Kansas Bills

SB 376 amends Kansas law to change the definition of an "antique slot machine" for gambling exemptions. It replaces the fixed cutoff date (manufactured before 1950) with a moving standard: a machine qualifies as antique if manufactured at least 50 years before the offense date. This change directly affects owners of older slot machines who might otherwise face criminal charges under gambling statutes, as it exempts antique machines not operated for gambling. The bill updates sections 21-6407 and 21-6408 of Kansas law to reflect this new age requirement, repealing the previous language.

SB 389 would remove sales tax from feminine hygiene products, diapers, and incontinence products sold in Kansas. This change directly affects consumers who purchase these essential items, making them less expensive at the point of sale. The bill amends Kansas tax code (K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 79-3606) to add these products to the list of items already exempt from state sales tax. The policy change is purely procedural, updating the tax exemption list without altering other tax rules.

SB 328 allows pharmacists to provide stock epinephrine auto-injectors to Kansas schools for emergency use in treating severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). It updates school medication policies to include these kits, requiring a doctor or nurse practitioner's prescription in the school's name, and shields pharmacists from liability when distributing them. This directly affects public and private schools by enabling them to maintain emergency medication kits without requiring individual student prescriptions for each incident.

SB 371 requires landlords in Kansas to offer tenants the right to purchase a rental property before listing it for sale to the public. It applies to residential properties (excluding buildings with four or more units) and mandates landlords to send tenants a written notice with key sale terms (like price and deadlines) at least 30 days before public listing. Tenants can submit a purchase offer within 30 days, and landlords must accept it if it matches the notice terms or provide a counteroffer within five days. If multiple tenants offer, landlords may choose the most favorable proposal. Violations are treated as consumer protection issues under Kansas law.

SB 386 allows Kansas taxpayers to claim a state tax credit for donations to scholarship-granting organizations that serve low-income students. It increases the credit rate from 70% to 75% of contributions for tax years after 2022 and raises the annual spending cap from $10 million to $20 million (with a potential maximum of $30 million). The bill also establishes a mechanism to automatically increase the cap by 25% if 75% of the current cap is reached in a given year. This directly affects donors - such as businesses, banks, and individuals - who contribute to eligible scholarship organizations in Kansas.

SB 323 amends Kansas law to explicitly define "earnings" as including all paid compensation for wage garnishment exemption purposes. This change ensures that all forms of earned income (like bonuses, commissions, or other paid work) are protected under existing garnishment limits, preventing gaps where some compensation might have been excluded. It directly affects wage earners in Kansas whose income might previously have been partially subject to garnishment due to an incomplete definition. The bill updates the legal definition without altering the current 25% cap on disposable earnings subject to garnishment.

This bill requires Kansas state agencies that provide public-funded benefits (such as scholarships or financial assistance) to noncitizens to submit quarterly reports to the Secretary of State. The reports must include the name and address of each noncitizen recipient. It applies specifically to agencies defined under K.S.A. 75-3701 that distribute public funds or benefits. The law takes effect upon publication in the statute book.

SB 388 limits late rent fees in Kansas to a maximum of 5% of the monthly rent amount, as specified in a rental agreement. This applies directly to landlords and tenants in residential rental agreements across the state. The bill requires that any late fee charged must not exceed this 5% cap, replacing any higher fees previously allowed under lease terms. It amends the existing residential landlord-tenant law to establish this clear financial boundary for late payments.

HB 2453 changes Kansas election deadlines for advance voting ballots. It requires advance ballot applications to be filed by the 14th day before an election, ends in-person advance voting at 12:00 p.m. on the Sunday before election day, extends ballot transmittal deadlines to 22 days prior, and sets voter registration to close 23 days before election day. These changes apply directly to Kansas voters seeking to vote by mail or in person before election day. The bill amends specific Kansas election statutes to establish these new timing requirements for ballot applications, voting windows, and registration cutoffs.

SB 385, "Erin's Law," requires Kansas school districts to implement mandatory programs starting in the 2026-2027 school year. It mandates annual teacher training on identifying and reporting child sexual abuse, including prevention strategies and resource information. The bill also requires age-appropriate student instruction for all K-12 students on abuse awareness, prevention, and reporting options, with a parent opt-out provision. School districts may use approved resources like the Erin's Law Foundation curriculum to meet these requirements.

SB 367 allows Kansas cities to authorize golf cart operation on sidewalks through local ordinances, directly affecting city governments and golf cart drivers. The bill amends state law to permit this use only if drivers are 16 or older and hold a valid class C driver's license. Cities must pass specific ordinances to grant this permission, replacing the current statewide prohibition on driving vehicles on sidewalks. This change applies only to sidewalks defined under existing law and does not alter general sidewalk use rules.

HB 2553 would allow Kansas residents who own or lease passenger vehicles or light trucks (under 20,000 lbs gross weight) to obtain a special "PBS Kansas" license plate starting January 1, 2027. Owners would pay a one-time $25-$100 logo royalty fee to PBS Kansas (via the county treasurer) when applying for the plate, with annual renewal fees required. The plate is non-transferable between owners and requires consent to share vehicle and payment details with PBS Kansas. This bill directly affects Kansas vehicle owners seeking a voluntary specialty plate to support public broadcasting.