HB 2518 increases criminal penalties for attempts, conspiracies, and solicitation related to breach of privacy crimes in Kansas. It modifies the required mental state for conviction and adds stricter penalties when the victim is under 18 years old. The bill amends Kansas statutes governing criminal attempts (K.S.A. 21-5301), conspiracies (21-5302), and solicitation (21-5303) to elevate penalties for these specific offenses. It directly affects individuals accused of privacy violations, particularly those targeting minors. The changes apply to all breach of privacy cases except those involving the most severe offenses already carrying maximum penalties.
HB 2537 would increase penalties for sexual extortion when the offender is 18+ and the victim is under 18 or a dependent adult. It creates two new aggravated offenses: "aggravated sexual extortion causing great bodily harm" (a severity level 3 felony) and "aggravated sexual extortion causing death" (a severity level 1 felony), with harsher punishments than standard sexual extortion. The bill also requires Kansas’ Attorney General to develop and distribute educational materials about these crimes to schools, parents, and the public, with annual reports on implementation. This bill directly affects victims under 18 or dependent adults and offenders aged 18+ who commit sexual extortion. It is pending legislative action as of January 2026.
SB 305 reclassifies driving a commercial vehicle under the influence (DUI) as a "person crime" in Kansas, meaning it now carries harsher penalties than standard DUI offenses. The bill specifically affects commercial drivers (e.g., truckers, bus operators) convicted of DUI with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04% or higher. Key provisions include tiered penalties: first offense is a Class B misdemeanor (up to 6 months jail, $1,000 fine), second offense is a Class A misdemeanor (90 days-1 year jail, $1,750 fine), and third or subsequent offenses become a felony (minimum 30 days confinement). It also adds mandatory alcohol evaluations, enhanced penalties if children are in the vehicle, and allows community service as an alternative to fines.
This bill allows Kansas counties to adopt local resolutions regulating activities like camping, waste disposal, and vehicle use on navigable rivers, specifically to protect public health, safety, and welfare. It also expands the criminal trespass law to include navigable rivers, making unauthorized activities on them subject to trespass penalties. The policy directly affects county governments (which gain new regulatory authority) and river users (who must comply with local rules). The changes amend Kansas law to explicitly grant counties this power, without altering state-level river management.
HB 2529 would change Kansas' process for citizen-initiated grand juries. It requires judges to review petitions for completeness before signature collection begins, sets specific content requirements (like detailed allegations), and mandates signatures equal to 100 plus 2% of the county's last gubernatorial vote total. The bill protects petition initiators and signers from criminal charges for good-faith actions and prohibits diversion agreements (like reduced charges) for cases resulting from these grand juries. Currently pending in the Kansas Judiciary Committee, it has not yet been voted on.
HB 2444 changes Kansas sentencing rules by limiting jail credit for consecutive sentences to apply to only one case, preventing double-counting of pretrial jail time across multiple sentences. For individuals on probation, parole, or postrelease supervision who commit a new felony, the bill requires courts to impose a prison sentence as the default (unless specific findings justify otherwise) and prohibits certain sentencing departures. It also mandates that such defendants must post a secured bond (requiring collateral) for release, unless the court waives this requirement. These provisions apply specifically to new felony offenses committed during supervision for a prior felony.
HB 2504 prevents cities and counties in Kansas from banning landlords from refusing to rent to prospective tenants who receive housing assistance (like vouchers), consider credit or eviction history, or set security deposits. It allows landlords to use their own criteria for tenant screening and refuse to offer a right of first refusal. However, the bill explicitly permits cities or counties to still ban discrimination against tenants or applicants who receive veterans benefits. This directly affects landlords (by expanding their screening flexibility) and tenants using housing assistance or veterans benefits (by limiting local protections against certain landlord decisions).
SB 358 would require courts to hold individuals convicted of specific serious felonies without bond in county jail until sentencing. It directly affects people convicted of non-drug felonies ranked severity levels 1-4 or drug felonies ranked severity levels 1-2 under Kansas sentencing guidelines. The key provision automatically revokes any existing bond and mandates jail detention for these individuals, replacing the current system where courts could grant release under certain conditions. This policy change applies only after conviction and before sentencing, not during trial or appeal.
HB 2608 (Kansas) amends state law to make it a felony to intentionally expose someone to a life-threatening communicable disease through sexual intercourse or sodomy, regardless of whether the sexual act is lawful or unlawful. The bill expands the existing crime to specifically include these acts as prohibited conduct, alongside selling blood or sharing needles with intent to expose others. Violating this law is now classified as a severity level 7 person felony, increasing penalties from previous classifications. The bill directly affects individuals infected with life-threatening diseases who knowingly engage in sexual activity with others while intending to transmit the disease.
HB 2498 reclassifies driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs while operating a commercial vehicle as a "person crime" in Kansas, increasing penalties for these offenses. It raises penalties for repeat convictions (e.g., second offense becomes a class A misdemeanor with a 90-day minimum jail term) and mandates pre-sentence alcohol/drug evaluations for all offenders. The bill also adds a 1-month jail enhancement if a driver with children under 18 is in the vehicle during the offense. These changes directly affect commercial drivers convicted of DUI, with stricter sentencing and additional requirements for repeat offenses and child endangerment.
