Healthcare

signed · Kansas · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 2520: Increasing the number of allowed residents in a home plus facility from 12 to 16.

HB 2520 would increase the maximum number of residents allowed in "home plus" facilities from 12 to 16. This directly affects home plus facilities - residential care settings for adults needing personal care or limited nursing support - and their current residents. The bill amends Kansas law to change the occupancy cap in the definition of "home plus" while requiring facilities serving over eight residents to adjust staffing to maintain care standards. The change applies to facilities operating under the adult care home licensing system.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases residential care capacity (12→16 residents) while mandating staffing adjustments to maintain care standards, supporting expanded access without compromising quality in healthcare facilities.85% confidence

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2436: Defining emergency opioid antagonist as including an expired emergency opioid antagonist for a person rendering aid to another in reasonable need of medical assistance.

HB 2436 allows anyone providing medical assistance during an opioid overdose to use an expired emergency opioid antagonist (like naloxone) up to 10 years past its expiration date. This directly affects bystanders, first responders, and community members administering overdose reversal drugs. The bill amends Kansas law to explicitly include expired antagonists in the definition of "emergency opioid antagonist," ensuring they can be legally used in emergencies. This change increases access to life-saving treatment by removing expiration barriers during urgent situations. The law also maintains existing immunity protections for people seeking help or administering aid during overdoses.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows expired naloxone use in overdoses, expanding emergency access to life-saving treatment and aligning with public health goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 330: Enacting the ensuring transparency in prior authorization act to impose requirements and limitations on the use of prior authorization in healthcare.

SB 330 requires insurance companies to use secure electronic systems for prior authorization requests (replacing fax or separate portals) by 2027, with strict response time limits: 2 hours for emergencies, 24 hours for urgent care, and 14 days for routine services. It prohibits prior authorization for childbirth, neonatal care, and emergency services, and mandates that authorizations for chronic conditions remain valid for the entire treatment period. The bill directly affects insurance companies (as "utilization review entities"), healthcare providers submitting requests, and patients seeking timely care. It aims to reduce delays and administrative burdens in healthcare access through standardized electronic processes and clearer timelines.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEliminates prior authorization barriers for emergencies/childbirth, mandates faster response times, and ensures chronic condition coverage continuity - directly improving patient access to care.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates secure electronic systems for healthcare authorizations, enhancing cybersecurity and data privacy standards over outdated fax methods.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2489: Requiring school districts to provide fentanyl abuse education programs and maintain supplies of naloxone in each school.

HB 2489 requires Kansas public school districts to implement fentanyl abuse education programs for students in grades 9-12, using age-appropriate guidance developed by the state board of education. It also mandates that all schools maintain a stock supply of naloxone (an opioid overdose reversal medication) in accessible storage, with trained staff authorized to administer it during emergencies. School districts may use funds from the Kansas Fights Addiction Fund - partially sourced from opioid litigation settlements - to purchase naloxone supplies. The bill establishes specific protocols for naloxone storage, inventory tracking, and administration by designated school personnel. This law directly affects all Kansas public schools and their students, aiming to address opioid misuse through prevention education and emergency response readiness.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates fentanyl education programs for grades 9-12 and naloxone access, enhancing student health safety within school curriculum and programs.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates naloxone access and fentanyl education in schools to combat opioid crisis, advancing public health initiatives and protecting student health.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Substance Abuse

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signed · Kansas · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 2602: Establishing requirements for a portable benefit plan for independent contractors, determining types of contributions to such plans and providing a subtraction modification for Kansas income tax purposes.

HB 2602 establishes a portable benefit plan system for independent contractors in Kansas, directly affecting contractors (e.g., app-based workers) and hiring companies. The bill requires third-party providers (like banks or investment firms) to offer plans covering health, retirement, disability, or life insurance, with contributions allowed from contractors, hiring parties, or voluntary withholdings from contractor pay. Kansas income tax law would allow a subtraction modification for these contributions, reducing taxable income. The bill is currently in committee review (introduced January 2026, referred to Insurance Committee) and does not change employment classification rules.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates tax subtraction for portable benefit contributions, reducing taxable income for independent contractors and employers, aligning with tax relief for middle-income workers.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates health insurance coverage in portable benefit plans for contractors, expanding access to healthcare benefits for gig workers through required employer contributions.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates portable benefits (health/retirement) for independent contractors, expanding access to workplace benefits typically unavailable to this workforce.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Gig Economy

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 307: Requiring veterans with a condition from military service to be offered diversion for certain offenses and expanding the mitigating factor for departure at sentencing for veterans.

