This bill prohibits drivers from using mobile phones without hands-free devices while operating vehicles in school zones or construction zones where workers are present. It applies to all drivers except law enforcement and emergency personnel, those safely stopped, or those using hands-free equipment. The law includes exceptions for reporting crimes, preventing injuries, summoning emergency help, and certain professional communications. Violations will result in warning citations that expire on July 1, 2027, and police cannot confiscate phones without consent except under specific legal conditions.
HB 2697 makes it a crime to possess, with intent to steal, computer programs, software, or devices designed to operate vehicle locks without keys, copy vehicle information, or interfere with vehicle functions. This directly affects individuals attempting to steal vehicles using digital tools, while exempting legitimate professionals like dealers, locksmiths, law enforcement, and auto repair businesses. The bill expands existing law - which previously targeted physical theft-detection shielding devices - to cover digital methods used in modern car theft. It does not change penalties for other theft-related offenses but specifically targets the digital tools enabling keyless vehicle theft.
HB 2749 amends Kansas law to explicitly include individuals in positions of trust or authority (such as teachers, coaches, or counselors) as a new category for the crime of unlawful sexual relations. It makes it illegal for these individuals to engage in consensual sexual activity with someone under their care or supervision, using their position of authority to facilitate the offense. The bill adds this provision to existing sections that already cover similar scenarios involving corrections staff, law enforcement, and school personnel. This change expands the definition of the crime without altering penalties, focusing on preventing exploitation in power-imbalanced relationships.
HB 2762 amends Kansas law to explicitly include teachers as "a person in a position of authority for a school" under the crime of unlawful sexual relations. This change directly affects teachers and students enrolled at their school, making it illegal for teachers to engage in sexual activity with students aged 16 or older while employed at that school. The bill adds this specific scenario to the existing list of prohibited relationships (like those involving correctional staff or law enforcement), clarifying that the law applies when the teacher has authority over the student. The amendment does not change penalty levels but ensures teachers are covered under the same felony provisions as other authority figures in similar settings.
HB 2755 requires the University of Kansas to create and manage a statewide, anonymous data repository for human trafficking information. Law enforcement agencies, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, and prosecutors must submit anonymized data - including offense details, victim/offender demographics, location, and case outcomes - by July 1, 2028. The repository will analyze this data to track trafficking trends, evaluate state anti-trafficking programs, and inform law enforcement and victim services strategies. The university must annually report findings to state leadership starting July 1, 2029.
HB 2613 authorizes Kansas' Crime Victims Compensation Board to establish fees for medical examinations of sexual assault victims and to use funds from the Crime Victims Compensation Fund to cover these costs. The bill requires counties where alleged assaults occurred to pay the fees - never the victim or their insurance - regardless of whether the victim reports the crime to law enforcement. It also mandates that medical facilities use approved evidence collection kits during examinations and follow specific procedures for handling unreported kits. This change directly affects counties, medical facilities, and the Crime Victims Compensation Board in administering victim care.
SB 469 requires all Kansas law enforcement agencies to adopt and publicly post written policies by July 1, 2026, governing when officers may wear facial coverings that conceal their identity during duty. The law prohibits officers from wearing such coverings during routine activities (except in specific, limited circumstances like authorized undercover work, tactical safety needs, or medical use), and mandates that policies must prioritize transparency and public trust. Violations carry a class A misdemeanor penalty, and officers violating the law lose immunity from civil lawsuits, facing liability for damages (minimum $10,000) if they commit misconduct while concealing their identity. The bill directly affects all Kansas law enforcement officers and agencies, including federal officers operating within the state, and defines "facial covering" to exclude clear shields, medical masks, and safety gear.
SB 494 expands Kansas' stalking definition to include technology-based harassment, such as online monitoring or digital tracking, making it easier to prosecute digital stalking. It requires police to assess the primary aggressor in domestic violence calls and mandates prosecutors to confirm this assessment before filing charges. The bill also bans public agencies from charging domestic violence victims fees for public records and allows prior domestic violence incidents to be used as evidence in new cases. Additionally, it adds specific contact restrictions to protection orders and permits lifetime extensions of these orders for victims of domestic battery.
HB 2658, the "Safe and Transparent Arrest Act," requires all Kansas law enforcement agencies to adopt written policies by July 2026 governing when officers may wear facial coverings. The bill prohibits officers from wearing masks or gear that conceal their face during duties, except for specific, limited situations like undercover operations, tactical safety, medical use, or compliance with health regulations. Violations could lead to civil lawsuits seeking at least $10,000 in damages or a misdemeanor charge. The law directly affects Kansas law enforcement agencies and officers, aiming to increase transparency during police interactions.
SB 487 requires the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) to create a single statewide system for law enforcement agencies to manage offender registrations under Kansas' existing registration law. This system allows offenders to report workplace or school locations once instead of multiple times, streamlining registration. The bill also establishes a $10 technology fee for offenders (capped at $10), with funds deposited into a dedicated "offender registration technology fund" to cover system development and maintenance costs. It updates current registration rules to mandate real-time data submission to the new system and requires courts to provide clear registration instructions to offenders.
