HB 2187 requires government agencies and public utilities to make a good faith compensation offer to property owners at least 30 days before filing an eminent domain lawsuit. It prohibits using eminent domain for recreational trails or park facilities and deletes the legislature's power to condemn property for economic development. If the good faith offer exceeds an appraiser's award, the property owner can appeal to retain the higher amount, but the agency cannot appeal to reduce it. These changes aim to strengthen property owner protections by mandating upfront compensation and narrowing eminent domain use.
HB 2188, the "Defend the Guard Act," prohibits Kansas National Guard members from being deployed for active combat outside Kansas without a formal U.S. congressional declaration of war or specific constitutional authorization under Article I, Section 8. It requires the governor to prevent such deployments and aligns with the state's view that Congress, not the executive, holds exclusive war powers. The bill does not affect domestic missions like disaster response under Title 32 of federal law. It directly impacts Kansas Guard members and the governor’s authority to manage deployments.
HB 2213 prohibits charging fees for helping veterans file or manage claims with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Department of Defense, or Kansas Office of Veterans Services. It bans both direct fees for assistance with veterans' benefit claims and referral fees to others who provide such help. Violators face penalties under Kansas consumer protection law and must follow attorney ethics rules like confidentiality and honesty. The law specifically allows standard attorney fee splits under existing Kansas rules but targets non-attorney fee-chargers exploiting veterans.
HB 2189 would amend Kansas tax law to allow property owners to subtract compensation received from the sale or government seizure (eminent domain) of their property from their state income tax calculation. This change directly affects Kansas residents and businesses who have property taken for public projects like roads, schools, or infrastructure. The bill adds a new subtraction to the calculation of Kansas adjusted gross income, reducing taxable income for these property owners. This adjustment provides a specific tax relief for the unique financial impact of eminent domain proceedings without altering broader tax rates.
SB 214 establishes two financial assistance programs to encourage legal professionals to practice in rural Kansas. It provides law students at Washburn University or the University of Kansas with tuition loans (up to $30,000 yearly) that become forgiven if they practice law full-time in rural counties (outside Douglas, Johnson, Sedgwick, Shawnee, and Wyandotte counties) for at least 12 months per year of funding received. Licensed attorneys may also receive loan repayment assistance under a separate program administered by the court system. Both programs require participants to meet specific practice obligations in rural communities or repay funds with interest, aiming to address legal service gaps in underserved areas.
HB 2343 establishes the "no-impact home-based business fairness act" to support small businesses operating from residential properties. It defines "no-impact" home-based businesses as those with limited on-site employees, no street visibility, minimal traffic, and no visible signage, and requires municipalities to treat them as permitted uses without additional permits or licenses. Municipalities may only enforce narrowly tailored regulations for public health, safety, or environmental reasons (like fire codes or noise control), and cannot require rezoning, fire sprinklers in single-family homes, or inspections unless applied equally to similar residential properties. This bill directly affects homeowners running qualifying small businesses and limits local governments' ability to impose extra regulatory barriers.
HB 2129 transfers all Kansas teachers from the KPERS 3 retirement plan (2015) to the KPERS 2 plan (2009). It defines "teacher" broadly to include certified school staff and college instructors, requiring all new teachers hired on or after July 1, 2025, to join KPERS 2 immediately. Existing teachers will automatically transfer to KPERS 2 on January 1, 2026, with all prior contributions and service credits preserved, and guaranteed benefits not reduced. The bill ensures no loss of rights or benefits during the transition, with employer contributions offsetting transfer costs. This affects all K-12 and community college teachers under KPERS.
HB 2214, the SAVE Act, limits fees charged by non-governmental advocates helping veterans navigate benefits claims. It prohibits upfront or nonrefundable fees and caps compensation at five times the monthly benefit increase if a claim succeeds. The bill requires written agreements, mandates specific disclosures that the service isn't affiliated with the VA or free government programs, and bans guarantees of specific benefits. It also includes data privacy rules for advocates handling veterans' personal information, such as requiring criminal background checks for staff accessing medical or financial data. The law applies to individuals or businesses charging for veterans benefits assistance, excluding VA-accredited representatives.
HB 2315 designates every September 9 as Kansas Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Day. The bill aims to promote public awareness of prenatal alcohol exposure, increase compassion for affected individuals, and support healthier communities across Kansas. It is a commemorative designation with no new funding or legal requirements - simply recognizing the day for educational and awareness purposes. The bill was introduced in February 2025 and referred to the Health and Human Services Committee.
SB 163 prohibits school districts from including clauses in employment contracts that exclude documentation of disciplinary or behavioral corrective actions taken against professional employees. The bill directly affects school districts and their professional employees (such as teachers and certified staff), requiring contracts to explicitly include such records. It amends Kansas law (K.S.A. 72-2218) to ensure these records cannot be omitted from employment agreements, promoting transparency in personnel documentation. The policy change applies specifically to professional employees, not administrative staff covered under separate definitions.
HB 2310, the "Kansas CARES Act," creates career pathways for direct support workers serving individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities. It requires new career education programs for students and professional development for current workers, mandates performance-based contracts for disability service providers, and ensures equal payment rates across all state disability waiver programs. The bill also establishes an online portal to manage waitlists and service communications, and requires the state to publish workforce data while expanding health coverage for direct support workers. These changes directly affect individuals with disabilities (by improving service choice), direct support workers (through career and health benefits), and disability service providers (through new contracting rules).
SB 177 increases specific campaign contribution limits for candidates (e.g., raising governor race limits from $2,000 to $4,000 per primary/general election) and automatically adjusts these limits annually using the Midwest region's Consumer Price Index. It eliminates all contribution limits for party committees, meaning donors can give unlimited amounts to state party committees. The adjusted limits take effect every two years after CPI updates are published. This directly affects candidates, donors, and party committees in Kansas state elections.
