Kansas Bills

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 132: Establishing certain license fees and training requirements, creating a process for day care facility licensees to apply for temporary waiver of certain statutory requirements and authorizing the secretary to develop and operate pilot programs to increase child care facility availability or capacity, transferring certain child care programs to the Kansas office of early childhood and separating licensing duties between the secretary for health and environment and the executive director of early childhood.

SB 132 updates Kansas child care licensing rules by reducing fees and simplifying training requirements for day care facilities and centers. It creates a process for licensees to request temporary waivers of certain rules and transfers oversight of licensing, parent education, and child care subsidies to the new Kansas Office of Early Childhood. The bill also establishes two new funds to support background checks and licensing fees, and authorizes pilot programs to boost child care availability. These changes directly affect day care facility operators, program directors, and the state agency managing early childhood services.

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 141: Enacting the right to speak your truth act to prohibit defamation actions in certain circumstances.

SB 141, the "Right to Speak Your Truth Act," prevents individuals accused of sexual misconduct from filing defamation lawsuits based on reported accusations unless specific conditions are met. It directly affects people accused of sexual assault, abuse, or harassment who might sue others for making public reports about them. The law blocks defamation claims unless evidence shows: the accused couldn't have committed the act, the accuser was found not guilty in court, the accuser made contradictory public statements about the incident, or the accuser publicly denied the incident occurred. This applies only to accusations reported to law enforcement, HR departments, media, or social media, not private discussions. The bill aims to protect public reporting on serious misconduct while limiting defamation claims in those specific scenarios.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2395: Establishing the shelter to home pet rescue act providing for an income tax credit for medical expenses spent on adopted cats and dogs.

HB 2395 creates a Kansas income tax credit for residents who adopt cats or dogs from shelters. It allows a credit of up to $250 for veterinary care, spaying/neutering, microchipping, and food in the first year of adoption, then $100 annually for subsequent years per pet. The credit applies to up to three pets per year, requires receipts and proof of spay/neuter, and limits eligibility to six years per animal. Expenses must be paid by December 1st of the tax year. This directly affects Kansas residents who adopt shelter pets and incur qualifying veterinary costs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 274: Requiring the state corporation commission to engage a consulting firm to conduct a technical and legal feasibility study on new nuclear energy generation.

SB 274 requires Kansas' State Corporation Commission to hire a specialized consulting firm to conduct a feasibility study on developing new nuclear energy facilities in the state, using $375,000 from the state general fund. The study must evaluate economic, environmental, safety, and workforce impacts - including site selection, costs, job creation, and potential coordination with other clean energy technologies - by April 1, 2026. The bill specifies strict criteria for the consulting firm, such as 35+ years in the nuclear industry and 50% revenue from nuclear licensing. This study is intended to inform future legislative and regulatory decisions about nuclear energy policy, not to mandate any specific action.

Topics ✓ Environment

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2186: Requiring school districts to prohibit the use of privately owned electronic communication devices during school hours and to prohibit students from using school district computers or devices to access social media platforms.

HB 2186 requires Kansas school districts to adopt policies banning student use of personal electronic devices (like phones or tablets) during all school hours, including class time and passing periods, with limited exceptions for students with IEPs/504 plans, teacher-approved educational use, or health/emergency needs. It also mandates policies prohibiting students from accessing social media platforms on school-issued computers or devices. The bill directly affects all public school students and requires school boards to establish clear disciplinary consequences for violations. Key mechanisms include defining "privately owned devices" and "social media platforms" to ensure consistent implementation. The law takes effect upon publication in the statute book.

Topics ✗ Education ✗ Technology

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2268: Prohibiting nonresidents from hunting migratory waterfowl during certain times and places and increasing fees for migratory waterfowl habitat stamps.

HB 2268 restricts nonresident hunters from hunting migratory waterfowl (like ducks and geese) on most days during hunting seasons, allowing only Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays. This applies to Kansas state lands, specific federal reservoirs managed by the Army Corps of Engineers or Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife refuges, but excludes walk-in hunting areas, navigable rivers, and light geese conservation seasons. The bill also reduces fees for migratory waterfowl habitat stamps, which nonresidents must purchase to hunt. It directly affects nonresidents who haven’t lived in Kansas for 60 days, excluding certain license holders as defined in the law.

