Sen. Elaine Bowers

Maddy summarySB 312 designates a segment of U.S. Highway 36 within Phillipsburg (from its eastern to western city limits) as the "Deputy Sheriff Brandon Gaede Memorial Highway" to honor the Phillips County deputy who died in the line of duty in 2025. The bill requires the Kansas Department of Transportation to install official commemorative signage along this highway segment per state transportation laws. This is a ceremonial designation with no policy changes or funding impacts.

Maddy summarySB 302 requires Kansas public and nonpublic K-12 schools to ban student use of personal electronic devices (like phones, tablets, or smartwatches) during instructional time, with exceptions for students with individualized education plans (IEPs) or medical needs approved by a physician. It also prohibits school staff from using social media platforms (such as Instagram or TikTok) to directly message students for official school business, allowing only public, one-way communications on approved platforms. Schools must adopt written policies by 2026 and certify compliance by September 1, 2026, covering enforcement procedures and student device storage requirements. The law applies to all on-campus instructional time but excludes virtual schools.

Maddy summarySB 304, the "Born to Invest Act," requires Kansas' Office of Vital Statistics to share specific birth records (child's name, parent/guardian address, birth date) for children born on or after January 1, 2025, with the State Treasurer. This data enables the Treasurer to send informational materials about three federal savings programs: 529 college savings plans, ABLE accounts for disabilities, and "Trump accounts" (a reference to a specific federal savings program). The bill mandates that data be transmitted securely to the Treasurer within 90 days of a birth certificate issuance (or by September 1, 2026, for children born before July 1, 2026) and directs the Treasurer to distribute materials via mail and online resources. The policy aims to proactively inform families about available savings options for children, without creating new accounts or changing eligibility.

Maddy summaryThis legislative bill is a concurrent resolution that formally recognizes the United States national debt as a serious threat to national security. It directly affects the U.S. Congress by urging them to establish a regular order for budgeting to address the growing debt. The resolution cites specific data points, such as the current debt level and projections for Social Security and Medicare depletion, to support its findings. It does not create new laws or funding but serves as an official statement of concern from the Kansas legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to expand the right to bear arms in Kansas to explicitly include ammunition, firearm accessories, and components. It classifies this right as a natural and fundamental one that cannot be infringed, requiring any future restrictions to meet the strict scrutiny legal standard. If approved by the legislature and voters, the change would strengthen protections for gun ownership while maintaining existing rules against standing armies in peacetime. The amendment would be placed on a special election ballot for Kansas residents to vote on in August 2026.