SB 228 requires temporary healthcare staffing agencies and digital platforms connecting independent healthcare workers with facilities to register annually with Kansas' Department for Aging and Disability Services. Agencies must verify workers' licenses, conduct background checks, and carry medical malpractice insurance. The department will oversee compliance through unannounced inspections, a public complaint system, and registration reviews. A $2,035 annual registration fee funds a dedicated regulation fund to support this oversight.
SB 243 requires courts to order outpatient competency evaluations for defendants charged with misdemeanors and generally for felony defendants, unless specific court findings justify inpatient evaluations. For felony cases, courts must document five key factors before ordering inpatient exams, including resource limitations, potential sentencing length, and whether the defendant faces certain serious felony charges. The bill sets a 60-day maximum limit for inpatient evaluations and prohibits using any statements made during evaluations as evidence against the defendant in court. It directly affects criminal defendants deemed incompetent to stand trial, altering how courts manage their competency assessments.
HB 2137 allows Kansas school districts to partner with private vendors to install and maintain video cameras on school buses that capture vehicles illegally passing stopped buses (violating K.S.A. 8-1556). School districts must approve the vendor via a board resolution, and the Department of Education will collect civil penalties from violators, which fund a new School Bus Safety and Education Fund. This fund covers camera system costs, verification of violations, and public education about the dangers of illegally passing school buses. The Kansas Highway Patrol verifies captured violations using recorded images, and penalties are sent directly to the vehicle owner via mail. The bill directly affects school districts, drivers who illegally pass school buses, and the state's school bus safety funding.
HB 2196 permanently exempts postsecondary educational institutions (like colleges and universities) from requirements under Kansas' Personal and Family Protection Act regarding concealed firearms in public buildings. The bill amends state law to remove the need for these institutions to post signage or implement security measures to prohibit concealed carry on their campuses. This means Kansas colleges and universities will no longer be subject to the general rules that apply to other public buildings, such as state or municipal facilities. The change directly affects all public and private postsecondary institutions in Kansas by simplifying their compliance with firearm access regulations.
HB 2194 exempts retired teachers employed by Kansas school districts in certificate-required teaching positions from the standard employer contribution rate under the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS). Specifically, it removes the requirement for school districts to pay KPERS employer contributions on retired teachers' earnings when they return to work as certified teachers. This applies to retirees working in covered positions without prearranged employment agreements, directly affecting retired educators who resume teaching roles in public schools. The change modifies K.S.A. 74-4914 to create this specific exemption for teaching positions.
SB 167 prohibits Kansas electric utilities from passing EV charging station construction, operation, or maintenance costs to ratepayers (regular electricity customers). Instead, it requires utilities to establish separate rate schedules for private EV charging station operators, based on actual electricity consumption (kilowatt-hours) rather than demand. Utilities must operate EV charging services through a distinct business unit and offer terms equally to private operators as they would to other third parties. This takes effect by October 2025, with utilities required to file new rate schedules with the state commission or publish them publicly. The bill does not affect make-ready infrastructure or utilities' own fleet charging.
HB 2230, the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, regulates kratom products as food items in Kansas. It prohibits selling kratom mixed with unsafe substances, contaminated products, or those exceeding 1% 7-hydroxymitragynine (a key alkaloid), and bans synthetic kratom compounds. The bill requires sellers to verify purchasers are 21+ and mandates clear labeling with a U.S. FDA warning about unapproved medical use. Violations carry fines up to $2,000 per offense, and the Secretary of Agriculture must create implementing rules. This directly affects kratom processors, retailers, and consumers purchasing these products.
HB 2248 establishes the Kansas Nursing Initiative Grant Program, administered by the State Board of Regents, to fund nursing education expansion at eligible Kansas colleges and universities. The program provides need-based or competitive grants covering up to $100,000 for non-consumable lab equipment, adjunct clinical instructors, student success tools (like tutoring and exam prep), and support services (including childcare). To qualify, nursing programs must be nationally accredited, Kansas Board of Nursing-approved, and have licensure exam scores meeting or exceeding national averages. Grants require no institutional funding match and are awarded based on board-established criteria. This directly supports nursing schools and students by addressing faculty shortages and enhancing program accessibility.
HB 2407 amends Kansas' anti-discrimination law to add sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and veteran status as protected characteristics in employment, public accommodations, and housing. It directly affects employers, housing providers, and businesses covered by the Kansas Act Against Discrimination by requiring them to prevent discrimination based on these new categories. The bill updates key sections of the law (like K.S.A. 44-1001) to explicitly include these protected classes alongside existing ones like race and religion. This creates concrete legal protections for individuals facing discrimination due to these specific identities or status.
SB 240 creates a new civil process allowing Kansas' insurance commissioner to sue individuals or entities for insurance fraud, seeking fines up to $10,000 per violation, restitution for harmed insurers, and recovery of investigation costs. It requires applicants for insurance producer or public adjuster licenses to disclose even expunged criminal records related to fraud, overriding standard expungement protections for such offenses. The bill also extends these fraud provisions to include automobile assigned claims plans. These changes directly affect insurance professionals seeking licensure and insurers pursuing fraud claims, focusing on strengthening enforcement against insurance fraud while modifying how criminal records impact licensing.
HB 2316 redirects civil fines collected from licensed facilities (like adult care homes and disability service providers) for fire safety violations into two dedicated funds. Instead of going to the general state fund, these fines will now support grants for facilities to improve health, safety, and welfare services for their residents. The bill creates two specific funds: one for adult care homes and another for disability community services providers, with funds used exclusively for approved projects benefiting program participants. This changes how collected penalties are allocated but does not alter the penalty amounts or enforcement process.
HB 2296 requires most health insurance plans in Kansas to cover diagnostic and supplemental breast cancer exams without out-of-pocket costs for insured individuals. This means patients won’t pay deductibles, co-pays, or coinsurance for these exams when medically necessary to evaluate abnormalities (diagnostic) or screen high-risk individuals (supplemental), as defined by national cancer guidelines. The bill applies to plans issued or renewed before January 1, 2026, and exempts health savings account plans until after meeting the deductible for non-preventive care. It specifically covers exams like mammograms, MRIs, and ultrasounds used in these scenarios.
