SB 103 would allow Kansas cities and counties to propose a tax of up to 1% on nonresident workers (those who live outside the city or county but work within it). Before implementation, the tax requires voter approval via ballot measure, and must be resubmitted to voters for renewal every 10 years. Employers would be required to deduct the tax from nonresident employees' paychecks. Revenue from the tax must be used for specific purposes: for cities, at least half must help reduce property tax burdens, and for counties, at least half must help reduce property tax burdens.
HB 2203 amends Kansas special education law to include children with fetal alcohol syndrome disorder (FASD) under the definition of "other health impairment" in the Special Education for Exceptional Children Act. This change ensures children with FASD qualify for the same special education services, including individualized education programs (IEPs), that are currently available to children with other health impairments. The bill updates K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 72-3404 to explicitly add FASD to the list of qualifying conditions, removing previous exclusion. As a result, children with FASD in Kansas will now have access to necessary educational supports previously unavailable under the law.
HB 2009 prohibits most abortion procedures in Kansas, allowing them only when necessary to preserve the life of a pregnant woman in a medical emergency. The bill bans the distribution or provision of abortion drugs like mifepristone and creates a private civil enforcement mechanism: anyone can sue providers, pharmacies, or insurers who violate the ban and seek $10,000 in statutory damages per violation plus attorney fees. It directly affects medical professionals performing abortions, pharmacies dispensing abortion drugs, and entities covering abortion costs through insurance. The bill explicitly excludes the pregnant woman from liability and does not prohibit medical treatments for miscarriage using misoprostol.
HB 2171, titled "The Abolish Abortion Kansas Act," would criminalize all abortions in Kansas by making them subject to prosecution under Alexa's Law (K.S.A. 21-5419). It removes existing exceptions allowing abortions for medical reasons or in cases where a pregnant person's life is at risk, defining "unborn child" as a living human organism from fertilization to birth. The bill amends criminal and civil statutes to treat abortion-related deaths as wrongful death under the same legal framework as deaths of born individuals, with no medical exceptions for the mother’s health. It applies prospectively from July 1, 2025, and does not affect actions taken before that date. The bill directly affects healthcare providers, patients seeking abortions, and legal proceedings involving abortion-related deaths in Kansas.
SB 180 requires Kansas magistrates to consider a person’s prior convictions when setting bond for individuals arrested for certain sex offenses. This applies specifically to those charged with qualifying sex offenses at their first court appearance. The bill amends Kansas bond statutes to mandate that prior convictions be factored into the bond decision, alongside other safety and appearance considerations. It does not change bond amounts but adds prior criminal history as a required factor for these cases. The bill directly affects people arrested for specified sex offenses who may be released before trial.
HB 2130 allows members and recipients of retirement and disability benefits under Kansas' public employee retirement systems (KPERS, KP&F) and the judges' retirement system to choose between receiving payments every two weeks (biweekly) or monthly. For judges, this option becomes available starting July 1, 2026, after the first month's payment, with elections required within 60 days of the choice. Other beneficiaries under KPERS and KP&F will have the same payment frequency choice without a specific effective date. The bill does not alter benefit amounts, only the schedule of payments.
SB 234 bans Kansas medical and research facilities receiving state or federal funds from using genetic sequencers or analysis software made by or for specific foreign adversaries (including China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, and Syria). The law requires these facilities to replace prohibited equipment and software by October 1, 2025, with approved alternatives. Facilities may request state reimbursement for replacement costs if they submit documentation before the deadline. The bill directly affects hospitals, labs, and research institutions conducting genetic analysis that rely on state or federal funding.
SB 65 allows irrigation districts with 35,000 or more acres to conduct board member elections by mail ballot, rather than in-person voting. The bill directly affects the governing boards of these large irrigation districts by giving them the authority to choose mail ballots for elections and to set the terms (2-4 years) for newly elected members. It amends existing law to replace previous requirements with this new option, streamlining election procedures for districts that qualify. The change applies only to districts meeting the acreage threshold and does not alter voting eligibility (still limited to landowners within the district).
SB 283 lowers Kansas individual income tax rates starting January 1, 2026, and ends multiple tax credit programs. It discontinues credits for the High Performance Incentive Program, Kansas Affordable Housing Tax Credit, and payroll tax benefits from the Promoting Employment Across Kansas Act. The bill also repeals other targeted credits, including those for environmental compliance, agritourism liability insurance, and abandoned well plugging. These changes directly affect Kansas taxpayers and businesses that previously claimed these specific tax credits.
SB 118 imposes term limits on Kansas legislators: members of the House may serve a maximum of six two-year terms, and Senators may serve a maximum of three four-year terms. After reaching these limits, legislators seeking re-election must be nominated via petition under K.S.A. 25-205, rather than appearing automatically on primary ballots. The bill amends election rules to require petition signatures for candidates who have served the maximum terms, with petition forms including a statement acknowledging the term limit. This directly affects current and future legislators aiming for re-election beyond their term limit thresholds.
HB 2139 increases the dollar thresholds for school district procurement rules in Kansas. It raises the limit where sealed bids are not required from $20,000 to $50,000 for most goods and services contracts. The bill also allows school district superintendents to directly contract for purchases up to $50,000 without board approval, up from $20,000. This directly affects all Kansas public school districts by simplifying purchasing for smaller contracts. The changes amend K.S.A. 72-1131 and 72-1151 to reflect these updated spending limits.
HB 2097 creates a tax credit for Kansas landowners who manage property to support endangered species habitat. It allows credits against income tax for both property taxes paid on qualifying land and costs for habitat improvements, provided the land is designated as critical habitat by the Department of Wildlife and Parks and meets specific conservation standards. The bill requires the department to approve management plans and maintain a public website listing qualified programs. Landowners must submit annual requests by July 1 to qualify for the credit, which applies to properties enrolled in approved habitat conservation plans. The credit is limited to the taxpayer's income tax liability and cannot exceed state tax law limits.
