Kansas Bills

HB 2567 requires battery producers to join a state-approved recycling program (battery stewardship organization) before selling covered portable or medium-format batteries in Kansas. It directly affects manufacturers and retailers of these batteries, mandating they cover recycling costs, set up collection sites, and submit annual reports on collection efforts and finances. The law excludes medical device batteries, car batteries, and certain electronics like computers and TVs from coverage. Producers who fail to comply face penalties, while the state will publish approved recycling plans online and protect confidential business information. The bill aims to prevent toxic battery waste from entering landfills and reduce safety risks at recycling facilities.

HB 2548 increases the minimum monthly personal needs allowance for residents of Medicaid-approved nursing facilities in Kansas from $60 to $85, effective July 1, 2026. It requires annual adjustments to this allowance based on the chained consumer price index to keep pace with inflation. This change directly benefits Medicaid nursing home residents by allowing them to retain more money for personal expenses like toiletries, snacks, and small purchases. The bill ensures the allowance grows with living costs while maintaining the current structure for Medicaid funding.

HB 2561 allows Kansas' state board of regents or state educational institutions to sell real property valued at $5 million or less without needing separate legislative approval. The bill requires the board to have property appraised by three independent appraisers, adopt sales policies, and submit an annual report to the legislature listing all such sales. Proceeds from these sales must be deposited into designated special funds managed by the state treasurer. This change streamlines the process for smaller property transactions, directly affecting the state board of regents and its educational institutions.

HB 2463 establishes a dedicated "rural health transformation fund" in Kansas to manage federal funds for rural health programs. It requires all federal moneys received from programs like Medicare/Medicaid for rural health initiatives to be deposited into this fund, which is administered by the State Finance Council. The bill mandates that funds can only be spent on approved rural health programs after legislative appropriation and council review, with unspent funds to be returned to the federal government by October 1, 2032. State agencies like the Department of Health and Aging Services will use these funds for rural health services, subject to strict oversight and reporting requirements.

HB 2506 creates a new "addiction counselor apprentice license" in Kansas to help individuals gain entry into the field before obtaining full licensure. This license directly affects aspiring addiction counselors who have a bachelor's degree and specific coursework in substance use disorders but lack the full supervised experience required for full licensure. The bill establishes requirements including a bachelor's degree from an approved program, substance use disorder coursework, and supervised work experience, while setting fees for this new license tier. It amends existing Kansas law (K.S.A. 65-6610 and 65-6618) to add this apprentice category to the current licensing structure for addiction counselors.

SB 329 requires county appraisers to submit their own single-property appraisal report at valuation appeal hearings before the state board of tax appeals. This affects taxpayers appealing property tax valuations and county appraisers, who must now provide their official appraisal instead of relying solely on taxpayer-submitted reports. The bill shifts the burden of proof to county appraisers when taxpayers present their own appraisals, requiring them to explain why they are not using the taxpayer's valuation. It also prohibits the state board from increasing a property's assessed value beyond the county's original determination.

HB 2456 would allow Kansas cities and counties to set a 0% sales tax rate on food and food ingredients. Local governments could adopt this through ordinances, requiring them to notify the state tax director within 30 days. Businesses selling food would pay no local sales tax on these items under this option. The bill amends tax law to add this provision, enabling localities to choose zero tax for food sales without changing state tax rates.

SB 401 requires Kansas county appraisers to conduct a new on-site physical inspection before increasing the tax value of residential property by more than 15%, excluding increases from new construction. This applies to homeowners whose property valuations are raised above that threshold, mandating a detailed review of both exterior and interior features (with homeowner request) rather than relying on drive-by observations or digital images. Homeowners must receive written notice and have at least 30 days to request an interior inspection before any valuation change takes effect. The bill aims to ensure fair property tax assessments by requiring direct, verified property inspections.

HB 2504 prevents cities and counties in Kansas from banning landlords from refusing to rent to prospective tenants who receive housing assistance (like vouchers), consider credit or eviction history, or set security deposits. It allows landlords to use their own criteria for tenant screening and refuse to offer a right of first refusal. However, the bill explicitly permits cities or counties to still ban discrimination against tenants or applicants who receive veterans benefits. This directly affects landlords (by expanding their screening flexibility) and tenants using housing assistance or veterans benefits (by limiting local protections against certain landlord decisions).

SB 379 creates a state-level program to standardize emergency medical dispatch and telecommunicator CPR services across Kansas. It authorizes the state 911 board to establish centralized medical direction, quality assurance, and protocols for local emergency call centers (PSAPs), while allowing each PSAP to choose whether to use this state program or maintain its own services. The bill also establishes a new state fund to finance these services, funded by $300,000 from the 911 operations fund starting in 2027 and monthly interest transfers, and provides liability protection for providers unless gross negligence occurs. This directly affects local 911 centers and emergency dispatchers by offering standardized protocols and support options for medical response during emergencies.

This Kansas House Resolution expresses strong opposition to any federal laws or policies that would override state authority to regulate artificial intelligence. The measure specifically rejects proposals that would prevent Kansas from creating its own rules for AI use in critical areas such as elections, public safety, employment, and healthcare. While opposing federal preemption, the resolution supports a federal baseline of protections that allows states to maintain their ability to enact stricter regulations tailored to local needs.

HB 2572 provides sales tax exemptions for purchases used to establish or maintain Kansas war memorials and property tax exemptions for the land and structures of these memorials. It directly affects organizations or local entities creating/maintaining war memorials (like veterans' groups or communities) and local governments, which would no longer collect taxes on these properties. The bill amends Kansas tax codes (K.S.A. 79-201 and 79-3606) to add war memorials as a new category under existing property tax exemptions, similar to how religious or educational properties are treated. This creates concrete tax relief for memorial-related costs without changing other tax rules.