Kansas Bills

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 349: Requiring the Kansas state high school activities association to establish a school classification system for activities based on student attendance and a multiplier factor that adjusts certain schools' student attendance.

SB 349 requires the Kansas State High School Activities Association to adjust private high school student attendance for classification in athletic activities using a multiplier factor. This factor combines three elements: championship history (1.15 for 5-9 titles, 1.3 for 10+ titles), geographic location (0.3 for schools in large public districts, 0.15 for medium, 0 for small), and socio-economic data (0.15 if under 20% of students qualify for free lunch, 0 otherwise). The adjusted attendance determines school classification for activities, but cannot change football classifications (e.g., 6-person to 8-person) and is not appealable. The bill applies only to private high schools (grades 9-12 not operated by public school districts) and expires in 2031.

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SCR 1616: Proposing to amend section 1 of article 11 of the constitution of the state of Kansas to limit property tax assessed value increases for real property in any subclass and personal property classified as mobile homes.

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to limit how much the assessed value of residential real property and mobile homes can increase each year in Kansas. The amendment would cap annual increases for these property types at 1.5% of their value, starting from January 1, 2027. This change directly affects homeowners and mobile home owners by restricting how their property tax bases can grow over time. The bill requires a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers and would be submitted to voters for approval before taking effect.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2500: Creating the Kansas public employees retirement system cost-of-living adjustment commission, prescribing powers and duties of the commission and establishing procedures of the legislature relating to the annual cost-of-living adjustment rate recommended by the commission.

HB 2500 creates a 13-member commission to determine annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for Kansas public employees' retirement benefits. The commission, appointed by legislative leaders and retirement system representatives, must study retirement benefits - including holding public hearings - and recommend a COLA rate for a four-year period. This recommendation must be submitted to the legislature by December 1, 2026, for the 2028-2031 period. If the legislature fails to enact the recommended rate within 30 days of the next session, the previous rate remains in effect. The bill directly affects all current and future retirees covered by Kansas public retirement systems, including state employees, police, firefighters, judges, and school staff.

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 354: Modifying member appointment, compensation and meeting requirements of the Kansas fire service training commission.

SB 354 restructures the Kansas Fire Service Training Commission's membership by replacing its previous appointment process with a new system. It specifies 12 members: eight appointed by the governor based on nominations from fire service organizations (e.g., one for full-time firefighters, one for volunteer firefighters), plus the fire marshal, forest service representative, university liaison, and emergency medical services director. The bill requires the commission to meet quarterly, clarifies that non-state members receive mileage but no salary (with state employees compensated per existing rules), and repeals the prior commission structure. This directly affects fire service organizations, training institutions, and commission members by changing how they are selected and compensated.

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2508: Prohibiting healthcare providers from prescribing medication, administering diagnostic tests or conducting ongoing behavioral health treatments to minors except in certain circumstances.

HB 2508 requires Kansas healthcare providers at school facilities to obtain parental consent before prescribing medication, administering diagnostic tests, or providing ongoing behavioral health treatment to minors under 18. It prohibits these actions without consent, except for behavioral health crises, mandated school screenings, or emergency care. Key exceptions include medical care for pregnant minors, blood donations over age 16, emergency treatment, and existing laws for venereal disease or drug abuse treatment. The bill directly affects minors, school-based healthcare providers, and parents/guardians who must provide consent for non-emergency care. It amends Kansas law to strengthen parental involvement in minors' healthcare decisions within school settings.

Topics ✗ Healthcare

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 319: Providing for a property tax rebate for certain real property used for residential or commercial and industrial purposes when such property sells in a qualifying sale for less than 97% of the county appraised value.

SB 319 would allow owners of qualifying residential or commercial/industrial property to receive a property tax rebate if they sell the property for less than 97% of its county appraised value during a qualifying sale (an arm's-length transaction in an open market). The rebate equals the excess property tax paid compared to what would have been due at full appraised value, covering the sale year and up to four prior years. To qualify, properties must remain in the same use, condition, and classification as at the valuation date, and owners must apply by December 20 of the year after the sale. The bill takes effect for sales on or after July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2421: Requiring school districts to prohibit the use of personal electronic communication devices during school hours, prohibiting any employee of a school district from using social media to directly communicate with any student for official school purposes and requiring school districts to report on the amount of screen time that certain students experience during a typical school day.

