Kansas Bills

SB 55 prohibits property insurance policyholders from assigning their post-loss insurance benefits (payments after property damage) to service providers like repair contractors for residential or commercial properties. The bill defines such assignments as an unfair and deceptive practice, making them legally void. Exceptions include assignments to mortgage lenders, property buyers, or for liability insurance coverage. This law directly affects how property insurance claims are handled between policyholders, insurers, and service providers.

SB 271 updates Kansas' children's health insurance program (KCHIP) by raising the income eligibility threshold from 225% to 250% of the federal poverty level for children in households with incomes in 2010 and subsequent years. This change would directly affect low-income children in Kansas whose families earn between 225% and 250% of the federal poverty level, expanding coverage eligibility for these households. The bill also requires a minimum 8-month waiting period for children who previously had comprehensive health coverage (with exceptions for job loss or other specific coverage disruptions) before enrolling in KCHIP. The program remains subject to available funding and does not guarantee entitlement to coverage for all eligible children.

HB 2374 establishes a new specialty practice student loan repayment program by consolidating existing funds from the OBGYN and psychiatry medical student loan repayment programs (which are abolished) into a single specialty fund. The University of Kansas School of Medicine will administer the program, offering loan repayment to medical students who commit to practicing in approved specialties - such as gynecology, general psychiatry, or other specialties designated by the chancellor - in designated service areas like rural communities or state medical facilities. The bill requires the university to annually report changes to eligible specialties and service areas based on workforce needs, population data, and community needs. This reorganization reallocates existing state funds without creating new spending to address healthcare workforce shortages in underserved regions.

SB 260 amends Kansas' parimutuel racing law to redefine "horsemen's associations" and "horsemen's nonprofit organizations" with specific eligibility rules for racetrack license holders at Eureka Downs, Anthony Downs, or fair association facilities. It modifies qualifications for organization licenses and changes how certain tax revenues from racing are distributed. The bill directly affects horse racing organizations, owners, and trainers seeking licenses to operate at designated racetracks or facilities near fairs. These changes aim to clarify licensing requirements and revenue allocation under the state's racing regulations.

HB 2192 restricts work release for individuals convicted of a second or third offense of domestic battery in Kansas. For a second offense within five years, work release is only permitted after serving 45 consecutive days (previously 48 hours), and probation/suspension requires at least 45 days served. For a third or subsequent offense, the bill prohibits work release entirely until the offender serves 90 consecutive days of imprisonment. This amendment to Kansas law (K.S.A. 21-5414) directly affects repeat domestic battery offenders by extending mandatory prison time before eligibility for work release or other supervised release options.

HB 2323 allows Kansas' Commissioner of Insurance to file civil lawsuits against individuals who commit fraudulent insurance acts, requiring the commissioner to prove the act by a preponderance of evidence rather than a criminal standard. The bill mandates that expunged criminal records for fraudulent insurance acts must still be disclosed in applications for insurance producer or public adjuster licensure, overriding typical expungement protections. It also expands the definition of fraudulent insurance acts to include automobile assigned claims plans and authorizes civil penalties up to $10,000 per act, restitution to insurers, and reimbursement of investigation costs.

HB 2237 increases the annual limit for state employee awards - including hiring, recruitment, and retention bonuses - from $3,500 to $10,000 per employee. It removes the secretary of administration’s authority to create program rules and instead requires an annual report to specific legislative committees about how these awards are used. This bill directly affects all state agencies and employees across Kansas’s executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The key changes simplify oversight by shifting from administrative rule-making to legislative transparency while raising the award cap.

HB 2402 creates a 17-member Blue Ribbon Commission on Higher Education to study Kansas' higher education system and develop long-term goals. The commission, appointed by state leaders, university groups, students, parents, and experts, will examine issues like affordability, institutional structure, enrollment strategies, and cost efficiency. It must submit a preliminary report to the legislature by January 2026 and a final report by January 2027. This bill directly affects Kansas public universities, community colleges, technical schools, and their students and families through this formal review process.

HB 2068 would enact Kansas into a cosmetology licensure compact, allowing licensed cosmetologists from participating states to practice across state lines without obtaining separate licenses in each state. This directly affects licensed cosmetologists, military members and their spouses relocating for duty, and states seeking to address workforce shortages in the cosmetology field. Key provisions include establishing uniform licensing standards, enabling states to share disciplinary information, and creating a framework for interstate cooperation on licensure and safety. The compact aims to reduce administrative barriers for cosmetologists while maintaining public safety standards through coordinated regulation.

HB 2212 increases the maximum reimbursement amount for inmates from $500 to $750 for personal injury or property damage caused by state negligence in Kansas correctional facilities. Inmates must provide written notice to the secretary of corrections for claims exceeding $750 to be reviewed by the joint committee on claims against the state. This change directly affects all inmates in Kansas state correctional institutions who suffer losses due to state negligence. The bill amends Kansas Statute 46-920 to establish the new $750 cap and require the notice procedure.

SB 23 requires insurance agents and companies in Kansas to respond to inquiries from the Commissioner of Insurance within 14 calendar days. It also allows certain insurance rebate pilot programs to operate for more than one year, extending beyond the previous one-year limit. These changes amend Kansas insurance laws to improve regulatory responsiveness and program flexibility. The bill directly affects insurance providers, agents, and the state's insurance regulatory office.

SB 20 reduces the size of certain insurance-related boards and decreases the meeting frequency of the committee on surety bonds and insurance. Specifically, it amends Kansas law to shrink the governing board for automobile insurance plans from nine to five members, requiring three insurer representatives, one independent agent, and one public member serving three-year terms starting January 1, 2026. The bill also mandates that the commissioner consider fair representation of foreign and domestic insurers when appointing board members. This affects the commissioner of insurance, appointed board members, and stakeholders including insurers, agents, and the public.