Kansas Bills | MyRepTracker

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2749: Amending the crime of unlawful sexual relations to include persons in a position of trust or authority when such position is used to carry out the offense.

HB 2749 amends Kansas law to explicitly include individuals in positions of trust or authority (such as teachers, coaches, or counselors) as a new category for the crime of unlawful sexual relations. It makes it illegal for these individuals to engage in consensual sexual activity with someone under their care or supervision, using their position of authority to facilitate the offense. The bill adds this provision to existing sections that already cover similar scenarios involving corrections staff, law enforcement, and school personnel. This change expands the definition of the crime without altering penalties, focusing on preventing exploitation in power-imbalanced relationships.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2708: Establishing within the legislative branch the office of the director for Kansas advisory commissions, the advisory commission on Asian American and Pacific Islander affairs and the Kansas Native American affairs commission and transferring the Hispanic and Latino American affairs commission and the advisory commission on African-American affairs to the legislative branch.

HB 2708 reorganizes Kansas' advisory commissions by establishing a new legislative branch office for the executive director of these commissions. It transfers the Hispanic and Latino American Affairs Commission and the African-American Affairs Commission from the executive branch to the legislative branch, while creating a new Asian American and Pacific Islander Affairs Commission under legislative oversight. The bill requires the executive director to support all four commissions, sets appointment rules (with members chosen by legislative leaders and the governor), and mandates commissions to gather community input, coordinate with state agencies, and advise lawmakers on policy. This change shifts administrative responsibility for these commissions from the governor’s office to the legislature, with no direct policy changes to community services.

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 486: Creating a civil cause of action for violations of the constitution or laws of the United States by any person acting under the color of law.

SB 486 creates a new legal right for individuals harmed by government officials (like police or jailers) who violate their constitutional or federal rights. It allows victims to sue for damages if they were threatened, harmed physically, had property damaged, or suffered emotional distress due to the official's actions. The law explicitly blocks common defenses like "I thought it was legal" or "I didn’t know the law," and permits punitive damages if the violation was motivated by bias against race, gender, religion, or other protected traits. The Kansas Attorney General can also sue on behalf of victims to seek compensation and legal remedies.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2685: Enacting the public official accountability act to provide personal liability for actions by public officials that violate constitutional rights or exceed such official's lawful duties.

HB 2685, the "Public Official Accountability Act," creates a civil cause of action allowing individuals to sue state or local public officials - such as law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, or elected officials - for personal financial liability when they violate constitutional rights or exceed their lawful duties. It requires plaintiffs to prove, by a preponderance of evidence, that the official acted knowingly, willfully, or in reckless disregard of the law (excluding good-faith actions under valid court orders or statutes). Officials cannot claim qualified immunity, sovereign immunity, or judicial/legislative immunity for core functions, and damages may include compensatory, punitive (capped at $500,000 or 3x compensatory), and attorney fees. The bill does not affect federal claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and applies only to actions outside official duties or constitutional violations.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2697: Modifying the crime of unlawful acts involving theft detection shielding devices to include possessing, with the intent to commit theft, a computer program, application, software or other device adapted, designed or commonly used to operate a lock or locks on or start a motor vehicle without an ignition key or key fob, or to copy, store information relating to, or interfere with those functions and providing for exceptions.

HB 2697 makes it a crime to possess, with intent to steal, computer programs, software, or devices designed to operate vehicle locks without keys, copy vehicle information, or interfere with vehicle functions. This directly affects individuals attempting to steal vehicles using digital tools, while exempting legitimate professionals like dealers, locksmiths, law enforcement, and auto repair businesses. The bill expands existing law - which previously targeted physical theft-detection shielding devices - to cover digital methods used in modern car theft. It does not change penalties for other theft-related offenses but specifically targets the digital tools enabling keyless vehicle theft.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Transportation

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2643: Providing countywide retailers' sales tax authority for Butler county for the purpose of providing property tax relief.

