Kansas Bills

signed · Kansas · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 2042: Authorizing the adoption of certain rules and regulations related to hazardous waste monitoring and permit application fees by the Kansas department of health and environment.

HB 2042 changes Kansas title insurance regulations by requiring title agents to make audit reports available for inspection upon request by the insurance commissioner instead of submitting them annually. It also sets the required surety bond amount for title agents at $100,000 and eliminates a "controlled business exemption" in certain counties. These changes directly affect title insurance agents operating in Kansas, particularly those in counties where the exemption previously allowed certain business arrangements. The bill modifies existing statutes to increase transparency around agent financial practices and strengthen financial safeguards for consumers.

signed · Kansas · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 2114: Substitute for HB 2114 by Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources - Clarifying which structures shall be considered water obstructions and not a dam, increasing application fees for a permit to construct, modify or add to a dam, requiring post-construction permit fees and requiring any licensed professional engineer who conducts inspections required by the act to be approved by the chief engineer or a certified intern engineer who is under the supervision of a licensed professional engineer.

HB 2114 updates Kansas dam and water obstruction regulations by increasing permit application fees for dam construction, modification, or stream alterations. It requires all inspections of dams to be conducted by engineers approved by the chief engineer of the Kansas Department of Agriculture and adds civil penalties of $100-$1,000 per violation for noncompliance. The bill clarifies definitions (e.g., a "dam" is defined as 25 feet tall or 6 feet tall with 50+ acre-feet storage) and creates exemptions for minor structures meeting specific size and location criteria. These changes directly affect dam owners, engineers, and developers working on water infrastructure projects requiring permits under the Watershed District Act.

vetoed · Kansas · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 2329: Changing the name of juvenile crisis intervention centers to juvenile stabilization centers, modifying the intake criteria for such centers, prohibiting certain rules and regulations for such centers, modifying the treatment and services provided by such centers, increasing the cumulative detention limit for juvenile offenders and criminal penalties for juvenile offenders who use a firearm in the commission of an offense or who are repeat offenders, providing for increased placement of offenders in non-foster home beds in youth residential facilities, requiring the secretary of corrections to pay for the costs associated with such placements, authorizing the secretary to make expenditures from the evidence-based programs account of the state general fund moneys to contract for such beds and transferring moneys from such account of the state general fund to the department for children and families to provide juvenile stabilization services.

HB 2329 increases the cumulative detention limit for juvenile offenders who commit repeat offenses or use a firearm during a crime, raising criminal penalties for these specific situations. The bill expands placement options by requiring more juveniles to be housed in specialized youth residential facilities (non-foster home beds) rather than foster care, with the secretary of corrections responsible for covering these costs. It authorizes the secretary to use funds from the state's evidence-based programs account to contract for these facility beds, ensuring cost coverage without requiring new legislative appropriations.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

signed · Kansas · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 2116: Requiring that certain contractual provisions be incorporated in all contracts for certain cities and counties, including the provisions of form DA-146a, with certain exceptions.

HB 2116 requires cities of the second or third class and counties with under 35,000 residents to include specific contract terms from the state’s DA-146a form in all new contracts. Key provisions include banning cities/counties from agreeing to indemnify others for their own actions (Section 2) and mandating that all contracts follow Kansas law and courts (Section 3). While local governments can waive most DA-146a terms with a majority vote, they cannot omit Sections 2 and 3. This bill directly affects how smaller local governments draft contracts, ensuring standardized terms and limiting liability exposure.

failed · Kansas · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 2164: Senate Substitute for HB 2164 by Committee on Judiciary - Prohibiting certain sex offenders from entering onto school property or attending school activities and creating criminal penalties for violation thereof.

HB 2164 prohibits adult sex offenders (18+ years old) whose underlying crime involved a victim under 18 from entering school property or attending school activities in Kansas. It creates criminal penalties for violations, classifying first offenses as a severity level 6 felony, second offenses as level 5, and third or subsequent offenses as level 3 felonies. The bill amends Kansas' offender registration laws to include this restriction as part of the Kansas Offender Registration Act. It directly affects sex offenders convicted of crimes against minors, such as those involving indecent liberties, sexual battery, or exploitation where the victim was under 18 at the time. The law applies to all Kansas public and private schools, including athletic events and extracurricular activities.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

signed · Kansas · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 2158: Permitting beekeepers who meet certain requirements to sell packaged honey and honeycombs without holding a food establishment or food processing plant license under the Kansas food, drug and cosmetic act.

HB 2158 exempts small-scale Kansas beekeepers from needing a food processing license to sell packaged honey and honeycombs, directly affecting local apiarists who meet specific criteria. To qualify, beekeepers must package products on their own property, label them with origin, net weight, and floral source (if applicable), keep honey unaltered (no pasteurization), source hives from Kansas, limit annual sales to $50,000, and maintain detailed sales records. The bill amends Kansas law to create this exemption under the food, drug, and cosmetic act, removing a regulatory barrier for small operations. It does not apply to pasteurized honey or honeycombs with additives, and requires compliance with state/federal labeling rules.

vetoed · Kansas · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SB 30: Providing for occupational licensing annual reports by agencies to the joint committee on administrative rules and regulations and requiring that adoption of new occupational licenses and material changes to existing occupational licenses by a state agency be approved by the legislature by ratification.