HB 2421 requires Kansas school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to prohibit students from using personal electronic devices (like phones or tablets) during school hours, with exceptions for students with individualized education plans (IEPs) or medical needs approved by a licensed healthcare provider. It also bans school staff from using social media platforms (e.g., Instagram, Snapchat) to communicate directly with students for school purposes, allowing only public, one-way communications. Schools must report the average screen time for kindergarten and grades 1-4 students during a typical school day, starting September 2026, using aggregate data without personally identifiable information. The law applies to in-person schools but excludes virtual schools and does not restrict school-issued devices like tablets.

Topics ✗ Technology

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2490: Clarifying the signature verification requirements for advance voting ballot envelopes and providing for the repeal of advance voting statutes, except where advance voting is required by federal law, if a state or federal court issues a final order or judgment which is not subject to appeal invalidating such signature verification requirements.

HB 2490 would automatically end Kansas's mail-in voting program if a court invalidates the state's signature verification rules for mail ballots. Specifically, if a final court order (no longer appealable) strikes down K.S.A. 25-1124(h), the secretary of state must publish a notice, and all advance voting by mail becomes void except where federal law (like the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act) requires it. The bill repeals 20+ existing election statutes related to mail voting, including signature verification requirements and ballot envelope rules. It directly affects Kansas voters who currently use mail-in ballots, eliminating that option unless federal law mandates it. The change would take effect upon court action or July 1, 2026, whichever comes first.

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 324: Prohibiting the use of a mobile telephone while operating a motor vehicle in school or construction zones and providing penalties for violations thereof.

SB 324 prohibits drivers from using handheld mobile telephones while operating a vehicle in school zones (during enforced reduced speed limits) or construction zones (with workers present). Exceptions include hands-free use, emergency calls, reporting illegal activity, or when the vehicle is safely stationary. Violations will initially result only in warning citations until July 1, 2027, rather than fines. The law defines "hands-free device" and excludes certain devices like emergency communication systems or commercial radios from the prohibition.

Topics ✓ Transportation

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2423: Allowing hunters who are federally licensed drone operators to use drones to locate wounded or recently deceased deer.

HB 2423 allows hunters who hold a federal drone operator license (FAA Part 107) to use drones to locate wounded or recently deceased deer during legal hunting seasons. To qualify, hunters must have struck the deer with a legal hunting method, possess a valid hunting license, and obtain landowner permission before launching or landing drones on private property. The bill prohibits using drones to harass wildlife or pursue wildlife that was harassed by drones, and explicitly excludes drone-assisted recovery from the legal definition of "take" under Kansas wildlife law. This policy change directly affects licensed hunter-drone operators while maintaining landowner rights and wildlife protection standards.

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2496: Requiring the director of property valuation to conduct a review or audit of the appraisal and apportionment of the valuation of the property of any public utility when the total appraised value of property of such public utility in this state decreased more than 5% and a governmental body requests such review or audit.

HB 2496 requires Kansas' director of property valuation to review or audit a public utility's property value assessment when the utility's total appraised value in the state drops more than 5% compared to the previous tax year. This review must occur only if requested by a local government (like a county or city) that levies property taxes on the utility's assets. The bill specifically targets public utilities subject to property taxation, ensuring their valuation is re-examined during significant declines to maintain accurate tax bases. It modifies existing law to establish this trigger and process, focusing on transparency in property tax assessments.

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 363: Requiring the department of health and environment (KDHE) to seek federal approval for continuous medicaid eligibility for certain individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities receiving services through a home and community based services waiver, directing state agencies to report to certain legislative committees on Kansans losing public assistance program eligibility, requiring the Kansas department for children and families and KDHE to enter into data-matching agreements with state agencies to verify eligibility for food and medical assistance and KDHE to submit certain data to the centers for medicare and medicaid services, prohibiting certain public assistance waivers or exemptions without legislative approval and self-attestation for purposes of determining eligibility for public assistance, requiring quarterly eligibility redeterminations for medical assistance and providing exceptions for certain individuals, limiting retroactive enrollment in medical assistance, immediately terminating eligibility for medical assistance upon confirmation of death of the enrollee, increasing the age limit for able-bodied adults without certain dependents and prohibiting certain exemptions from work requirements under the food assistance program.

SB 363 requires Kansas health and children's agencies to verify eligibility for food and medical assistance using mandatory data-sharing agreements with state agencies (e.g., vital records for death confirmation, labor data for employment changes). It prohibits self-attestation for eligibility, mandates quarterly medical assistance eligibility reviews, and requires immediate termination upon death confirmation. The bill also increases the age limit for able-bodied adults without dependents in medical assistance, restricts work requirement exemptions, and limits retroactive enrollment. These changes directly affect Kansas residents applying for or receiving food or medical assistance programs administered by the state.

Topics ✗ Healthcare

Bill results