HB 2253 elevates the theft of livestock or farm equipment (like plows or barn tools) to a severity level 5 felony, the highest penalty category for nonperson crimes in Kansas. This change applies specifically to thefts of livestock (as defined in K.S.A. 22-4807a) or implements of husbandry (as defined in K.S.A. 8-126), regardless of the property's value. The bill amends Kansas law to explicitly categorize these thefts under severity level 5, replacing the previous lower-level felony classification. It also allows for the forfeiture of property used to commit theft of farm equipment.
HB 2082 allocates state funding for fiscal years 2025 through 2027 to various Kansas state agencies, including the Abstracters' Board of Examiners and the Board of Accountancy. It specifies exact budget amounts for these agencies - such as $25,723 for the Abstracters' Board in 2026 and $483,965 for the Board of Accountancy in 2026 - with strict spending limits on items like official hospitality. The bill also establishes approval requirements for using a special litigation reserve fund, requiring director of budget review for unanticipated expenses. This budget measure directly affects state agencies by authorizing their fiscal operations and capital projects within defined financial constraints.
HB 2079 changes how Kansas property taxes are calculated for residential homes. It requires tax assessors to use recent home sales exclusively from the same subdivision, township, or the closest nearby subdivision/township when determining a home's value for tax purposes. Previously, assessors could use sales data from broader areas within a city or county. This rule applies to all residential property valuations for ad valorem tax assessments across Kansas. The bill amends Kansas law to enforce this hyper-local sales comparison standard.
HB 2239 requires most Kansas employers to provide employees with a 30-minute uninterrupted meal period during work shifts of 6 to 8 hours, and additional periods for longer shifts (e.g., two periods for shifts over 14 hours). It prohibits combining meal and rest periods, allows employees to waive meal periods only with written consent they can revoke, and bans employer coercion in such waivers. Employers may seek exemptions for "undue hardship" (defined as significant difficulty or expense relative to business size/resources), but cannot exempt workers under 16. Violations carry fines up to $2,000 per incident. The law directly affects all Kansas employers with hourly or salaried workers.
SB 119 increases the fees that county treasurers, the Division of Vehicles, or contractors can retain when processing motor vehicle license applications and title certificates. Specifically, it raises the retained amount from $0.75 to $5.75 per license application, $0.75 to $3.50 per title application, and adjusts county treasurer compensation formulas. These higher retained fees are meant to cover administrative costs for processing services. The bill amends Kansas law to reflect these increased retention amounts while directing remaining fees to specific state funds like the highway patrol and technology hardware accounts. It directly affects local government offices and contractors handling vehicle registration and title services.
HB 2113 establishes a state conservation fund in the treasury, requiring an annual $5 million transfer from the state general fund starting July 1, 2025. The fund must be used to match private water conservation investments (2:1 state-to-private ratio) and support domestic water quality sampling, with results shared with the state geological survey. It also amends water plan fund transfers, increasing annual allocations to the water technical assistance fund ($7 million) and water project grant fund ($18 million) starting in 2025. The bill directly affects Kansas conservation districts, the Department of Agriculture’s conservation division, and entities adopting new water technology in designated conservation areas.
HB 2376 transfers licensing authority for cereal malt beverage retailers (both on-premise locations like bars and off-premise stores like liquor shops) from Kansas cities and counties to the state's Alcohol Beverage Control Division within the Department of Revenue. The bill allows local governments to continue issuing licenses if they choose, creating a state-level system with optional local oversight. It amends multiple sections of Kansas liquor and beverage laws to implement this change, specifically targeting "cereal malt beverages" (a category distinct from standard beer or alcohol). The bill is currently pending committee review after a hearing, with no final passage yet.
SB 27 modifies Kansas insurance law by removing two specific requirements. First, it eliminates the need for the insurance commissioner to submit certain reports to the governor annually. Second, it removes specific entities - including nonprofit dental service corporations, nonprofit medical service corporations, and prepaid legal/dental service plans - from the legal definition of "person" used when enforcing insurance regulations. This means these entities will no longer be subject to certain enforcement actions under insurance law. The bill amends and repeals sections of Kansas law related to commissioner reporting and enforcement definitions.
SB 246 requires all teaching license applicants and school employees with student contact in Kansas to undergo state and national criminal background checks. Applicants must pay for checks upfront, while school districts can cover costs for employees or require employees to pay fees. Checks must be conducted every five years (starting July 2025 for new hires, and from July 2025 for existing staff), with employees reporting certain convictions within 30 days. A new reimbursement fund will cover costs for the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services conducting these checks.
SB 208 prohibits the use of face-down restraint (prone restraint) on juveniles aged 10-18 who are in juvenile detention or correctional facilities or undergoing intake assessments. It directly affects juvenile detention centers, correctional facilities, and staff conducting intake assessments. The law explicitly bans this restraint method in two specific settings: while juveniles are held in custody at these facilities or during the assessment process. This policy change is part of Kansas' juvenile justice code, aiming to improve safety and care standards for minors in custody.
HB 2034 allows Kansas school districts to hire chaplains or accept them as volunteers to provide student support services, without requiring them to hold a standard teaching license. Chaplains must undergo the same background checks as other school employees, and districts cannot employ anyone convicted of a sex offense requiring registration under Kansas law. The bill directly affects school districts, chaplains, and students by establishing clear guidelines for chaplain roles in schools. It takes effect upon publication in the state statute book.
HB 2174 establishes a financial assistance program to encourage legal professionals to serve rural Kansas communities. It provides law students at Washburn University or the University of Kansas with up to $30,000 per year in tuition loans (forgivable upon meeting requirements) and offers loan repayment assistance to licensed attorneys practicing law in rural Kansas counties (excluding Douglas, Johnson, Sedgwick, Shawnee, and Wyandotte). Participants must commit to full-time rural practice for at least 12 consecutive months for each year they received funding, with specific repayment terms if obligations aren't met. The program is administered by a committee of rural attorneys, law school representatives, and non-attorneys, pending legislative approval. This bill is currently pending in committee and has not yet become law.