SB 307 establishes a veteran diversion program requiring county prosecutors to offer eligible veterans an alternative to prosecution for specific offenses. Veterans with military-connected health conditions (such as PTSD, substance use disorders, or traumatic brain injury) who face misdemeanor charges or severity levels 7-10 felonies may enter a tailored treatment program instead of traditional criminal proceedings. The bill also expands sentencing considerations by adding military trauma as a formal mitigating factor for judges when determining penalties. This applies to veterans who served in the armed forces (including National Guard/Reserve) and have documented military-related health challenges.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates veteran diversion program and expands military trauma as sentencing mitigator, reducing incarceration via treatment instead of prosecution for eligible veterans.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates treatment programs for veterans with military-related mental health conditions (PTSD, substance use), diverting from criminal prosecution to address healthcare needs.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransEstablishes veteran diversion program for military-connected health conditions, offering treatment instead of prosecution and expanding sentencing considerations for military trauma.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing Substance Abuse Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing Veteran Mental Health

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2526: Establishing restrictions on the use of step therapy protocols by health insurance plans.

HB 2526 prevents health insurance plans in Kansas from requiring patients with advanced, metastatic cancer to fail on or have a history of failure with other drugs before covering FDA-approved prescription medications. It directly affects cancer patients and their insurers by banning step therapy protocols for treatments aligned with medical best practices and supported by evidence-based research. The bill applies only to drugs approved by the FDA for advanced cancer or related conditions, ensuring insurers cannot delay coverage for medically appropriate treatments. This policy change aims to reduce unnecessary treatment delays for patients facing serious illness. The bill is currently in committee after introduction on January 23, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBans step therapy for advanced cancer drugs, ensuring direct coverage of FDA-approved treatments without prior failure requirements, improving patient access to necessary care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2598: Enacting the Kansas paid family leave act.

HB 2598, the Kansas Paid Family Leave Act, creates a state-run program providing up to 12 weeks of paid leave for eligible workers in Kansas to bond with a new child (birth, adoption, or foster placement), care for a family member with a serious health condition, recover from their own serious health condition, or address military family needs. It covers most full- and part-time employees who worked 26 weeks (20+ hours/week) or 175 days (less than 20 hours/week) in the prior year, plus self-employed individuals who opt into the program. Benefits will equal 67% of an employee's average weekly wage (capped at $1,000/week starting in 2028), funded through payroll deductions of employee premiums beginning January 2027. The program launches for eligible workers on July 1, 2027, with benefits paid from the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Fund.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides paid leave for serious health conditions, enabling access to care without financial penalty, directly improving patient access to healthcare services.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes state-run paid family leave program, expanding worker benefits for family care, medical needs, and military family support. Directly advances employment standards by protecting workers' right to take leave without pay loss.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Paid Leave

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signed · Kansas · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 2533: Enacting the occupational therapy licensure compact, respiratory care interstate compact, esthetics licensure compact and athletic trainer licensure compact to provide interstate practice privileges.

HB 2533 creates Kansas' participation in an occupational therapy licensure compact, allowing licensed occupational therapists and assistants from other participating states to practice in Kansas without obtaining a separate Kansas license. The bill directly affects licensed therapists, assistants, and patients seeking services across state lines, particularly benefiting military spouses relocating with service members. Key provisions include mutual recognition of licenses, shared disciplinary information between states, and support for telehealth services to improve access. The compact preserves each state's authority to regulate practice and protect public safety while streamlining interstate care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables interstate practice for occupational therapists, improving patient access to services across state lines, particularly benefiting military spouses and expanding healthcare provider availability.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly benefits military spouses (connected to veterans) by enabling interstate practice without re-licensing, supporting veteran family stability during relocations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Telehealth Memorials & Recognition

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 428: Requiring the secretary for children and families and the secretary of health and environment to execute a memorandum of understanding, data use agreement or other written data-sharing instrument upon written request of the United States department of agriculture or the United States department of health and human services and comply with data requests from such federal agencies.

SB 428 requires Kansas' Secretary for Children and Families and Secretary of Health and Environment to create formal data-sharing agreements with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) or U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) upon written request. These agreements would enable the state to share relevant data with federal agencies to support programs like food assistance (USDA) and healthcare (HHS). The bill mandates that state secretaries comply with written data requests from federal agencies within 30 days after such agreements are in place. This bill directly affects Kansas state agencies that administer public assistance programs and federal agencies managing national benefit programs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables data sharing with HHS for healthcare programs, facilitating federal program coordination without direct funding or policy changes.85% confidence

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