SB 202 transfers all current and future teachers in Kansas from the KPERS 3 retirement plan (established in 2015) to the older KPERS 2 plan (established in 2009). It affects all teachers, including those currently enrolled in KPERS 3, with the transfer automatic on January 1, 2026, and new teachers hired on or after July 1, 2025, starting directly in KPERS 2. The bill ensures teachers retain all prior service credit and benefits under the new plan, with no reduction in benefits compared to their previous plan, and employer contributions will offset the administrative costs of the transfer.
SB 52 creates tax incentives to attract film, video, and digital media productions to Kansas. It provides an income tax credit and sales tax exemption for productions spending at least $50,000 in the state, requiring at least 10% of crew to be Kansas residents and excluding news, local ads, or non-commercial projects. The Secretary of Commerce administers the program, verifying eligibility and issuing annual reports to the legislature. This directly affects producers of eligible content like feature films, TV series, and video games meeting the spending and residency criteria.
HB 2202 requires Kansas postsecondary education institutions training future teachers to equip pre-service educators (those studying to become licensed teachers) in early childhood, elementary, secondary, and special education with specific knowledge about fetal alcohol syndrome disorder (FASD). The bill mandates that these institutions teach trainees to recognize FASD signs and behaviors, understand its impacts on learning and behavior, and learn communication techniques for discussing suspected FASD with parents or guardians. This applies to all state universities, municipal universities, community colleges, and accredited private institutions in Kansas offering teacher preparation programs. The policy directly affects teacher training programs and future educators, aiming to improve support for children with FASD in schools.
This bill raises the mandatory retirement age for specific magistrate judges in Kansas from 75 to 78 years old. It directly affects district magistrate judges who are regularly admitted to practice law in Kansas and serve in counties with populations of 10,000 or fewer people. The key change modifies existing law (K.S.A. 20-2608) to extend the retirement age for this group, while other retirement provisions for judges remain unchanged. The bill does not alter retirement benefits or apply to judges in larger counties.
SB 160 grants Kansas's Attorney General concurrent authority with county or district attorneys to prosecute certain crimes involving elementary and secondary schools. Specifically, it allows the Attorney General to share prosecution power for Chapter 72 crimes (like theft, organized retail crime, or racketeering) when those crimes occur across two or more counties and are part of a broader criminal pattern affecting schools. This directly affects the Attorney General's office, local prosecutors, and school communities by expanding state-level involvement in multi-county school-related crime cases. The bill amends Kansas Statutes Annotated 75-702 to add this provision, removing the prior restriction on the Attorney General's authority for such cases.
HB 2126 would exempt Kansas Legal Services, Inc. from paying sales tax on purchases made for its operations. The bill amends Kansas' sales tax law to add this organization to the list of entities already eligible for tax exemptions, such as hospitals and schools. The exemption covers tangible personal property and services purchased directly by the organization for its work. As a result, Kansas Legal Services, Inc. would not pay sales tax on qualifying operational purchases.
SB 257, the Healthcare Access for Working Kansans (HAWK) Act, would expand Kansas' medical assistance program to cover non-pregnant adults under 65 with incomes at or below 138% of the federal poverty level, effective January 1, 2026. Applicants must provide employment verification (e.g., pay stubs or W-2 forms), with exemptions for students, parents, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and those experiencing homelessness. The bill requires the state to administer benefits through a managed care system and includes a provision to phase out coverage over 12 months if federal Medicaid funding falls below 90%.
SB 90 creates a property tax exemption for the first $100,000 of value on owner-occupied homes in Kansas, affecting homeowners with homes valued under $350,000 (adjusted annually for inflation starting in 2027). Local governments can propose ballot questions to voters to opt out of this exemption for their area - requiring a two-thirds vote for full exemption removal or a majority vote for a 50% reduction. The exemption does not apply to taxes from existing bonds or certain specific levies. This policy directly impacts eligible homeowners and gives local communities annual voting power over local tax rates.
HB 2361 abolishes Kansas's existing nursing scholarship program and replaces it with the "Kansas healthcare service scholarship program." The new program expands eligibility to include part-time students and adds allied health and health science programs to the list of qualifying educational paths, beyond the previous nursing-only focus. It transfers funds from the state general fund to support these expanded scholarship opportunities and amends multiple statutes to reflect the program's updated scope and structure. This change directly affects students pursuing healthcare education at eligible Kansas institutions, including community colleges, universities, and accredited programs.
HB 2391 prohibits carrying concealed handguns within the Kansas state capitol complex, including all buildings and grounds of the capitol. It directly affects all individuals entering the capitol, with exceptions for law enforcement officers, active-duty military personnel, and others specifically authorized under the law. The bill amends existing statutes to clarify that concealed carry is illegal in the capitol without requiring proof of intent, while maintaining existing exceptions for authorized personnel. It repeals prior provisions about firearm access in the capitol and specifies that "capitol complex" includes all state-owned buildings and grounds designated for the capitol.
HB 2143 requires Kansas's Secretary of State to partner with credit rating agencies to obtain personal data (including names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and non-citizen IDs) for verifying the U.S. citizenship of registered voters. This directly affects voters whose citizenship status is checked, with county election officers mandated to remove non-citizens from voter rolls and notify them they can re-register by providing citizenship proof. The bill establishes a mechanism where credit agencies' existing data is used to confirm citizenship, replacing current verification methods. It applies to all Kansas voter registrations and takes effect upon publication in the state statute book.
SB 196 requires all Kansas business entities (including for-profit and non-profit organizations) and public employers (state agencies) to use the federal e-verify program to confirm work authorization for new employees hired on or after July 1, 2025. It prohibits employers from deducting wages paid to non-citizens without federal work authorization from income tax calculations. The bill defines "unauthorized aliens" per federal law (8 U.S.C. § 1324a(h)(3)) and makes it unlawful to knowingly hire or refer such individuals. Enforcement is handled by county attorneys or the state attorney general through civil actions.
