Kansas Bills

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2154: Imposing property tax on rental and leased vehicles and discontinuing the excise tax on the rental and lease of such vehicles.

HB 2154 replaces the existing tax on each rental transaction (an excise tax) with a property tax on rental vehicles themselves, affecting car rental companies that own 250 or more vehicles. These companies must register their vehicles with the state, display a special permanent license plate marked as a rental fleet, and pay an annual registration fee (up to $1 per vehicle) instead of the previous tax. The bill discontinues the excise tax on vehicle rentals and establishes this new property tax system under existing vehicle tax statutes. Peer-to-peer vehicle sharing platforms, like Turo, are explicitly excluded from this tax under the bill's definitions.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HCR 5009: Proposing a constitutional amendment reserving the power of initiative to the people of Kansas.

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to give Kansas citizens the direct power to suggest and pass changes to state laws and the constitution without legislative approval. To start this process, supporters must gather signatures from at least 10% of voters for constitutional amendments or 5% for regular laws, and they must file their petitions with the secretary of state between 360 and 120 days before an election. The amendment includes specific rules requiring each proposal to focus on a single subject, include a clear title explaining its intent and effects, and be submitted separately from other measures if multiple initiatives are on the ballot. Additionally, the text limits the number of citizen-led proposals that can appear on a single ballot to five and restricts spending-related initiatives to only those funded by new revenue sources.

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2065: Providing for the appointment of delegates to a convention under article V of the constitution of the United States and prescribing the duties and responsibilities of such delegates.

HB 2065 establishes procedures for Kansas to appoint delegates to a potential Article V convention (a meeting to propose U.S. constitutional amendments). It specifies that Kansas delegates and alternates will be appointed by legislative leaders (House/Senate speakers, majority/minority leaders, and caucuses), all of whom must be qualified Kansas legislators. The bill requires delegates to swear an oath supporting both U.S. and Kansas constitutions, designates the House speaker-appointed delegate as chair (with sole voting authority for the delegation), and mandates that all votes require prior approval by a majority of delegates. It also prohibits voting on "unauthorized amendments" outside the convention's stated purpose and outlines recall procedures for delegates.

vetoed · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2346: Substitute for HB 2346 by Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development - Establishing the Kansas sports tourism grant program administered by the secretary of commerce to provide matching grants to communities for developing and continuing sporting events and providing for funding of such grants from the state economic development initiatives fund.

HB 2346 establishes a Kansas sports tourism grant program administered by the secretary of commerce to provide matching grants to communities developing or continuing sporting events. The program funds events generating significant out-of-state economic impact, requiring minimum thresholds of $2.5 million in spending and 3,000 hotel room nights for 60% of funds, or $250,000 in spending/500 hotel rooms for 40% of funds. A committee of legislative and appointed members reviews applications, allocates funds, and ensures 30% of smaller-event funding supports counties outside Johnson, Wyandotte, and Sedgwick. The bill prohibits grants for major professional leagues (NBA, NFL, etc.) or existing Kansas professional sports teams. Funding comes from the state economic development fund or general fund if needed.

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 181: House Substitute for SB 181 by Committee on Appropriations - Making and concerning appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for various state agencies, authorizing certain capital improvement projects and fees and authorizing certain transfers.

SB 181 limits annual spending growth from Kansas' state general fund by setting a yearly cap based on inflation (CPI) and population changes. It requires the state treasurer to certify this cap each year by September 1, using the previous year's total expenditures multiplied by the Midwest CPI plus population growth percentage. The bill mandates that all legislative budget measures and the governor's proposed budget for the next fiscal year must not exceed this certified cap. This directly affects the legislature when drafting budget bills, the governor when submitting budget reports, and the state treasurer's certification process under amended K.S.A. 75-3721.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 165: Requiring school district bond elections and other tax levy question submitted elections be held only on primary or general election dates and only permitting one such bond election to be conducted each calendar year.

SB 165 requires school districts and community colleges to hold bond issuance and tax levy approval elections only on primary or general election dates, and limits each to one per calendar year. It directly affects school districts and community colleges needing voter approval for bond or tax measures. The key provision prohibits special elections for these purposes outside standard election cycles, replacing prior rules that allowed more frequent votes. This changes how local governments schedule these votes, ensuring they align with existing statewide election calendars.

passed both · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2018: Senate Substitute for HB 2018 by Committee on Federal and State Affairs - Creating the crime of interference with the conduct of a religious assembly, providing criminal penalties therefor and providing for a civil cause of action for damages.

HB 2018 ensures that active military members, their spouses, and dependents cannot be barred from serving as poll workers in Kansas elections solely due to their residency location or whether they are registered voters. The bill explicitly prohibits county election officers and the secretary of state from disqualifying these individuals based on those two factors, while maintaining other existing requirements like age limits. This change directly affects military families and active-duty personnel who wish to serve in election roles, removing a common barrier related to temporary or non-permanent residence. The law applies to all elections and takes effect upon publication in the statute book.

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 123: Providing state general funds for school meals programs and prohibiting local boards from collecting money for such meals.

SB 123 requires the state to reimburse Kansas school districts $0.40 per reduced-price meal served starting in the 2025-2026 school year, replacing a previous 6-cent rate. It directly prohibits local school boards from charging students for these meals, ensuring no out-of-pocket costs for eligible families. The bill also bans using state funds for meals labeled as "identifiable imported meats." This policy change affects all Kansas public schools participating in federally approved reduced-price meal programs and shifts funding responsibility from local fees to state general funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2285: Modifying the definition of lead-based paint in the residential childhood lead poisoning prevention act to include paint that contains lead equal to or in excess of 0.009% by weight or in excess of that specified in federal law, whichever is less.

HB 2285 updates Kansas law to define lead-based paint as containing lead equal to or exceeding 0.009% by weight (instead of the previous 0.5%), aligning with or being stricter than federal standards. This change directly affects property owners and contractors in residential buildings constructed before 1978, requiring them to test and address paint meeting this threshold. The bill modifies the legal definition in the Residential Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act without adding new requirements or procedures. It takes effect upon publication in the statute book.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 263: House Substitute for SB 263 by Committee on Education - Establishing standards and requirements for active shooter drills conducted by public and accredited nonpublic elementary and secondary schools and regulating active shooter simulations.

SB 263 establishes standards for active shooter drills in Kansas public and accredited nonpublic K-12 schools. It requires drills to be trauma-informed, age-appropriate, and inclusive (including accommodations for students with disabilities), while banning drills that mimic real shootings. Schools must notify parents 24 hours in advance with opt-out options, provide alternative safety education for opted-out students, and conduct annual reviews of drill impacts on student and staff well-being. The bill also mandates annual evidence-based violence prevention training for grades 6-12 and prohibits active shooter simulations during school hours without specific parental consent for grades 9-12.

Topics ✓ Education

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2187: Requiring government agencies, public utilities and other entities when exercising the power of eminent domain to make a good faith offer for the property prior to filing an eminent domain action, providing the good faith offer, if greater than the appraiser's award, shall be deposited with the court, allowing appeals from that amount, prohibiting the exercise of eminent domain for recreational trails and park and recreational facilities and deleting the power of the legislature to condemn property for economic development.

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.

Topics ✗ Housing

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2188: Enacting the defend the guard act to prescribe when the Kansas national guard may be released from the state for active duty combat.

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.

Bill results