Rep. Megan Steele

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to amend the Kansas Constitution to create a new "Freedom from Taxes Fund" and a temporary Citizens Freedom Review Board. The fund would be divided into three parts to pay for the elimination of motor vehicle taxes, state property taxes, and state income and privilege taxes. Additionally, the bill establishes a board with the power to review existing tax exemptions and decide whether to keep or remove them. If passed by the legislature and approved by voters, these changes would legally end the specified taxes and allow the state to use the new fund to cover the resulting budget shortfalls.

Maddy summaryHB 2421 requires Kansas school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to prohibit students from using personal electronic devices (like phones or tablets) during school hours, with exceptions for students with individualized education plans (IEPs) or medical needs approved by a licensed healthcare provider. It also bans school staff from using social media platforms (e.g., Instagram, Snapchat) to communicate directly with students for school purposes, allowing only public, one-way communications. Schools must report the average screen time for kindergarten and grades 1-4 students during a typical school day, starting September 2026, using aggregate data without personally identifiable information. The law applies to in-person schools but excludes virtual schools and does not restrict school-issued devices like tablets.

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 2503's title claims to repeal Kansas' mail ballot election act, but the bill text actually modifies statutes related to county extension councils (agricultural and educational programs), not election procedures. The bill rewrites sections about how county extension councils are elected, their membership requirements (e.g., representatives for agriculture, home economics, 4-H), and budget processes. It specifically removes provisions allowing mail ballots for these council elections (which were never about voter mail ballots for public elections) and replaces them with in-person election requirements. This bill directly affects county extension councils and their election processes across Kansas, not voters or general election systems. The title appears inconsistent with the actual content of the bill text.

Maddy summaryHB 2599, known as the "Kansas lemonade stand law," exempts minor-owned businesses (operated solely by individuals under 18) from paying state sales tax and local taxes, licenses, or permits on the first $10,000 of annual sales of goods. It specifically applies to small, seasonal or intermittent businesses like lemonade stands, where minors make under $10,000 yearly in gross sales. The law removes both state-level sales tax obligations and local government fees for qualifying businesses. This policy directly supports young entrepreneurs by reducing startup costs for small-scale, temporary ventures.

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 summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to Kansas to explicitly define the right to bear arms as a natural and fundamental right that includes owning ammunition, firearm accessories, and components. It requires that any government restrictions on this right must pass the strict scrutiny legal standard, which is the highest level of judicial review. If passed by the legislature and approved by voters, the change would strengthen existing gun protections by clarifying the scope of items covered and the level of protection they receive.

Maddy summaryHB 2187 requires government agencies and public utilities to make a good faith compensation offer to property owners at least 30 days before filing an eminent domain lawsuit. It prohibits using eminent domain for recreational trails or park facilities and deletes the legislature's power to condemn property for economic development. If the good faith offer exceeds an appraiser's award, the property owner can appeal to retain the higher amount, but the agency cannot appeal to reduce it. These changes aim to strengthen property owner protections by mandating upfront compensation and narrowing eminent domain use.

Maddy summaryHB 2005 creates a 75% income tax credit for Kansas veterans deemed totally disabled, permanently disabled, or unemployable under federal standards (38 C.F.R. § 3.340). It directly benefits eligible veterans who pay property taxes on their primary residence, allowing them to claim a credit equal to 75% of those taxes. The credit cannot exceed the actual property taxes paid and is unavailable if the veteran already received a homestead property tax refund or senior relief credit for the same property. Any excess credit beyond income tax liability will be refunded, and the credit applies to tax years starting in 2025.

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.