit foreign adversary-produced genetic sequencers or genetic analysis software on state systems. Exceptions apply only for law enforcement or cybersecurity investigations. The bill directly affects all state employees and IT systems managed by Kansas state agencies.

SB 139 updates definitions and administrative procedures in Kansas' state banking code. It clarifies what constitutes a "bank" (excluding certain limited-service credit card operations), defines "bank holding company" with specific exemptions, and specifies that Kansas banks must notify regulators immediately of board changes. The bill also requires merger charters to become void on the effective date and ensures certain hearings follow Kansas' administrative procedures. These changes primarily affect Kansas-chartered banks, bank holding companies, and financial regulators by modernizing regulatory language and processes.

SB 241 clarifies that certain restrictive covenants in business contracts - like non-compete agreements for employees or non-solicitation of customers - are enforceable and not considered illegal restraints of trade under Kansas law. It specifically states that covenants limiting employee solicitation or customer contact must not exceed 2 years (for employees) or 4 years (for business owners) and must apply only to "material contact" customers. The law creates a legal presumption that such agreements are valid if they meet these time and scope limits, reducing court uncertainty. This directly affects businesses and employees in Kansas by making these common contract terms more predictable and enforceable.

SB 193 amends Kansas law to remove law enforcement agencies and officers from the statewide protocol for opioid reversal medications (emergency opioid antagonists). This change exempts law enforcement agencies from the requirement to have a physician medical director, as they are no longer defined as "first responders" or "first responder agencies" under the protocol. The bill revises key definitions in the statute to exclude law enforcement, meaning these agencies are no longer subject to the protocol's training, storage, and medical oversight rules. As a result, law enforcement in Kansas will not be required to follow the specific procedures for opioid reversal medications that apply to other first responders like emergency medical services or fire departments.

SB 42 creates a web-based system for verifying motor vehicle liability insurance in Kansas, replacing paper-based verification methods. It requires insurers to connect to this online system by July 2026, eliminates some reports to the governor, standardizes surety bonds at $100,000, and prohibits third-party administrators from commingling client funds. The bill directly affects motor vehicle insurers, third-party administrators, title agents, and state agencies like the Department of Revenue (KDOR) and law enforcement. Key provisions include real-time verification access for authorized entities, mandatory disclosure of administrator bankruptcies, and making title agent reports available for inspection upon request.

SB 135 amends Kansas law to require courts to prioritize child-related orders (like temporary custody and residency) issued under the Protection From Abuse Act. This change ensures that provisions addressing minor children's safety and living arrangements take precedence over other orders in the same case. The bill modifies K.S.A. 60-3107(a)(4) to clarify that child custody and parenting time decisions must be given priority when courts issue protection orders. It directly affects parents, children, and courts handling abuse cases involving minors. The change streamlines court decisions to focus first on children's immediate safety needs.

SB 64 updates Kansas' public employees' retirement system (KPERS) rules. It adjusts how "compensation" is defined to include certain tax-advantaged retirement plans (like 403b and 457 plans under federal tax code), directly affecting how retirement benefits are calculated for state employees. The bill also extends the deadline for filing administrative appeals related to retirement benefits and corrects outdated references in KPERS statutes. These changes primarily impact KPERS members, their beneficiaries, and the retirement system's administrators.

SB 227 modifies Kansas's tax credit for historic building restoration by creating tiered credit rates based on city population size and project cost. Property owners restoring historic structures in cities with under 50,000 residents receive a 40% credit for projects costing $5,000 or more, while larger cities offer 25-30% credits. The bill also allows taxpayers to transfer unused credits to other entities and carry forward excess credits for up to five years. This directly affects property owners, developers, and nonprofits undertaking historic preservation in Kansas communities.