SB 340 amends Kansas's Promise Scholarship program to clarify that scholarship funds cannot cover remedial courses unless those courses are offered in a corequisite format (where students take remedial content alongside their main course). This directly affects Kansas Promise Scholarship recipients and eligible public/private colleges, as it restricts scholarship use for traditional remedial classes but allows corequisite remedial courses. The bill updates eligibility rules in K.S.A. 74-32,274 to specify that only corequisite remedial courses qualify for funding, while other remedial courses remain ineligible. This change aims to streamline scholarship usage for academic support without altering the program's income limits or funding caps.
HB 2484 removes the requirement for Kansas Promise Scholarship recipients to live in Kansas after completing their education. It clarifies that students must work in Kansas for two years post-graduation (or continue studying in-state) but eliminates the prior residency mandate. The bill also permanently extends the program by repealing its sunset date, making the scholarship available indefinitely. This directly affects students who received or will receive the Kansas Promise Scholarship, changing their post-graduation obligations.
SB 381 requires Kansas public, private, and parochial schools to teach students in grades K-12 about communist and socialist regimes and ideologies through state-developed curriculum. It also mandates that all students entering grade 9 in 2026 or later pass a 100-question American civics exam - modeled after the U.S. citizenship test - to graduate high school. The exam can be taken starting in grade 7, with retakes allowed, and accommodations for students with IEPs follow their individualized plans. This bill revises Kansas graduation requirements under statute 72-3217, effective for students enrolling in high school after July 1, 2026.
HB 2420 requires Kansas school districts to obtain written parental consent before providing school-based mental health services to students, including verbal notification about the service's purpose and plan. It directly affects students, parents, and school staff, covering services designed to address emotional, behavioral, or social needs (excluding universal tier 1 support). Exceptions allow immediate suicide risk assessments under existing law when a credible report of suicide risk exists. Violations trigger a $5,000 civil penalty per incident, recoverable by the attorney general or county prosecutor.
HB 2415 (Kansas Youth Voice Act) requires every Kansas public school district to appoint at least one student from grades 10-12 as a nonvoting member of their school board. Student representatives may attend open meetings, express opinions, and receive materials but cannot vote, attend closed sessions, or receive pay. School boards must establish application processes and provide orientation, including a board liaison and training on board procedures. This affects all Kansas school districts and students in grades 10-12, with appointments required by August 2026 and subsequent annual terms (max two total terms per student).
SB 280 requires local taxing entities (like cities, counties, or school districts) to obtain majority voter approval via a special election before raising total property taxes by more than the annual inflation rate, as measured by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' consumer price index. It excludes new construction taxes from the calculation of the tax levy limit and does not apply to certain statutorily fixed mill rates. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, mandating voter consent for tax increases beyond inflation for all other property tax levies. This directly affects local governments seeking to raise revenue above inflation and property owners whose taxes could be impacted by such increases.
SB 223 authorizes Russell County to seek voter approval for a countywide sales tax on retail purchases, specifically to fund school district facilities like attendance centers. The bill amends Kansas law to allow Russell County commissioners to propose this tax after meeting standard voter petition thresholds (10% of voters or city resolutions), similar to existing provisions for other counties. If approved by voters, the tax revenue would directly support school facility costs, with the tax ending once all project costs are covered. This bill does not create the tax itself but provides Russell County the legal authority to pursue it through the established voter approval process.
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 224 creates a Kansas income tax credit for licensed nursing home administrators, registered nurses, and registered dietitians who provide unpaid mentoring to healthcare students. For every 40 hours of mentoring provided to students training to become healthcare professionals, the preceptor earns a $250 tax credit against their state income tax. To qualify, the mentoring must be uncompensated, and the preceptor must verify hours through their educational institution. This credit applies only to Kansas-licensed professionals working with Kansas postsecondary institutions and does not exceed the taxpayer’s annual income tax liability.
SB 217 increases the property tax exemption for residential homeowners in Kansas. It raises the exempt value from $75,000 to $125,000 of a home's appraised value for the statewide school levy. This means homeowners pay property tax only on the value exceeding $125,000, reducing their tax burden. The change applies to all taxable years starting in 2024 and beyond.
