Kansas Bills

HB 2676 allows Kansas pharmacists to initiate therapy for specific minor health conditions, such as influenza, strep throat, and urinary tract infections, without a physician's direct order, provided the condition is minor, self-limiting, or meets other defined criteria like not requiring a new diagnosis. Pharmacists must follow statewide protocols developed by a committee, which specify required training, documentation, communication with the patient's primary care provider, and adherence to the standard of care. Violations of these protocols could lead to disciplinary action by the state board, including license suspension. The law became effective on July 1, 2022.

SB 491, the Haylee Weissenbach Protecting Students Act, creates an independent Office of Education Inspector General in Kansas to oversee K-12 schools (including public, charter, and nonpublic institutions). It requires schools to report suspected professional or criminal misconduct by employees or agents (like volunteers or contractors), mandates criminal background checks for all school staff, and establishes an educator misconduct registry for individuals posing risks to students. The bill also requires schools to conduct audits and investigations into misconduct, prohibits retaliation against those reporting issues, and imposes civil penalties for noncompliance. These provisions directly affect all Kansas school districts, nonpublic schools, and their employees or contracted service providers.

HB 2633 amends Kansas law to increase the maximum service charge fee for wildlife department licenses, permits, and stamps. It sets a new cap of $2.00 for most licenses and permits, while raising the cap for migratory waterfowl habitat stamps to $1.00 (from $0.50). This change affects individuals purchasing these items, such as hunters and anglers, but does not alter the base cost of the licenses themselves. The bill repeals the existing fee structure and specifies that collected fees follow standard state deposit procedures.

HB 2614 modifies Kansas law to allow limited exceptions to the confidentiality of records held by the Crime Victims Compensation Board. Currently, these records - including medical, psychological, and crime-related documents - are confidential, but the bill permits the board to share them under specific circumstances: for court appeals, to assist law enforcement in child abuse/neglect investigations (if records weren’t previously available), to address suspected fraud, or when a court orders disclosure for a valid reason. The board must make a finding justifying disclosure (e.g., fraud or necessity for an appeal) before sharing, and all disclosures include safety safeguards to protect victims’ identities. These exceptions expire on July 1, 2031, unless renewed by the legislature. The bill directly affects crime victims applying for compensation, the board, and law enforcement agencies.

HB 2651 modifies Kansas law to allow anyone who signed a voluntary paternity acknowledgment to challenge it at any time after signing if they discover fraud, duress, or a "material mistake of fact." The key change specifies that genetic test results excluding the acknowledged father (or identifying another man) automatically count as a material mistake of fact, removing the need for additional proof. Courts must prioritize the child's best interests before overturning an acknowledgment. This directly affects fathers who signed paternity forms and children involved in such cases, ensuring genetic evidence can trigger a legal review without time limits.

SB 476 adds thrift stores operated by churches or religious organizations to Kansas's property tax exemption for religious and charitable properties. Specifically, it exempts real and personal property used for thrift stores that operate solely with donated goods (not consigned items) and are owned and run exclusively by the same church or religious group as part of their religious or charitable mission. This change applies only to thrift stores providing items free to those in need or using sales proceeds for religious/charitable purposes. The bill directly affects qualifying churches and religious organizations operating such thrift stores by removing their property tax burden on these facilities. It amends Kansas law to explicitly include these thrift stores under existing religious/charitable exemption rules.

SB 518 is a proposed bill that would authorize the Kansas State Historical Society to transfer ownership of 11.97 acres of land in Johnson County to the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. The land, described in the bill, would be conveyed via a simple transfer without appraisal or public bidding, subject to conditions prohibiting gambling and requiring a historic preservation easement. The tribe must also provide biennial reports to the state’s tribal relations committee for 10 years on land rehabilitation and consultations with other tribes. This transfer must be completed by July 1, 2028, and directly affects the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation (as recipient) and the state (as grantor).

SB 451 amends Kansas campaign finance law (K.S.A. 25-4148) to require campaign treasurers to detail specific vendor products and services paid for through advertising agencies, public relations firms, or political consultants. This change mandates that reports list each vendor, the exact products/services provided, payment dates, and purposes for every such expenditure exceeding $50. It directly affects campaign committees using third-party vendors for advertising or communications services. The bill strengthens transparency by requiring granular disclosure beyond simple payment amounts. This is a procedural reporting change focused on enhancing public visibility into campaign spending.

HB 2787 corrects a numerical error in Kansas law that mistakenly limited temporary alcohol permit holders to "four 12" permits annually (likely a typo for "twelve"). The bill amends K.S.A. 41-1201(h)(1) to clarify that temporary permit holders may receive up to twelve permits per calendar year. This directly affects event organizers, charitable auction sellers, and fair operators seeking temporary alcohol sales permits. The change fixes a procedural inconsistency without altering policy or creating new requirements.

HB 2783 increases the tax on electronic cigarettes from $0.05 to $0.15 per milliliter of consumable liquid (the solution used in e-cigarettes) sold or distributed in Kansas. This tax applies to distributors and retailers who sell e-cigarettes, with the increased revenue directly credited to the Children's Initiative Fund (as established under K.S.A. 38-2102). The bill amends Kansas statutes 79-3387 and 79-3399 to implement this tax rate change and redirect funds to the designated children's fund, replacing previous revenue allocations for tobacco regulation. It does not change how the tax is collected but specifies where the additional revenue must go.

SB 450 establishes a state employee suggestion program focused on cost reductions in state agency operations. Employees who submit cost-saving suggestions adopted by a state agency receive a monetary award equal to 10% of the documented cost savings (up to $5,000) within the first year of implementation. This award is part of the state's existing employee recognition program, which caps total annual awards at $3,500 per employee. The bill amends Kansas law to create this specific program under the secretary of administration's oversight.

HB 2786 approves an election held by Ellsworth County to impose a countywide sales tax. The tax revenue will fund construction, equipment, and furnishings for a new law enforcement center and courthouse improvements. The tax will expire once all project costs are fully covered by collected revenue. This directly affects Ellsworth County residents through the sales tax and the county government through funding for specific public safety facilities.