HB 2413 reclassifies theft of livestock (cattle or horses) or farm equipment (implements of husbandry) as a severity level 5 felony, raising penalties for these crimes. Previously, such thefts might have been treated as lower-level offenses. The bill also allows authorities to seize vehicles, tools, or other property used to commit these thefts. It directly affects Kansas farmers and ranchers by strengthening legal protections for their livestock and farm equipment.
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Agriculture
This bill increases penalties for endangering children under six years old in Kansas. It reclassifies "endangering a child" for this age group from a misdemeanor to a severity level 9 felony, and raises "aggravated endangering" from a level 9 to a level 8 felony. The law directly affects caregivers - such as parents, guardians, or others responsible for a child - who knowingly or recklessly place children under six in situations endangering their life, body, or health. Key provisions include mandatory consecutive sentencing for these offenses and specific definitions related to drug-related environments.
SB 254 prohibits immigrants unlawfully present in the U.S. from receiving most Kansas state or local public benefits, including reduced college tuition. It requires applicants 18+ to provide proof of lawful presence (like a driver's license or federal immigration documents) before accessing benefits, and mandates state agencies to verify status through the federal DHS system. The bill also requires immigration status checks for non-citizen criminal defendants during bond hearings, creating a presumption they might flee. Exceptions include benefits required by federal law, and it explicitly excludes driver's license services from the definition of "public benefit."
SB 220 increases penalties for employers who violate child labor laws in Kansas. It raises fines for repeat offenses: $25,000 for a second violation and $50,000 for a third or subsequent violation, in addition to criminal penalties. The bill amends existing law to upgrade repeat violations to felony charges (severity levels 7 and 5) and replaces the previous misdemeanor penalties of up to $100 or 90 days in jail. This directly affects employers who illegally hire minors or violate child labor regulations, with significantly higher financial consequences for repeat offenders.
HB 2167 requires gun and stun gun owners in Kansas to store weapons in locked containers or with safety locks, preventing access by anyone under 18. It creates a misdemeanor penalty for basic violations (like storing unlocked firearms) and a felony for storing large-capacity firearms (over 10 rounds) where minors can access them. The law specifically targets households with children, making it illegal to leave rifles, shotguns, or machine guns accessible to minors, with exceptions for pre-1899 antique firearms. Violations could be used as evidence of reckless conduct in injury or death cases involving minors. The bill does not apply to replica antique weapons or firearms stored under the owner’s direct control.
HB 2324 increases criminal penalties for possessing or refusing to surrender a firearm on school property or grounds in Kansas. It directly affects individuals (excluding law enforcement officers) who bring firearms to school buildings, grounds, or school-sponsored activities for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The bill adds specific provisions to existing law, making it a crime to either possess a firearm in these areas or refuse to immediately surrender one when requested by school staff or police. Penalties apply regardless of whether the person knew they were on school property or had reason to know the firearm was present. This bill modifies K.S.A. 21-6301 to strengthen restrictions on firearms in school settings.
SB 62 creates a new criminal offense in Kansas called "engaging in a street stunt," defined as operating two or more vehicles in a group while repeatedly violating traffic laws (like speeding, improper lane changes, or reckless driving) in a way that disrupts traffic flow, forces other drivers to stop or take evasive action for safety, damages property, or causes injury. Penalties include a Class A misdemeanor for first-time offenses involving traffic disruption, and felonies for causing damage or injury, with harsher penalties for repeat violations. The bill also amends existing law to include this new crime as a reason for additional charges when drivers flee or attempt to elude police. This law directly affects Kansas drivers who engage in such stunts, making them subject to these new criminal penalties.
HB 2171, titled "The Abolish Abortion Kansas Act," would criminalize all abortions in Kansas by making them subject to prosecution under Alexa's Law (K.S.A. 21-5419). It removes existing exceptions allowing abortions for medical reasons or in cases where a pregnant person's life is at risk, defining "unborn child" as a living human organism from fertilization to birth. The bill amends criminal and civil statutes to treat abortion-related deaths as wrongful death under the same legal framework as deaths of born individuals, with no medical exceptions for the mother’s health. It applies prospectively from July 1, 2025, and does not affect actions taken before that date. The bill directly affects healthcare providers, patients seeking abortions, and legal proceedings involving abortion-related deaths in Kansas.
SB 174 makes all abortions in Kansas subject to criminal prosecution under existing "Alexa's law" (which treats fetal homicide as murder), removing all prior exceptions that allowed abortions to be performed without criminal penalties. It also eliminates civil lawsuits for wrongful death when an abortion causes the death of an unborn child, previously permitted under certain circumstances. The bill directly affects abortion providers, patients seeking abortions, and medical professionals who may face criminal charges or civil liability. Key mechanisms include amending Kansas statutes (21-5206 and 21-5419) to define "unborn child" broadly as a living human organism from fertilization to birth and repealing prior exceptions allowing abortion-related civil claims.
HB 2010 prohibits nearly all abortion procedures in Kansas, making it a severity level 1 felony for healthcare providers to perform an abortion regardless of gestational age. It also creates a separate felony for "unlawful destruction of a fertilized embryo" during fertility treatments like artificial insemination. The law exempts procedures performed to save the life or preserve the health of an unborn child, or to remove a dead fetus following miscarriage, stillbirth, or ectopic pregnancy. This bill directly affects abortion providers, clinics, and patients seeking abortion care, replacing existing abortion laws with strict criminal penalties.