HB 2643 allows Butler County to impose a countywide sales tax to provide property tax relief for residents. The bill amends Kansas tax law to authorize Butler County commissioners to seek voter approval for this tax, with revenue dedicated solely to reducing property tax burdens. If approved by voters, the tax would generate funds specifically to lower property taxes for homeowners and businesses within Butler County. This follows similar provisions for other counties but is tailored to Butler County's local property tax relief needs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HCR 5030: Urging Congress to enact immigration reform.

This House Concurrent Resolution urges the U.S. Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform to address issues caused by decades of federal inaction. The bill highlights how the lack of updated laws has negatively impacted states, local communities, and families through workforce shortages, economic instability, and family separation. It specifically calls for modernizing immigration pathways to reduce visa backlogs and ensuring that law enforcement actions are conducted with clear accountability and respect for due process. By requesting federal action, the resolution aims to restore predictability to immigration policy and protect vulnerable populations from the consequences of outdated statutes.

Topics ✓ Immigration ✓ Labor & Employment

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2686: Prohibiting certain agents of the United States immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) from being employed as a law enforcement officer in Kansas.

HB 2686 bans Kansas state and local law enforcement agencies from hiring any former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent who was employed by ICE on or after January 20, 2025. The bill specifically prohibits these individuals from becoming police officers or law enforcement officers as defined under Kansas law (K.S.A. 74-5602). It applies to all current and future employment decisions by Kansas law enforcement entities. The law would take effect upon publication in the state statute book, but it has only been introduced and referred to committee as of February 2026.

Topics ✗ Immigration

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HCR 5028: Proposing to amend the bill of rights of the constitution of the state of Kansas by adding a new section relating to the right for adults to possess and use cannabis.

This bill proposes adding a new section to the Kansas Constitution to establish a legal right for adults to possess and use cannabis. If passed by the legislature and approved by voters, it would grant adults the ability to hold and consume cannabis while allowing the government to enforce reasonable laws that protect public health, safety, and general welfare. The measure would be placed on the ballot for a public vote in November 2026, where a "yes" vote would enshrine this right in the state constitution.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2766: Providing that artificial persons shall not possess any political powers relating to election activity or ballot-issue activity.

HB 2766 prohibits corporations and foreign entities doing business in Kansas from engaging in election-related activities (like campaigning for candidates) or ballot initiatives (like supporting or opposing voter measures). It states that any such activity by these entities would be void and result in automatic loss of corporate privileges, such as limited liability. The law applies to all Kansas-registered corporations and foreign entities operating in the state, but excludes government bodies and does not affect natural persons' rights to free speech or assembly. It amends multiple Kansas statutes to explicitly define corporate powers and clarify that political activities were never intended as part of corporate charters.

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 460: Authorizing municpal court services agencies to issue identification certificates to individuals under probation supervision.

This bill amends Kansas law to allow municipal court services agencies to issue identification certificates to individuals under their probation supervision. These certificates can now be used as valid proof of identity when replacing a lost or damaged driver's license. Previously, only certificates from the Department of Corrections were accepted for this purpose. The change directly affects people on probation in Kansas who need to renew or replace their driver's licenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 506: Increasing the penalty for a second or subsequent adjudication of criminal use of weapons and modifying the penalties for the crime of criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and the length of the ban on possessing a weapon for certain felons.

SB 506 increases penalties for second or subsequent convictions involving criminal weapon use, making it a more serious felony (severity level 8) for offenses like possessing short-barreled firearms as a minor. It modifies penalties for convicted felons who possess weapons, raising the severity of these offenses, and extends the length of the weapon possession ban for certain felons. The bill amends Kansas statutes K.S.A. 21-6301 (defining criminal weapon use) and 21-6304 (penalties for weapon possession by felons). It directly affects individuals with prior convictions for weapon-related crimes or those convicted of specific felonies, imposing harsher consequences for repeat violations.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice