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Kansas Legislative Insights Newsletter | February 2, 2026

It was another full week at the Statehouse, with floor action, committee work, and budget reviews all moving at once. While plenty is happening, we’re focusing on two developments that help frame where the session was focused this week.

From Lengthy Debate to Swift Vote: Bathroom Bill Moves Forward

After nearly six hours of floor debate, the Kansas House passed House Substitute for Senate Bill 244 on an 87–36 recorded vote, following repeated roll calls and procedural motions. The Senate took up the measure later the same day and concurred with House amendments by a 30–9 vote, sending the legislation to Gov. Laura Kelly’s desk.

House members offered 15 amendments – the chamber adopted two and rejected the rest. Lawmakers also voted down a motion to return the bill to committee, keeping the proposal on the floor for final action. Both chambers acted on the measure the same day, marking a swift conclusion to an extended House debate.

The bill began as a proposal addressing gender markers on driver’s licenses. In House committee, lawmakers expanded it to govern access to multi-occupancy private spaces, including restrooms, locker rooms, changing rooms, and shower rooms, in buildings owned or leased by state government and municipalities. The legislation also establishes enforcement mechanisms and civil penalties and advanced without a fiscal note.

Lawmakers broadened the measure after court action allowed the Kansas Department of Revenue to resume issuing gender marker changes on driver’s licenses, prompting the addition of provisions requiring multiple-occupancy private spaces in public buildings to be designated by biological sex.

Supporters said the bill would clarify state law and create uniform standards for public facilities. Opponents raised concerns about the compressed timeline and limited opportunities for additional public input.

As the bill heads to Gov. Kelly, she is widely expected to veto the measure. If enacted over that veto, Kansas would rank among the more aggressive states in regulating transgender access to bathrooms in government buildings. National tracking cited during debate coverage shows seven states apply similar bans to all government buildings, while 13 others limit such restrictions to K–12 schools.

House Water Committee Hears Testimony on Wastewater Reuse Proposal

The House Committee on Water this week heard testimony on House Bill 2462, sponsored by Rep. Sandy Pickert (R-Wichita). The bill would direct the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to develop statewide guidelines for recycling treated wastewater for potential reuse as drinking water.

Proponents included the director of public works and utilities for the City of Wichita, who outlined Wichita’s role as Kansas’ largest water utility and described current investments in aquifer storage and recharge and watershed protection. Wichita proponents said HB 2462 would establish a regulatory pathway to evaluate direct and indirect potable reuse as an additional planning tool. Participation would remain voluntary for communities. Testimony from Wichita described the bill as supporting long-term water reliability, regional growth, and future economic development in south-central Kansas.

Supportive testimony also came from the leadership of KDHE’s Bureau of Water, which said implementation would require additional staffing, technical studies, and funding to meet the bill’s July 1, 2028, deadline. Agency officials noted that other states took several years to develop comparable regulations and emphasized the need for sufficient engineering and project management capacity to protect public health.

Several other proponents also testified in support of the bill. Legislators questioned the proposed timeline and appropriation, weighing fiscal considerations alongside long-term water planning needs. No opponents testified.

The discussion carries particular relevance for Wichita and other municipalities evaluating long-term water resilience strategies. HB 2462 remains under committee consideration as lawmakers continue to assess technical requirements, funding needs, and local implementation options.

Upcoming Week: February 2–6, 2026

Monday, Feb. 2

Last day for non-exempt committees to request bill drafts

• Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee
  • Confirmation hearing on: Christi Smith, Director, Office of Early Childhood
• House Financial Institutions and Pensions Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2590: Enacting the Kansas Community Property Trust Act to authorize the use of community property trusts during the marriage of settlor spouses and amending the Kansas Uniform Trust Code to allow trustees to reimburse settlors of grantor trusts, authorize the use of designated representatives for trusts, and permit the terms of a governing instrument to expand, restrict or eliminate certain general rules applicable to fiduciaries, trusts, and trust administration.
• House Legislative Modernization Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2574: Removing the expiration on certain cybersecurity requirements, modifying the duties of chief information security officers and cybersecurity programs, requiring assessment of executive branch agency compliance with cybersecurity requirements, providing for consideration of such compliance by the legislature during the budget process, and creating the Judicial Branch Technology Oversight Council.
• House Local Government Committee
  • Final action on HB 2433: Clarifying county authority over the transfer or appropriation of water by placing such authority, except for domestic use, with the chief engineer and water transfer hearing panel.
• Senate Financial and State Affairs Committee
  • Hearing on SB 394: Clarifying the signature verification requirements for advance voting ballot envelopes and providing for the repeal of advance voting statutes, except where advance voting is required by federal law, if a state or federal court issues a final order or judgment that is not subject to appeal invalidating such signature verification requirements.
• Senate Education Committee
  • Confirmation hearing on: Peter Johnston, Board of Regents
• House Commerce, Labor, and Economic Development Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2466: Extending the sunset for the angel investor tax credit to 2031.
  • Hearing on HB 248: Removing the two-bedroom requirement to qualify as hotel, motel, or tourist court requiring collection of tax from all such qualifying rentals.
• House Health and Human Services Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2506: Establishing the addiction counselor apprentice license and setting fees for such license.
  • Hearing on HB 2509: Adding advanced practice registered nurse to the definition of healthcare provider for purposes of the Healthcare Provider Insurance Availability Act.
  • Hearing on HB 2364: Prohibiting certain health insurers from requiring cost-sharing for nonopioid prescription drugs or providing less favorable coverage for such drug than that for opioid or narcotic prescription drugs for the treatment of pain.
• House Judiciary Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2519: Continuing in existence certain exceptions to the disclosure of public records under the Kansas Open Records Act.
• House Taxation Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2470: Providing that certain municipalities may designate the entire municipality within a neighborhood revitalization area under the Kansas Neighborhood Revitalization Act.

Tuesday, Feb. 3

• Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
  • Hearing on SB 364: Requiring the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks to offer a discounted resident senior combination hunting and fishing license to residents of Kansas who are 65 years of age or older and increasing the maximum age to qualify for the Kansas kids lifetime combination hunting and fishing license and decreasing the maximum fee and removing the expiration of such license.
• House Appropriations Committee
  • Presentation on: Gilley’s Park City
• House Federal and State Affairs Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2576: Enacting the Safe Battery Collection and Recycling Stewardship Act and prohibiting the sale of covered batteries or battery-containing products unless the producer is part of a battery stewardship organization with an approved plan.
• House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2506: Requiring revenues received by telecommunications service providers for the provision of broadband services to be calculated when determining gross receipts under a city franchise.
• House Veterans Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2214: Enacting the Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment (SAVE) Act to limit compensation for assisting in veterans’ benefits matters.
• House Water Committee
  • Presentation on: Annual Report Groundwater Management District 1, Katie Durham.
  • Annual Report Groundwater Management District 3, Jason Norquest.
  • Annual Report Groundwater Management District 4, Shannon Kenyon.
• Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee
  • Hearing on SB 329: Requiring the county appraiser to submit a single property appraisal report at the valuation appeal hearing before the regular division of the state board of tax appeals.
• Senate Local Government, Transparency and Ethics Committee
  • Hearing on SB 124: Imposing unilateral annexation restrictions on cities and expanding the causes of action for landowners to challenge such annexations.
• Senate Commerce Committee
  • Hearing on SB 369: Requiring certain disclosures to be made to prospective tenants and providing restrictions on fees for the late payment of rent under the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.
  • Hearing on SB 418: Enacting the By-Right Housing Development Act to provide a streamlined permit approval process for by-right housing developments, allowing third-party review of new residential construction development documents and inspection of improvements, requiring political subdivisions to allow certain building provisions for single-family residences of a certain size, excluding owner-initiated rezoning to a single-family residential district from protest petition provisions and providing for all land within the corporate limits of a city to be considered zoned for single-family residential use.
• Senate Utilities Committee
  • Hearing on SB 379: Authorizing the state 911 board to establish a statewide program for emergency medical dispatch and telecommunicator cardiopulmonary resuscitation, medical direction, and quality assurance services.
• House Commerce, Labor and Economic Development Committee
  • Hearing on Substitute for HB 2346: Establishing the Kansas Sports Tourism Grant Program administered by the secretary of commerce to provide matching grants to communities for developing and continuing sporting events, providing for funding of such grants from the State Economic Development Initiatives Fund or from the State General Fund if funds are not available therefrom.

