HB 2259 requires Kansas public school districts to adopt policies banning students' personal phones and tablets during instructional hours, with exceptions for special education plans, teacher-approved educational use, or health emergencies. It also mandates the state education board to create an annual social media awareness period, developing age-appropriate materials teaching students about social media risks (like misinformation and mental health impacts), safe usage (privacy, identifying predators), and benefits (career building, connecting with others). The policy directly affects all public school students and districts, as well as nonpublic schools through shared state materials. This bill implements concrete changes to school device policies and integrates social media education into curricula, without specifying enforcement details or outcomes.
SB 57 requires state agencies, counties, cities, and political subdivisions to reimburse owners or operators of communications or video service facilities (like cell towers or cable lines) for costs incurred when modifying or relocating those facilities to accommodate specific road or highway projects. The bill amends Kansas law (K.S.A. 68-402b) to mandate that facility owners submit cost documentation, and the responsible government entity must pay the full amount within 90 days. This applies to all highway projects funded through federal-aid programs. The law directly affects infrastructure providers and local/state transportation authorities involved in road construction.
HB 2200 creates a traffic infraction for leaving a firearm unsecured in an unattended vehicle in Kansas. It requires all firearms (handguns and other types) to be stored in a locked hard-sided container out of view or in a locked container with a tamper-resistant lock for soft-sided options. Exceptions include antique firearms, agricultural use on private property, law enforcement, hunters with valid licenses, and active military personnel. The Attorney General must also develop an educational campaign, including website resources and mandatory dealer notices, to inform the public about the new storage rules.
SB 254 prohibits immigrants unlawfully present in the U.S. from receiving most Kansas state or local public benefits, including reduced college tuition. It requires applicants 18+ to provide proof of lawful presence (like a driver's license or federal immigration documents) before accessing benefits, and mandates state agencies to verify status through the federal DHS system. The bill also requires immigration status checks for non-citizen criminal defendants during bond hearings, creating a presumption they might flee. Exceptions include benefits required by federal law, and it explicitly excludes driver's license services from the definition of "public benefit."
SB 106 allows homeless veterans in Kansas to use alternative documents - such as shelter records or military IDs - to prove identity and residency when applying for nondriver identification cards. It also eliminates the fee for homeless veterans to obtain birth certificates, which are required to complete these applications. The bill directly affects homeless veterans seeking to establish or renew nondriver ID cards, removing two significant barriers to access. These changes amend Kansas statutes governing ID card requirements and birth certificate fees for this specific group.
SB 292 prohibits the sale, gift, or transfer of hemp-derived cannabinoid products (like edibles, vapes, and cosmetics) to anyone under 21 in Kansas. It requires all such products sold in retail to use child-resistant packaging with tamper-evident seals, ban cartoon images or candy-like designs on packaging, and include clear labeling with batch codes, growing locations, and certificates of analysis. The bill also amends Kansas’ definition of industrial hemp to clarify that hemp products must contain no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC and prohibits health claims (e.g., "cures disease") on product labels. These rules directly affect retailers, manufacturers, and distributors of hemp products within the state.
HB 2123 increases Kansas' minimum wage for tipped employees from $2.13 to $6.15 per hour. It requires employers to pay this base rate, and if the employee's tips plus this base rate total less than $7.25 per hour (the standard minimum wage), the employer must cover the difference. This directly affects restaurant workers, servers, and other service employees in Kansas who rely on tips as part of their income. The bill amends Kansas law to ensure tipped workers earn at least the full minimum wage when combining tips with their base pay. It does not apply to workers covered by federal minimum wage rules under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
HB 2209 expands Kansas' sales tax exemption to include domestic and sexual violence programs, not just domestic violence shelters. The bill amends the state tax code (K.S.A. 79-3606) to remove the current restriction that limited the exemption to "domestic violence shelters" and instead covers all "domestic and sexual violence programs." This means these programs can now purchase necessary items like supplies, equipment, and services without paying state sales tax. The change directly benefits organizations providing critical support services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence across Kansas.
SB 80 eliminates a specific hunting permit option for nonresident landowners in Kansas. It removes the secretary of wildlife and parks' authority to issue deer hunting permits to nonresidents who own 80+ acres of Kansas farm or ranch land, restricting such permits to hunting only on their own land. This change directly affects nonresident landowners who currently hold this permit type, ending their ability to hunt deer on their property under this specific program. The bill amends Kansas law to prohibit this permit category, requiring nonresident landowners to use standard nonresident deer permits instead.
SB 176 prohibits smoking (including e-cigarettes and marijuana) on the gaming floor of lottery and racetrack facilities in Kansas. It directly affects gaming facilities, their operators, and patrons who use these specific gaming areas. The bill amends the definition of "smoking" to explicitly include e-cigarettes and marijuana use, and updates the "gaming floor" definition to clarify it covers only areas where Class III gaming occurs (excluding administrative or food service spaces within the facility). This change aligns with Kansas' Indoor Clear Air Act by extending smoke-free rules to these gaming venues.
HB 2208 creates a tax credit for Kansas taxpayers who make endowment gifts of at least $500 to qualified community foundations' permanent endowment funds. The credit equals 70% of the gift amount, with individual taxpayers capped at $100,000 annually and joint/corporate taxpayers at $200,000. Annual credit limits total $3 million for 2026, rising to $5 million by 2028, and no single foundation can receive more than 10% of the yearly total. Unused credits may be carried forward for up to five years.
SB 91 establishes a legal process for individuals wrongfully convicted and imprisoned to sue the state for compensation. It requires claimants to prove their innocence through a reversed conviction or dismissal, entitling them to $65,000 per year of imprisonment (plus $25,000 for parole/post-release time), interest on damages, and attorney fees, with payments structured as lump sums or annuities. The bill also directs Kansas’ Attorney General to seek reimbursement from individuals who knowingly contributed to the wrongful conviction, including pursuing criminal charges where warranted.