Topics ✓ Environment

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 95: Providing that the legislature may approve the creation of port authorities by enactment of a bill and authorizing the governing body of the unified government of Wyandotte county and Kansas City, Kansas, to create a port authority.

SB 95 allows Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas to create a port authority without needing prior legislative approval, which was previously required for most port authorities under Kansas law. The bill amends state code to specifically authorize this local port authority's creation under existing economic development provisions, granting it standard powers to foster commerce, business growth, and job opportunities. It directly affects Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas by enabling them to establish this port authority to promote regional economic development. The key change removes the need for the state legislature to vote on this specific port authority's formation, streamlining the process for local economic development efforts.

Topics ✓ Transportation

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2266: Enacting the advanced practice registered nurse licensure compact to provide interstate practice privileges for advanced practice registered nurses.

HB 2266 creates a multistate compact allowing advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to practice across state lines with a single license, directly affecting APRNs and healthcare facilities serving patients in multiple states. The bill establishes uniform licensure requirements for APRNs across participating states, eliminating the need for separate licenses in each state and reducing administrative burdens for nurses and healthcare systems. It also requires states to share licensure and disciplinary information through a coordinated system and ensures APRNs comply with the practice laws of the state where the patient is located during care.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 272: Creating a procedure for appointment of delegates to a convention of the states under article V of the constitution of the United States and prescribing the duties and responsibilities of such delegates.

SB 272 establishes Kansas' process for appointing and managing delegates to a U.S. constitutional amendment convention (called under Article V of the Constitution) if one is ever convened. It requires the governor, Senate president, and House speaker to appoint five delegates and five alternates (with specific legislative representation), mandates delegates to swear an oath and follow legislative instructions, and prohibits voting on "unauthorized" amendments outside those instructions. The bill creates a joint committee to handle communications between Kansas delegates and the legislature, and sets procedures for recalling delegates or filling vacancies. This procedural bill affects only Kansas' delegation to such a convention, not the substance of constitutional amendments.

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2090: Establishing the Kansas employee emergency savings account (KEESA) program to allow eligible employers to establish employee savings accounts, providing an income and privilege tax credit for certain eligible employer deposits to such employee savings accounts and providing a subtraction modification for certain employee deposits to such savings accounts.

HB 2090 establishes the Kansas Employee Emergency Savings Account (KEESA) program, allowing eligible Kansas employers to set up employee savings accounts with automatic payroll deductions. Employers receive an income and privilege tax credit for their deposits, while employees can subtract their own contributions from taxable income. The program requires employers to make a minimum $50 initial deposit per employee, offer federally insured accounts with mobile access, provide financial literacy tools, and report participation details annually. It directly affects Kansas employers participating in the program and their employees who choose to enroll in these emergency savings accounts.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 149: Requiring that a haircare plan is part of the case plan for a child in custody of the secretary for children and family services and requiring the secretary to offer training on culturally competent haircare to caregivers.

SB 149 requires that every child in Kansas state custody (under the secretary for children and family services) has a haircare plan included in their case plan. This plan must address preserving cultural, racial, gender, or religious connections through haircare, handle emergency haircare needs, and allow the child (when age-appropriate) to participate in creating it. The bill also mandates that the department develop and provide culturally competent haircare training to foster parents and kinship caregivers by July 2026. It directly affects children in foster care and their caregivers by integrating specific haircare considerations into their care planning.

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2005: Establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals and discontinuing the sales tax exemption for purchases made by certain qualifying military veterans.

HB 2005 creates a 75% income tax credit for Kansas veterans deemed totally disabled, permanently disabled, or unemployable under federal standards (38 C.F.R. § 3.340). It directly benefits eligible veterans who pay property taxes on their primary residence, allowing them to claim a credit equal to 75% of those taxes. The credit cannot exceed the actual property taxes paid and is unavailable if the veteran already received a homestead property tax refund or senior relief credit for the same property. Any excess credit beyond income tax liability will be refunded, and the credit applies to tax years starting in 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Veterans

Bill results