This bill (SB 30) amends Kansas law to require state agencies to conduct criminal history checks for specific employment and licensing purposes. It directs the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to release certain criminal history records (including adult convictions, expunged records, and juvenile adjudications) to designated agencies like the Department for Children and Families, state lottery, gaming commissions, and emergency medical services boards. These checks apply to individuals seeking employment or licensure in roles involving vulnerable populations or sensitive positions, such as child safety, gaming operations, or law enforcement training. The bill does not address occupational licensing changes as its title suggests; instead, it focuses on expanding background check protocols for specific state employment contexts. The actual content of the bill text provided conflicts with the title, which appears to describe a different legislative matter.

signed · Kansas · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 2378: Establishing the removal of squatters act, providing a procedure to remove a squatter from a dwelling unit, requiring owners or agents of dwelling units to provide an affidavit to the county sheriff department or police department , requiring notice to vacate by the sheriff, establishing the crime of providing a false affidavit and establishing a civil cause of action for wrongful removal of a person from a dwelling unit, allowing attorney fees and punitive damages.

HB 2378 creates a legal process for property owners to remove squatters from dwellings (including homes, commercial spaces, and mobile homes) without using standard eviction procedures. Property owners or their agents must submit a notarized affidavit to the sheriff detailing why someone is unlawfully occupying the property, after which the sheriff must verify the claim and provide 24 hours' notice to vacate before removing the person. The bill criminalizes knowingly submitting false affidavits (as a misdemeanor) and allows individuals wrongfully removed to sue for triple the fair market rent, attorney fees, and punitive damages. This law directly affects property owners, squatters, and law enforcement by establishing clear, timely removal steps while protecting against misuse.

signed · Kansas · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SB 232: Establishing the born to invest act and requiring the office of vital statistics to provide data to the office of the state treasurer for distribution of informational materials regarding certain government-administered savings accounts.

SB 232 modifies investment rules for funds managed by the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS). It allows the KPERS board to invest up to 5% of unclaimed property funds (certified by the state treasurer) in foreign government bonds rated A- or higher by major credit agencies, excluding bonds from state sponsors of terrorism or authoritarian regimes. The bill requires investments to prioritize capital preservation and safety while diversifying to minimize risk. This change directly affects KPERS’ management of retirement funds derived from unclaimed property, with no new benefits or costs to retirees. The bill does not alter retirement benefits or create new programs.

failed · Kansas · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SCR 1603: Proposing to amend section 1 of article 11 of the constitution of the state of Kansas to value residential real property, commercial and industrial real property and mobile homes personal property based on the fair market value or average fair market value and providing that the legislature may provide by law for the freezing of property tax valuations for owner-occupied residential property of qualifying seniors.

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to Kansas that would limit how much property tax assessments can increase each year for most real estate and mobile homes. Under the new rules, the taxable value of these properties could rise by no more than 3% annually, unless the property is newly built, improved, sold, or reclassified. The amendment also allows the state legislature to create specific laws that freeze tax valuations for owner-occupied homes belonging to qualifying seniors. By embedding these limits in the state constitution, the change would establish a permanent cap on assessment growth rather than relying on temporary statutes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

vetoed · Kansas · House Mar 27, 2026

HB 2635: Enacting the pregnancy center autonomy and rights of expression act to protect the ability of private pregnancy centers to provide life-affirming care.

HB 2635 prohibits Kansas state agencies and local governments from requiring private nonprofit pregnancy centers to offer abortions, abortion-inducing drugs, abortion referrals, or abortion-related information. It bans mandates that force centers to post abortion promotions, deny services based on their pro-life stance, or restrict prenatal/postnatal resources like baby supplies. The bill directly protects pregnancy centers that provide pregnancy support, childbirth resources, adoption referrals, and non-medical counseling. Violations allow centers or affected parties to sue for damages, and the legislature can intervene in constitutional challenges.

signed · Kansas · Senate Mar 27, 2026

SB 473: Authorizing Audubon of Kansas to convey certain property in Wabaunsee county and requiring any deeds or conveyances related to such property be reviewed and approved by the state historical society.

SB 473 authorizes the state historical society to transfer approximately 30 acres of land in Wabaunsee County to Audubon of Kansas without payment. The bill requires any related deeds to be reviewed and approved by the state historical society before finalizing the transfer, and prohibits Audubon from reselling the property. It includes a condition that if the land is not used for public recreation by July 1, 2026, or if Audubon ceases operations, the property reverts to the state historical society. This bill directly affects Audubon of Kansas (the recipient) and the state historical society (the reviewer and potential reverter).

Topics ✓ Environment

Bill results