Kansas Bills

This bill proposes to change the Kansas state constitution to lower the voting threshold for ratifying U.S. constitutional amendments or calling a federal amendment convention from a two-thirds majority to a simple majority. The change directly affects the state legislature by reducing the supermajority requirement currently outlined in Article 2, Section 13 of the state constitution. This adjustment is being made in response to a federal court ruling that declared the existing two-thirds rule unconstitutional under the U.S. Constitution. If approved by voters, the bill would allow state legislators to pass these specific resolutions with a standard majority vote rather than the higher threshold previously required.

This bill proposes adding new rules to the Kansas Constitution that would guide how the state draws boundaries for congressional, state legislative, and school board districts. The key requirements mandate that districts be as equal in population as possible, with state districts allowed a deviation of no more than 5% from the ideal population, while also prioritizing compact shapes, preserving existing communities, and avoiding the dilution of minority voting strength. Additionally, the bill restricts when these maps can be redrawn, prohibiting the legislature from doing so unless required by the state constitution or ordered by a court. If voters approve this measure in the 2026 election, it will legally bind future lawmakers to follow these specific guidelines when creating electoral maps.

SB 303 would allow Labette County to impose a countywide retailers' sales tax to fund fire departments within the county. The bill amends Kansas tax law to authorize county commissioners to seek voter approval (via petition or election) for this tax, requiring revenue to be used *solely* for fire department support. This creates a new funding mechanism specifically for Labette County fire services, distinct from existing county tax uses for courthouses or jails in other counties. The tax would require voter approval and must be spent exclusively on fire department needs as specified in the bill.

SB 322 removes the Kansas State Board of Pharmacy’s authority to grant database access to the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) via administrative rules. Specifically, it deletes the provision allowing the board to authorize "delegates" (such as healthcare professionals or death investigators) through rules, requiring future access authorizations to be set by statute instead. This directly affects healthcare providers, pharmacists, and other professionals who currently rely on board rules to access PMP data for patient care or investigations. The bill amends K.S.A. 65-1682 and repeals the existing rule-making authority for database access. The change aims to clarify legislative control over who can access sensitive prescription data.

HB 2472, the FORUM Act, prohibits Kansas public colleges and universities from restricting free speech, expression, or association on campus. It bans designated "free speech zones" and requires all outdoor campus areas to be treated as public forums, while preventing viewpoint-based discrimination in student organization benefits or speaker access. The bill allows individuals to sue institutions for violations, with courts able to award up to $5,000 per violation and cover legal costs if the violation wasn’t in good faith. Institutions must also submit annual reports to the legislature detailing speech restrictions, disruptions, or legal actions taken.

HB 2492 requires Kansas cities and counties to fill vacant seats on their governing bodies (like city councils or boards) within 60 days. If the governing body fails to appoint someone to fill the vacancy by that deadline, it must pass a resolution directing the county election officer to hold a special election within 45 days. The election, managed by the county election officer, follows standard filing rules, and the winner assumes the seat upon certification. This applies to all Kansas municipalities except those already using their own procedures to fill vacancies within 60 days. The bill amends Kansas Statute 12-104a to establish this timeline and process.

HB 2499 requires individuals convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) or placed in diversion programs for DUI offenses to attend victim impact panel programs. These panels, run by approved nonprofit organizations, must be attended in person unless a court approves an online alternative due to impracticality. The bill permits nonprofits to charge up to $100 for the program and applies to all DUI convictions under Kansas law (K.S.A. 8-2,144 and 8-1567) starting January 1, 2027. It directly affects DUI offenders who face this requirement as part of their sentencing or diversion terms.

HB 2498 reclassifies driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs while operating a commercial vehicle as a "person crime" in Kansas, increasing penalties for these offenses. It raises penalties for repeat convictions (e.g., second offense becomes a class A misdemeanor with a 90-day minimum jail term) and mandates pre-sentence alcohol/drug evaluations for all offenders. The bill also adds a 1-month jail enhancement if a driver with children under 18 is in the vehicle during the offense. These changes directly affect commercial drivers convicted of DUI, with stricter sentencing and additional requirements for repeat offenses and child endangerment.

HB 2451 prohibits state and local government employees from using public resources - such as funds, vehicles, equipment, or work time - to advocate for or against state constitutional amendments or ballot questions. It directly affects government officers and employees, banning them from using their official positions to promote or oppose these issues through materials like mailers, social media, or physical signage. The bill allows neutral information sharing on official websites but exempts incumbents campaigning for re-election and certain commission duties. Violations would be classified as class C misdemeanors.

HB 2494 allows candidates running for nonpartisan offices in Kansas to voluntarily include their political party affiliation on election ballots alongside their name. This change modifies Kansas election law (K.S.A. 25-613) to permit nonpartisan candidates to add party labels, which is currently not allowed for such races. The bill directly affects voters and candidates in nonpartisan elections by providing additional information about candidates' party ties. It does not alter how partisan candidates' party affiliations appear on ballots. The bill is currently in committee after its January 2026 introduction.

SB 357 establishes Kansas' intercity passenger rail service program, authorizing the Secretary of Transportation to develop connections to regional and national rail networks like the Midwest Regional Rail System. It creates a passenger rail service revolving fund that will receive $5 million annually from state funds (starting July 1, 2027) to provide loans and grants for rail infrastructure projects, including station development, track maintenance, and operational support. The fund will be managed by the Secretary and reinvested to sustain rail service growth, with interest added to the fund. This program directly affects Kansas residents by improving rail connectivity and rail service providers like Amtrak through funding for qualifying projects.

SB 350 establishes grade-level rules for school-issued digital devices in Kansas public schools (K-12), directly affecting students, schools, and parents. It bans digital devices entirely for K-5 (requiring print-based instruction), restricts shared device use with time limits (max 1 hour/day) and blocks social media for grades 6-8, and allows issued devices for grades 9-12 with strict safety settings (blocking social media, disabling cameras, limiting use to 90 minutes/day). The bill mandates schools to provide media literacy instruction on digital health risks and requires parental opt-out for device issuance, home use, or digital testing. Schools must delete personal data between student uses and maintain safety standards for all devices.