Kansas Bills

HB 2019 allows county commissioners to appoint a qualified person to fill a vacant county-elected office (such as county commissioner, sheriff, clerk, or treasurer) when no candidate runs in the most recent general election. The bill requires the board to make this appointment instead of holding a special election for the vacancy. It applies specifically to the listed county offices and takes effect upon publication in the statute book. This procedural change ensures representation continues without additional elections when no candidates are nominated.

HB 2246 requires Kansas-licensed hospitals to post clear, online pricing for their top 300 procedures and provide written estimates for elective services upon patient request, directly affecting patients seeking care. Hospitals must display this information publicly and include it on their websites, with specific rules for pre-procedure estimates. Noncompliant hospitals face referral to federal health agencies, and patients can sue for damages if hospitals fail to follow the rules, including refunds and credit report corrections. The law aims to make hospital costs more transparent while aligning with federal price transparency requirements.

HB 2344 establishes the Kansas-Ireland Trade Commission to promote business and economic ties between Kansas and Ireland. The commission, composed of 13 members including legislative leaders, business representatives, Irish community advocates, and education officials, will organize trade events and identify opportunities for mutual growth. It is funded through the state commerce department, with members receiving standard state reimbursement for travel and meeting expenses. The bill directly affects Kansas businesses, trade organizations, and Irish community groups seeking to expand commercial relationships with Ireland.

HB 2348 clarifies that faculty tenure at Kansas public colleges and universities is not a guaranteed right or legal entitlement to continued employment. It states that institutions may grant tenure as a discretionary benefit, but it cannot be interpreted as creating a property interest in current or future jobs. Tenure-related benefits, processes, or preferences can be changed, limited, or revoked at any time by the institution or the state board of regents. This applies to teaching and research faculty (excluding those with employment contracts) at public postsecondary institutions. The bill does not affect constitutionally protected rights or eliminate tenure as a practice, only its legal characterization.

SB 74 would provide Kansas residents a refundable tax credit for purchasing lockable storage for guns and ammunition. For tax years 2025 through 2027, individuals could claim 25% of qualifying expenses, up to $250 per year. If the credit exceeds the taxpayer's income tax liability, the excess amount would be refunded as cash. The bill specifically applies to expenditures on storage devices (not other gun-related costs) and covers both firearms and ammunition.

SB 81 restricts discounted electricity rates for large industrial or commercial facilities in Kansas. To qualify, facilities must meet specific demand thresholds (200 kW, 300 kW, or 25 MW), maintain minimum annual load factors, and create a minimum number of permanent jobs (200+ for facilities over 40 MW). The bill prohibits facilities with projected peak demand of 40 MW or more from receiving discounts if they fail to meet workforce requirements or use certain tariff structures. Discounts last 5-10 years with percentage limits (up to 50% for largest facilities), and utilities must report program impacts biennially to the legislature.

HB 2339 creates two key programs to support adult care homes in Kansas. First, it establishes scholarships for part-time nursing students and sets minimum education requirements for nursing school instructors to strengthen the workforce. Second, it creates the intergenerational child care program, authorizing grants of up to $20,000 per year to adult care homes that offer child care services, to cover start-up or operational costs. The grants, administered by the Secretary of Health and Environment through a new fund, require proposals demonstrating community collaboration and must align with the program’s goal of enhancing care environments while addressing child care needs. The bill directly affects adult care homes and nursing education providers.

This Kansas Senate concurrent resolution formally requests the U.S. Congress to convene a national convention dedicated solely to proposing a constitutional amendment that would impose term limits on members of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The bill argues that such limits are necessary to reduce the influence of special interests and restore public trust in government by preventing long-serving officials from accumulating excessive power. If the resolution gains support from two-thirds of state legislatures, it would trigger a constitutional process requiring ratification by three-fourths of the states to enact the proposed changes. The measure also specifies that Kansas delegates to this potential convention must be selected from current state and local officials or through district elections, while explicitly barring anyone currently or formerly holding federal office from serving.

SB 109 provides Kansas retailers a 1.5% credit on the sales and compensating use tax they remit to the state each month, capped at $300 per retailer per month. This credit directly affects retailers who collect and pay these taxes, reducing their net tax liability. The credit applies regardless of whether a retailer files a consolidated tax return, even if they switch filing methods after 2024. The bill takes effect upon publication in the statute book, making this a concrete change to tax remittance calculations for eligible businesses.

HB 2243 requires Kansas' Secretary for Children and Families to refer children in need of care cases involving military-connected families to military family advocacy programs. Specifically, it mandates that when investigating such cases (where a parent is military personnel at a Kansas military installation), the Secretary must refer the case to a military family advocacy program established by the U.S. Department of Defense. The bill also requires the Secretary to create memorandums of understanding with all Kansas military installations, detailing how to identify military status, handle referrals, and maintain confidentiality. This change amends Kansas law (K.S.A. 38-2230) to include checking military status during child welfare investigations, directly affecting military families and the state's child welfare process.

SB 151 requires Kansas' Secretary of Health and Environment to request a federal waiver from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) by July 1, 2025, to end participation in four specific Medicaid services under the KanCare demonstration program. These services include expanded behavioral health care, residential/substance use disorder treatment, continuous eligibility for parents, and extended coverage for youth transitioning out of children's health insurance (CHIP). If CMS grants the waiver, Kansas must immediately stop funding these services; if denied, the state must reapply annually. The bill directly affects Kansas Medicaid beneficiaries currently receiving these services through the KanCare program.

HB 2049 updates Kansas insurance licensing rules for agents and public adjusters by clarifying grounds for license denial, suspension, revocation, or non-renewal. It expands the list of violations the commissioner may consider, including failure to pay state income tax, non-compliance with child support orders, and improper use of reference materials during licensing exams. The bill also adds specific factors the commissioner must evaluate when considering license reinstatement after a conviction, such as the applicant's rehabilitation, age at the time of offense, and social contributions since the violation. This directly affects current and prospective insurance agents and public adjusters in Kansas seeking licensure or renewal.