Kansas Bills

HB 2369 allows Kansas pharmacists to administer certain vaccines to patients aged seven or older (or as recommended by the CDC) under a vaccination protocol. This applies to vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), excluding specific vaccines like cholera, rabies, smallpox, and any vaccine approved after January 1, 2023. The bill expands pharmacists' scope of practice for routine vaccinations without requiring physician orders for eligible vaccines. It replaces the previous pharmacy act provision with these updated rules, effective upon publication.

HB 2373 prohibits non-citizens unlawfully present in the U.S. from receiving most state or local public benefits, directly affecting undocumented immigrants applying for aid. It requires applicants aged 18+ to provide proof of lawful presence (e.g., driver's license documents or federal verification) and mandates agencies to verify status through the federal DHS Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program. The bill excludes driver's licenses and identification cards from the restriction but prohibits undocumented immigrants from receiving reduced college tuition at public institutions. It also adds a requirement to verify immigration status for non-citizen defendants in criminal cases, creating a presumption they may flee if deemed unlawfully present.

HB 2087 allows insurers not authorized to operate in Kansas (nonadmitted insurers) to provide specific insurance coverages to vehicle dealers and for excess coverage on Kansas risks. It requires the Kansas Insurance Commissioner to maintain a list of eligible nonadmitted insurers and modifies licensing rules for agents placing such coverage. Vehicle dealers must now have insurance from either a licensed Kansas insurer or an eligible nonadmitted insurer to obtain or renew their licenses. Agents placing coverage with nonadmitted insurers must obtain written consent from clients and provide disclosures about the insurer’s lack of state regulatory oversight and guaranty association protections.

SB 262 requires Kansas 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, which cannot be reduced later. It prohibits using eminent domain for economic development projects or for recreational trails and park facilities, narrowing "public use" to only true public purposes. If the good faith offer exceeds the appraiser’s award, the property owner may appeal to receive the higher amount, but the agency cannot challenge this in court. These changes amend Kansas eminent domain law to strengthen property owner protections during condemnation proceedings.

HB 2225 prohibits Kansas mobile home park landlords from restricting tenants' access to communications, video, broadband, or telecommunications services, except when necessary for health, safety, or welfare. The bill amends state law to require landlords to allow tenants to choose their own service providers without undue interference. Landlords may impose reasonable requirements for standardizing utility connections, but any associated charges must not exceed actual costs. This law directly affects mobile home park tenants and landlords across Kansas by ensuring access to essential communication services.

SB 111 prohibits courts from imposing fines, fees, costs, or other financial obligations against juveniles or their parents, guardians, or custodians in cases under Kansas' juvenile justice code. It retroactively discharges all existing outstanding financial debts related to juvenile cases as of July 1, 2025, and requires immediate release from detention or supervision for juveniles held solely due to unpaid fees. The bill also bars collection of such debts through third-party agents and excludes restitution (payments for harm caused) from the prohibition. This applies directly to all juvenile court proceedings in Kansas, affecting families and youth involved in the state's juvenile justice system.

SB 26 would exempt specific purchases made by bowling centers in Kansas from the state's sales tax. This means bowling centers would not pay sales tax on qualifying items they buy for their operations, such as equipment or supplies. The bill amends Kansas' sales tax law (K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 79-3606) to add bowling centers to the list of businesses eligible for this exemption. This change directly affects bowling centers by lowering their operating costs for qualifying purchases.

HB 2258 transfers responsibility for administering elections from the Kansas Secretary of State to county clerks in counties currently using election commissioners. Starting July 1, 2025, the Secretary of State will no longer appoint election commissioners, and all election duties - including voter registration, supervision, and ballot management - will move to county clerks. This affects counties with populations over 125,000 that currently have election commissioners. The bill amends Kansas law to require county clerks to follow existing election procedures (K.S.A. 25-126) and transfer all election records to their office upon the change.

HB 2076 reduces the maximum number of days a court can authorize placing a child in a secure facility and eliminates the court's ability to extend that period. This change directly affects children in Kansas child welfare cases who are subject to court orders for secure placement, typically those adjudicated as "children in need of care" under specific legal criteria. The bill amends K.S.A. 38-2260 to set a fixed, shorter time limit for such placements without allowing extensions. This policy shift limits the duration children may be held in secure facilities during court proceedings.

SB 236 would authorize adult victims of childhood abuse or neglect to access their own substantiated abuse or neglect records held by Kansas child welfare agencies. Currently, these records are restricted to specific entities like courts, medical professionals, or foster parents, but this bill would add victims directly to the list of eligible individuals. The key mechanism is amending Kansas Statute 38-2212 to explicitly permit victims to obtain records related to their own substantiated cases, without requiring court involvement. This change would directly affect adult survivors seeking their own case documentation for personal or therapeutic reasons. The bill is pending review in the Public Health and Welfare Committee after introduction on February 6, 2025.

HB 2011 lowers the property tax rate for Kansas school districts from 20 mills to 18.5 mills for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years, and establishes a new formula to maintain revenue levels starting in 2026-2027 based on current property valuations. It directly affects residential property owners by increasing their exemption from the statewide school levy, reducing their taxable property value. The bill also requires school districts to remit all tax proceeds (except for specific bond payments) to the state school district finance fund. These changes aim to reduce local tax burdens while maintaining funding stability for public schools.

HB 2105 designates a specific stretch of U.S. Highway 77 in Kansas as the "POW MIA Memorial Highway" and names Bridge No. 82-14-6.88 on K-82 in Clay County as the "POW MIA Memorial Bridge." The highway segment runs from the I-70 junction in Geary County north to the K-16 junction in Riley County. The bill requires the Kansas Department of Transportation to install signage along these routes per existing law, without creating new programs or altering policies. This is a purely commemorative measure with no direct impact on legislation or funding.