Kansas Bills

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 243: Requiring outpatient competency evaluations in certain circumstances and requiring the court to make specific findings for inpatient competency evaluations.

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2137: Authorizing the department of education to contract with a private vendor to install, operate and maintain school bus cameras.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Transportation

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2196: Providing a permanent exemption for postsecondary educational institutions from the public buildings requirements under the personal and family protection act.

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.

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2194: Providing a KPERS working after retirement exemption from the employer contribution rate for retirants who are employed as teachers by a school district in a position for which a certificate to teach is required.

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.

Topics ✓ Education

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 167: Prohibiting electric public utilities from recovering from ratepayers the costs associated with electric vehicle charging stations and requiring electric public utilities to establish electric vehicle charging service rate schedules.

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.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2230: Enacting the kratom consumer protection act, defining kratom as a food product, prohibiting the distribution and sale of kratom that is adulterated, requiring persons to be at least 21 years of age to purchase such product, establishing civil fines for violations of the act and requiring the secretary of agriculture to adopt rules and regulations for the administration of the act.

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.

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2248: Establishing the Kansas nursing initiative grant program and authorizing the state board of regents to approve need-based or competitive grants for the expansion of nursing faculty, laboratory supplies and tools for student success at postsecondary educational institutions.

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.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2407: Amending the Kansas act against discrimination to include sexual orientation, gender identity or expression and status as a veteran.

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.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Veterans

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 240: Establishing procedures for a civil action instituted by the commissioner of insurance related to fraudulent insurance acts, providing that expunged criminal records will be disclosed in any application for licensure as an insurance producer or public adjuster if the arrest, conviction or diversion is for a fraudulent insurance act and including automobile assigned claims plans in provisions related to fraudulent insurance acts.

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.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2316: Directing the deposit of civil penalties collected for violations of correction orders issued by the state fire marshal into the disability community services providers civil monetary penalty reinvestment fund or the adult care homes civil monetary penalty reinvestment fund.

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.

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2296: Requiring that certain health insurance plans impose a no-cost sharing requirement for a diagnostic or supplemental breast cancer examination for breast cancer imposed on an insured.

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.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2019: Authorizing the board of county commissioners to appoint a person to fill a vacancy in a county-elected office when no candidate runs for such office.

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.

Bill results