Rep. Stephanie Sawyer-Clayton

Maddy summaryHB 2026 raises the minimum age for giving consent to marriage from 16 to 18 years for all individuals, eliminating all prior exceptions that allowed minors aged 16-17 to marry with parental or court consent. This bill directly affects minors under 18 who would previously have been able to obtain marriage licenses with parental or judicial approval. The key mechanism is amending Kansas law to remove sections permitting marriage consent for those under 18, requiring all applicants to be 18 or older to provide consent without exception. The bill repeals existing provisions (K.S.A. 23-2505(c)) that allowed for parental or judicial consent for minors.

Maddy summaryHB 2123 increases Kansas' minimum wage for tipped employees from $2.13 to $6.15 per hour. It requires employers to pay this base rate, and if the employee's tips plus this base rate total less than $7.25 per hour (the standard minimum wage), the employer must cover the difference. This directly affects restaurant workers, servers, and other service employees in Kansas who rely on tips as part of their income. The bill amends Kansas law to ensure tipped workers earn at least the full minimum wage when combining tips with their base pay. It does not apply to workers covered by federal minimum wage rules under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Maddy summaryHB 2296 requires most health insurance plans in Kansas to cover diagnostic and supplemental breast cancer exams without out-of-pocket costs for insured individuals. This means patients won’t pay deductibles, co-pays, or coinsurance for these exams when medically necessary to evaluate abnormalities (diagnostic) or screen high-risk individuals (supplemental), as defined by national cancer guidelines. The bill applies to plans issued or renewed before January 1, 2026, and exempts health savings account plans until after meeting the deductible for non-preventive care. It specifically covers exams like mammograms, MRIs, and ultrasounds used in these scenarios.

Maddy summaryHB 2091 requires Kansas to offer voter registration to individuals leaving state prisons upon discharge and mandates the Secretary of State to create programs providing registration services at three state agencies (children’s services, aging/disability services, and labor) and all accredited high schools for students aged 17 or older. It clarifies that applicants for agency services must be informed if proof of citizenship is needed to complete voter registration, and requires registration forms to be submitted to election officials. The bill amends existing law to ensure discharged inmates whose civil rights are restored receive registration opportunities and updates voting eligibility rules to exempt those registering under this law. This directly affects former inmates, state agency applicants, and high school students, expanding access points for voter registration without altering voting qualifications.

Maddy summaryHB 2073 would exempt feminine hygiene products (such as tampons and pads) and diapers from Kansas' state sales tax. This means consumers purchasing these essential items would no longer pay the state sales tax at checkout. The bill amends Kansas' sales tax law (K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 79-3606) to add these products to the list of tax-exempt items. It directly affects all Kansas residents who buy these products, making them more affordable without changing other tax rules.

Maddy summaryHB 2277 lowers the state sales tax rate for prepared food (such as meals at restaurants and food service businesses), reducing the tax burden for consumers purchasing these items. The bill simultaneously increases the percentage of sales tax revenue allocated to the state highway fund, directing more funds toward road maintenance and infrastructure projects. This change directly affects restaurants and food vendors by altering their tax collection responsibilities and the state by adjusting revenue distribution from sales taxes. The legislation amends multiple sections of Kansas tax law to implement these specific rate and allocation adjustments.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House resolution that honors the life and public service of Representative Melody McCray-Miller, who passed away in February 2026. It recognizes her decades of work in education, business, and government, including her roles as a teacher, restaurant owner, county commissioner, state representative, and community leader. The resolution formally acknowledges her contributions to Kansas families and communities but does not create new laws or change any policies. Its only effect is to officially celebrate her legacy within the Kansas House of Representatives.

Maddy summaryThis House resolution honors the life and public service of Representative Harold Lane, a former Kansas state representative from Topeka. The bill formally recognizes his contributions to local governance, his business career, and his legislative work on committees such as Appropriations and Energy and Environment. It serves as a commemorative tribute rather than enacting new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House Resolution that formally recognizes and honors the life and public service of Representative John Resman, who represented Kansas's 121st District. The resolution highlights his extensive background in law enforcement, including service in the U.S. Army, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and the Johnson County Sheriff's Office, before his election to the state legislature. It commemorates his legislative work on committees related to corrections, federal affairs, and public safety, as well as his advocacy for fiscal responsibility and education. The resolution concludes by expressing condolences to his family following his passing in March 2026.

Maddy summaryThis House resolution honors the life and public service of Representative Robert Tomlinson, who recently passed away. It recognizes his decades of work as an educator, city council member, state legislator, and executive official in Kansas. The document formally acknowledges his career achievements and personal legacy without proposing new laws or policy changes.