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.
SB 456 creates the Kansas Law Enforcement Trust Fund, administered by the Kansas Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, to provide direct financial support to law enforcement agencies. The bill mandates a $125 million transfer from the state general fund to the trust by July 1, 2026, with the principal amount preserved intact. Interest earnings from the fund will be used to award grants for technology replacement, equipment purchases, or matching federal/private grants to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies that meet statewide interoperability standards. The fund’s primary mechanism is generating interest from the initial $125 million to finance these grants, without touching the principal amount.
SB 453, the Kansas Critical Infrastructure Protection Act, prohibits state agencies from allowing access to critical infrastructure (such as data storage systems and key facilities vital to security, economic stability, or public health) by countries of concern - including China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela - and bans the purchase of critical technology components (like software, routers, and cameras) from those countries or their controlled entities. The law defines "critical infrastructure" as systems essential to state or national security, economic security, or public health, including facilities covered under existing state law. It applies to all state agencies managing such infrastructure and companies providing critical components, restricting both access and acquisitions. The act aims to prevent foreign influence on Kansas's essential systems by limiting technology and access from designated countries.
SB 467 requires health insurers and utilization review organizations using artificial intelligence (AI) for medical necessity decisions to ensure those tools base determinations on individual patient data (medical history, clinical circumstances) rather than group datasets. Crucially, the bill mandates that *only* licensed physicians or healthcare professionals - never AI systems - can make final decisions about whether medical care is necessary. Insurers must also create and disclose written policies explaining their review processes and ensure AI tools do not deny, delay, or modify care based on medical necessity. This directly affects insurers using AI for utilization review and healthcare providers seeking authorization for patient treatments.
HB 2657 requires social media platforms to block children under 16 from creating, maintaining, or accessing accounts without verified parental permission. Platforms must implement reliable age-verification systems that minimize data collection and suspend accounts of minors until consent is confirmed. Parents or guardians can revoke consent anytime or request account deletion. The Kansas Attorney General enforces this under the state’s consumer protection law, treating violations as deceptive acts without requiring proof of a transaction. The bill directly affects minors under 16, social media companies, and parents/guardians managing children’s online access.
This bill requires all notaries public in Kansas who notarize real estate documents to use a 3D biometric antifraud system by December 31, 2027. It creates a new "verified notary public" category, mandating device-bound hardware that captures 3D facial scans to verify identity and prevent fraud. The system applies to all real estate documents - including deeds, mortgages, power of attorney, and liens - requiring counties to accept only documents authenticated through this system after the deadline. Notaries must obtain biometric data via state-approved hardware at county offices, with counties developing protocols for implementation.
HB 2671, the Kansas Community Harmed by AI Technology Act, requires AI chatbots in Kansas that simulate emotional or therapeutic interactions (called "companion AI chatbots") to verify user age using commercial methods. It mandates parental consent for minors under 18, blocks minors from accessing content involving suicidal ideation or explicit material, and requires clear pop-up notifications informing users they are interacting with AI. Covered entities must protect age data confidentiality, monitor for suicidal ideation in minor interactions, and provide crisis resources. Compliance guidance from the attorney general is due by December 2026, with enforcement under Kansas consumer protection laws. The bill directly affects AI chatbot companies operating in Kansas and minors using these services.
HB 2659 requires all election audits and recounts in Kansas to be conducted by hand-counting physical paper ballots, rather than using electronic systems. It directly affects Kansas election officials, voters, and candidates by mandating that paper ballots become the official record for audits and recounts, with hand counts overriding any electronic tallies if discrepancies arise. Key provisions include banning the use of ballot images or copies for audits, requiring voter-verified paper ballots for all elections after 2024, and prohibiting electronic poll books without handwritten signatures. The bill also specifies that audits must be performed publicly by bipartisan election boards, reviewing contested races as defined by election year type.
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HB 2645 extends a 60% tax credit for Kansas businesses and individuals who donate to community colleges or technical colleges for capital improvements, deferred maintenance, or technology/equipment purchases. The credit applies to contributions made between 2022 and 2031, allowing donors to reduce their state income tax liability by up to 60% of qualifying donations. Funds must be deposited into designated capital outlay or maintenance funds at the institutions, with strict rules ensuring they support specific infrastructure needs rather than new construction. This policy directly affects taxpayers who make eligible contributions to participating Kansas community colleges and technical colleges.
HB 2670 requires video streaming services operating in Kansas to ensure commercial advertisements are not louder than the main video content they interrupt, effective July 1, 2026. It adopts the federal CALM Act standards (originally for TV broadcasts) to set volume limits for ads. The law applies specifically to internet-based streaming services targeting Kansas consumers, excluding cable operators, broadcasters, and ad-free platforms. It does not create private lawsuits for violations.
