Criminal Justice in Kansas

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2705: Providing that courts are not required to appoint counsel for an indigent inmate in certain habeas corpus actions.

HB 2705 modifies Kansas law to remove the requirement for courts to automatically appoint lawyers for indigent inmates in most habeas corpus cases challenging their convictions. It directly affects poor inmates in non-capital cases (not involving death penalty convictions), shifting the decision to appoint counsel from mandatory to discretionary for courts. The bill repeals existing rules that required court-appointed counsel in these situations, except for capital murder cases where counsel must still be provided. This change simplifies the process for courts handling routine habeas petitions while maintaining the existing standard for death penalty cases.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 461: Requiring offenders convicted of distribution of a controlled substance causing great bodily harm or death to register under the Kansas offender registration act.

SB 461 requires individuals convicted of distributing a controlled substance that causes great bodily harm or death to register under Kansas' offender registration act for 15 years. This new requirement applies specifically to drug distributors whose actions resulted in serious injury or death, expanding the existing registration categories beyond sex and violent offenders. The bill amends Kansas statutes (22-4902 and 22-4906) to add "drug offender" as a classification for those convicted under these specific circumstances. It does not change registration terms for other offender types but establishes a mandatory 15-year registration period for this new category.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2756: Prohibiting certain sex offenders from residing within 1,000 feet of any school property.

HB 2756 prohibits certain lifetime sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of any school property in Kansas. It specifically affects sex offenders convicted of crimes against victims under age 14, requiring them to register for life under Kansas law. The bill allows exceptions if an offender already lived within 1,000 feet of a school before July 1, 2026 (with notification by September 2026), or if a school was later built near their home (requiring notification within 90 days of the school opening). The restriction applies to the nearest edge of the offender's residence and school property, effective upon enactment.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 446: Creating an exception to certain mandatory reporting obligations for licensed social workers when working under the supervision of an attorney and permitting an attorney to require a licensed social worker to keep ethical obligations of attorney-client privilege while working under the supervision of such attorney.

SB 446 creates an exception to Kansas' mandatory child abuse and neglect reporting requirements for licensed social workers working under an attorney's supervision in specific legal contexts. It exempts social workers from reporting suspected child harm if the suspicion arises solely during criminal, civil, domestic, or juvenile legal representation where the attorney is providing direct services. The bill also allows attorneys to require social workers to maintain attorney-client privilege in these situations, treating the social worker as an extension of the attorney's office. This exception applies only when social workers are directly supervised by an attorney handling a case involving the child, not in general practice.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2750: Increasing the criminal penalties for second or subsequent convictions of the crime of violation of a protective order.

HB 2750 increases penalties for repeat violations of protective orders in Kansas. For a second or subsequent violation, the offense will be charged as a felony instead of a misdemeanor. This applies to violations of various protective orders, including those related to domestic violence, stalking, or criminal case conditions. The bill does not change penalties for first-time violations.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2611: Providing limitations and restrictions on releasing a person charged with a crime upon the person's own recognizance.

HB 2611 amends Kansas law to add stricter conditions for releasing people charged with crimes before trial, directly affecting individuals facing criminal charges in Kansas courts. The bill requires magistrates to impose a mandatory 72-hour no-contact rule with alleged victims for felony or misdemeanor cases, and limits "release on own recognizance" (without bail) to defendants with no prior felonies, no history of missing court appearances, and no pending probation violations. It also restricts cash bond options, allowing only 10% of the bond amount for certain low-level misdemeanor or drug cases meeting specific criteria, and prohibits administrative fees for pretrial supervision. These changes aim to balance public safety with pretrial release while clarifying magistrate discretion.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Courts Judges Probation & Parole

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2774: Increasing penalties for the crimes of assault and battery if committed against a public-facing worker while such worker is engaged in the performance of such worker's assigned duties.

HB 2774 increases penalties for assault or battery committed against public-facing workers (such as retail staff, healthcare workers, or customer service employees) while they are performing job duties. It upgrades this offense from a class C misdemeanor to a class B misdemeanor under Kansas law. The bill specifically targets attacks during work hours, applying to all workers defined as "public-facing" in the statute. This change makes these assaults punishable more severely than standard assault offenses.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2778: Removing the current exception to the criminal use of weapons statute that allows any individual over the age of 21 or with a provisional license to possess a concealed handgun in or on school property or grounds or at any regularly scheduled school-sponsored activity or event if not otherwise prohibited under either federal or state law.

HB 2778 removes a specific exception in Kansas law that previously allowed people over 21 or holding a provisional handgun license to carry concealed handguns on school property, at school grounds, or during school-sponsored events. This change eliminates a loophole, making concealed firearm possession on school grounds illegal for most adults under the state's criminal weapons statute. The bill amends K.S.A. 21-6301 by deleting subsection (a)(11), which had permitted this exception. It directly affects licensed gun owners who previously could legally carry concealed weapons at schools without violating state law.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms

failed · Kansas · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 2527: Prohibiting certain sex offenders from entering onto school property or attending school activities, prohibiting courts from assigning a defendant to work release if the defendant is required to register as a sex offender for certain crimes and prohibiting the secretary of corrections from granting an inmate leave from confinement except for specified purposes if theinmate is required to register as a sex offender for certain crimes or is serving a sentence for certain crimes that require registration as a sex offender.

HB 2527 prohibits courts from assigning defendants to work release programs if they have any prior conviction or court finding for a crime requiring sex offender registration under Kansas law. It also bans the secretary of corrections from granting inmates with such prior convictions leave for work release or educational release programs. This law directly affects individuals with prior sex offense convictions that mandate registration under Kansas' sex offender registry system. The bill amends Kansas statutes 21-6604 and 75-5267 to enforce these restrictions.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✗ Education

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Probation & Parole

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2422: Providing that the theft of grain or hay is a severity level 6, nonperson felony.

HB 2422 reclassifies theft of grain as a felony by adding "property that is grain" to Kansas' felony theft categories under K.S.A. 21-5801(b)(9). It defines "grain" as 400 or more bushels of specific crops like corn, wheat, soybeans, or other grains meeting federal standards. Stealing grain meeting this threshold is now classified as a severity level 6 felony, a more serious offense than lower-level thefts. This directly affects individuals who steal significant quantities of grain from agricultural operations or storage facilities.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

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