Financial Institutions and Insurance

SB 409 requires health insurance plans in Kansas to cover diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations for breast cancer without any out-of-pocket costs (like deductibles or copays) for policyholders. This applies to exams used to evaluate suspicious findings detected during screening or other exams, as well as exams for high-risk individuals (e.g., those with family history or dense breast tissue). The law takes effect January 1, 2027, for new or renewed plans, with HSA-qualified plans still required to cover these as preventive care under federal law. It does not affect existing coverage but mandates no cost-sharing for these specific exams when provided under the defined guidelines.

SB 147 modifies Kansas auto insurance rules for uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, effective January 1, 2026. It requires insurance policies to include coverage limits matching the policyholder’s primary bodily injury liability limits, ensuring drivers can recover damages when hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver. The bill clarifies that underinsured motorist coverage must pay the difference between the at-fault driver’s coverage and the policyholder’s limits, without reducing payments due to other liability limits. Policyholders can reject this coverage in writing, but rejections apply to all insured parties under the same policy. This directly affects Kansas drivers purchasing or renewing auto insurance policies for vehicles registered or garaged in Kansas.

SB 474 creates a regulatory framework for Kansas short-term health insurance plans, which are temporary policies lasting up to 364 days (max 36 months total) with an annual coverage limit of $2 million. It requires insurers to clearly disclose that these plans do not cover all essential health benefits mandated by the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA), including pregnancy care and mental health services, and must provide written notice in bold 12-point type. The bill mandates that short-term plans cover emergency services, hospitalization, ambulatory care, and lab services, while requiring insurers to maintain provider networks meeting federal standards for access to care. Insurers cannot charge higher premiums based on health status, and the Kansas Insurance Commissioner gains authority to enforce these rules through adopted regulations.

SB 115 authorizes Kansas state funds to be stored in bullion depositories holding gold or silver coins (specie legal tender) instead of traditional bank accounts. The Kansas state treasurer can establish, manage, or contract with secure depositories to hold state moneys as physical bullion, defined as refined gold or silver coins meeting purity and weight standards. This law amends existing state finance statutes to allow state agencies and entities to deposit funds into these specialized depositories, treating gold/silver coins as equivalent to cash for state financial operations. The bill directly affects the state treasurer's office and state financial management practices, creating a new framework for storing public funds in physical precious metals.

HB 2515, the Virtual Currency Kiosk Consumer Protection Act, creates new rules for businesses operating physical kiosks that exchange money for virtual currency (like Bitcoin) or vice versa in Kansas. It requires operators to clearly disclose key risks before any transaction - such as virtual currency not being government-backed, potential rapid value loss, irreversible transactions, and fraud vulnerabilities - and mandates a visible fraud warning that customers must acknowledge. The law also limits transaction fees and amounts, requires operators to maintain proper licensing and location reporting, and allows the attorney general to investigate fraud reports. These changes directly affect kiosk operators and Kansas consumers using these services.