Rep. Stephanie Sawyer-Clayton

Maddy summaryHB 2473 would require all individuals to be 18 years old or older to give consent for marriage, eliminating current exceptions that allowed 15-year-olds to marry with a judge's approval and 16- or 17-year-olds to marry with parental consent. The bill also adjusts the three-day waiting period for marriage licenses to exclude Sundays, holidays, and days when the clerk's office is closed. This change would prevent minors under 18 from obtaining a marriage license under the existing exceptions. The bill was introduced on January 20, 2026, and referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs.

Maddy summaryHB 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.

Maddy summaryHB 2597 requires all Kansas employers to provide employees with paid sick leave starting January 1, 2027. Employees earn at least two hours of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, up to a maximum of 40 hours per year, which can carry forward annually. The bill allows use for personal illness, caring for sick family members, addressing domestic violence, or handling emergencies like school closures due to weather. It applies to most employees but explicitly excludes independent contractors, with rules to be implemented by the Kansas Secretary of Labor.

Maddy summaryHB 2600 establishes the "Affordable Healthcare for Kansans" program to expand Medicaid eligibility in Kansas. It would extend coverage to non-pregnant adults under 65 with incomes at or below 138% of the federal poverty level, directly affecting low-income Kansans currently ineligible for Medicaid. The key provision raises the income threshold for Medicaid eligibility to match the federal standard, effective January 1, 2027. This change requires the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to administer the program and inform potential applicants. The bill aims to align Kansas Medicaid eligibility with the federal expansion program under federal law.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific segment of K-5 highway in Wyandotte County (from the junction of K-5 and N. 18th Street west to N. 38th Street) as the "Representative Marvin S. Robinson II Memorial Highway." It also redesignates a portion of Interstate 635 (from the Kansas-Missouri border south to its junction with K-5 highway) as the "Harry Darby Memorial Highway." The bill requires the Kansas Secretary of Transportation to install highway signs marking both routes, following standard procedures. This is a procedural memorial designation with no substantive policy changes to transportation law.

Maddy summaryHB 2074 amends Kansas' Homestead Property Tax Refund Act to allow renters of their primary residence to qualify for the same tax refunds previously available only to homeowners. The bill explicitly includes renters in the eligibility criteria for three groups: individuals aged 55 or older, people with disabilities, and low-income households with dependent children. This change, effective for tax year 2025, updates the definition of "homestead" to cover rented properties and revises related terms in the law to reflect expanded access to the refund program.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to lower the minimum voting age in Kansas state elections from 18 to 16 years old. If passed by a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers, the measure would be submitted to voters for approval at the 2026 general election. The change would directly affect 16- and 17-year-old residents, allowing them to vote in local, state, and judicial elections while still adhering to federal laws that set the voting age for federal offices at 18. The bill does not alter voting rules for presidential or vice-presidential candidates, which remain subject to federal requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 2151 would raise Kansas' state minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 per hour for most hourly workers. The bill amends Kansas law (K.S.A. 44-1203) to establish this new rate and repeals the current minimum wage provisions. It directly affects most employees in Kansas, excluding specific categories like agricultural workers, domestic workers, and certain executive or administrative staff as defined in the law. Employers covered by federal minimum wage law would still follow the federal $7.25 rate, but all other Kansas employers would be required to pay at least $15 per hour.

Maddy summaryHB 2278 increases the property tax exemption for residential property owners in Kansas. Starting in 2026, the exemption rises from $75,000 to $110,000 of a home's appraised value, reducing the taxable amount for eligible homeowners. Beginning in 2027, the exemption amount will adjust annually based on the 10-year average change in statewide residential property values (capped at zero if values decline). This bill directly affects Kansas homeowners with residential properties, lowering their school property tax burden under the statewide school levy.

Maddy summaryHB 2067 establishes a $200,000 grant program funded by the state general fund to provide feminine hygiene products (like tampons and pads) at no cost to students in qualifying Title I schools. The program targets public schools serving grades 5-12 that receive federal Title I funding, with grants distributed based on the number of female students in those grades. School districts must apply to participate, and funds reimburse schools for purchasing products and dispensers, which must be available in women’s restrooms and through school counselors/nurses. The grant fund is replenished annually with $200,000 starting July 1, 2026.