Wednesday, Feb. 4

Last day for individual bill introductions in the House and Senate

• Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
  • Hearing on SB 317: Providing additional requirements for applications to the Water Technical Assistance Fund and the Water Projects Grant Fund, including the requirement that applicants demonstrate the availability of a 25-year water supply, prohibiting grants for issues related to water rights that are impaired by another water right, prioritizing applications based on various criteria, and mandating annual submissions on Sept. 15.
• House Federal and State Affairs Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2505: Providing an exception for Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks records regarding the location of any species that is threatened, endangered, or in need of conservation from the disclosure requirements of the Kansas Open Records Act.
  • Hearing on HB 2511: Permitting moneys received from agricultural production on a state-owned property to be used for the management of all state-owned properties.
• House Financial Institutions and Pensions Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2591: Authorizing financial institutions to report suspected financial exploitation of an adult account holder to a designated agency, notify any adult designated as a trusted contact by such account holder of suspected financial exploitation, and place a temporary hold on certain transactions or disbursements.
• House Local Government Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2495: Authorizing counties to adopt resolutions to regulate activities on or within navigable rivers and adding navigable rivers to the crime of criminal trespass.
  • Hearing on HB 2410: Allowing for a public library taxing district to withdraw from a regional system of cooperating libraries with no discretion regarding approval of such withdrawal by the state library board.
• Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee
  • Hearing on SB 332: Excluding buyers’ premiums from the sale price of property purchased at auction for real estate sales validation questionnaire and property tax valuation purposes.
  • Hearing on SB 320: Expanding property tax exemption eligibility to include commercial and industrial machinery and equipment that was acquired or transported into this state on or before June 30, 2006.
• Senate Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee
  • Hearing on SB 330: Enacting the Ensuring Transparency in Prior Authorization Act to impose requirements and limitations on the use of prior authorization in healthcare.
• Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee
  • Hearing on SB 356: Providing federal firearms licensees immunity from civil liability for returning a firearm to the firearm owner at the termination of a firearm hold agreement.
• Senate Judiciary Committee
  • Hearing on SB 358: Requiring individuals convicted of certain felonies to be held without bond in the county jail until sentencing.
• Senate Commerce Committee
  • Hearing on SB 335: Requiring public construction contracts to include a mutual waiver of consequential damages.
• Senate Education Committee
  • Hearing on SB 419: Enacting the Kansas Intellectual Rights and Knowledge Act, providing a civil cause of action and penalties for violations of such act, and authorizing students and student associations to exercise political and ideological beliefs, values, and missions.
  • Hearing on SB 421: Enacting the Safeguarding Personal Expression at K-12 Schools Act to authorize students and student clubs or organizations to engage in certain speech or expression at school and providing a civil cause of action for violations of the Act.
• Senate Utilities Committee
  • Presentation on: Right-of-Way Parity.
• House Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Committee
  • Informational briefing: Report on Equus Beds, Kate Gleeson, deputy secretary and director of environment, Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
• House Health and Human Services Committee
  • Presentation on: The University of Kansas Cancer Center
  • Hearing on HB 2533: Enacting the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact to provide interstate practice privileges to occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants.
  • Hearing on HB 2534: Enacting the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact to provide interstate practice privileges to respiratory therapists.
• House Transportation Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2220: Permitting local authorities with jurisdiction over city residence districts to reduce the maximum speed limit to 25 mph without an engineering and traffic investigation.
• House Judiciary Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2480: Creating an exception to certain mandatory reporting obligations for licensed social workers when working under the supervision of an attorney and permitting an attorney to require a licensed social worker to keep ethical obligations of attorney-client privilege while working under the supervision of such attorney.
• House Social Services Budget Committee
  • Presentation on: Rural Health Transformation Program.
• House Taxation Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2469: Expanding the income tax credit for qualified railroad track maintenance expenditures to allow credits against certain premium taxes, privilege fees, and privilege taxes and allowing the transfer of unused credits to any individual or entity subject to such taxes.
• House Insurance Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2550: Requiring certain 340B entities to report annually to the Kansas Department of Insurance on certain costs, savings, and payments made under the federal 340B drug pricing program.

Thursday, Feb. 5

• Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
  • Hearing on SB 390: Prohibiting certain additives in food provided by schools as part of certain food service programs and requiring schools to certify that school facilities do not serve food that contains such food additives.
• House Federal and State Affairs Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2504: Prohibiting cities and counties from restricting the discretion of landlords not to rent residential or commercial property on grounds including prospective tenants’ receipt of housing assistance or eviction or criminal history and permitting cities and counties to prohibit discrimination by landlords on the basis of receipt of veterans benefits.
• House Water Committee
  • Presentation on: Annual Report Groundwater Management District 2, Tim Boese.
  • Annual Report Groundwater Management District 5, Orrin Feril.
• Senate Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee
  • Hearing on SB 55: Prohibiting the assignment of benefits under certain property and casualty insurance contracts and defining such assignment of benefits as an unfair method of competition and unfair or deceptive act or practice.
• Senate Judiciary Committee
  • Hearing on SB 413: Prohibiting counsel from suggesting an amount of damages for noneconomic loss in civil actions.
• Senate Commerce Committee
  • Audit report: Evaluating the Angel Investor Tax Credit Program
  • Informational briefing on: Angel Investor Tax Credit Program
• Senate Utilities Committee
  • Hearing on SB 380: Requiring retail electric suppliers to provide nondiscriminatory rates and services to entities that provide electric vehicle charging services and prohibiting any costs and expenses associated with a retail electric supplier’s electric vehicle charging stations from being recovered in electric rates.
• House Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Committee
  • Informational briefing: Water Task Force Update, Sen. Kenny Titus, co-chair of Water Program Task Force.
• House Commerce, Labor, and Economic Development Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2580: Establishing the Kansas International Trade Commission to further international trade between Kansas and other countries, in particular Ireland, Japan, and Taiwan, and creating the Kansas International Trade Commission Fund.
• House Health and Human Services Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2528: Requiring all Kansas State Board of Nursing actions related to non-practice violations be void, allowing for late license renewal for professional, practical, and advanced practice registered nurses, setting fees for late license renewal, limiting unprofessional conduct to acts related to the practice of nursing, prohibiting the board from taking retaliatory action against a licensee based on certain lawful actions and creating a civil cause of action for violation thereof, requiring that board members be subject to Senate confirmation, and requiring the board to issue refunds for overpayment or duplicate payment.
• House Transportation Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2578: Creating a definition for antique farm vehicle to permit owners of such vehicles to register as an antique vehicle, directing the Kansas Division of Vehicles to design a decal for such vehicles and exempting such registered vehicles from the Kansas Uniform Commercial Drivers’ License Act.
• House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
  • Informational hearing: Kansas Recreational Opportunities
• House Judiciary Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2537: Increasing the penalties for the crime of sexual extortion when an offender is 18 years of age or older and the victim is less than 18 years of age or a dependent adult, creating the crimes of aggravated sexual extortion causing great bodily harm and aggravated sexual extortion causing death and requiring the attorney general to prepare and provide educational materials and information concerning such crimes.
  • Hearing on HB 2594: Modifying the elements of the crime of blackmail related to threatened dissemination of any videotape, photograph, film, or image of another identifiable person who is nude or engaged in sexual activity by removing the connection to breach of privacy and describing the content of the videotape, photograph, film, or image.
• House Taxation Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2385: Authorizing cities and counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question and to levy such tax if approved by the electors of a city or county, requiring resubmission of the question, if approved, to the electors every 10 years, allowing certain credits and exemptions against the tax, providing for deductions by public and private employers of the tax from employee earnings, and providing that revenue from any such tax be pledged for certain purposes.

Friday, Feb. 6

Last day for non-exempt committee bill introduction in the House and Senate

• Joint Committee on State Building Construction
• House Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee and House Transportation and Public Safety Budget Committee
  • Hearing on: Hutchinson Correctional Facility
• House Select Committee on Government Oversight
  • Review: Kansas Department for Children and Families Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) waiver application for candy and soda.

Bill Introductions

HOUSE BILLS

Banking/Finance

HB 2573: Kansas Board of Accountancy/Licensure Requirements for Certified Public Accountants. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Federal and State Affairs chaired by Rep. Tom Kessler (R-Wichita) and requested by Rep. Brian Bergkamp (R-Wichita), would revise the licensure requirements for certified public accountants. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs.

HB 2590: Trust/Kansas Community Property Trust Act/Kansas Uniform Trust Code. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Financial Institutions and Pensions chaired by Rep. Nick Hoheisel (R-Wichita) on behalf of the Kansas Bankers Association, would enact the Kansas Community Property Trust Act; authorize the use of community property trusts during the marriage of settlor spouses; allow trustees to reimburse settlors of grantor trusts; authorize the use of designated representatives for trusts; and permit the terms of a governing instrument to expand, restrict, or eliminate certain general rules applicable to fiduciaries, trusts, and trust administration. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Financial Institutions and Pensions and will be heard Monday, Feb. 2, at 9 a.m.

HB 2591: Financial Institutions. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Financial Institutions and Pensions chaired by Rep. Nick Hoheisel (R-Wichita) on behalf of the Kansas Credit Union Association, would authorize financial institutions to report suspected financial exploitation of an adult account holder to a designated agency, notify any adult designated as a trusted contact by such account holder of suspected financial exploitation, place a temporary hold on certain transactions or disbursements, and limit liability in any civil or criminal action for taking such actions or choosing not to take such actions. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Financial Institutions Pensions and will be heard Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 9 a.m.

Commerce

HB 2588: Electrician Licensing. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development chaired by Rep. Tom Kessler (R-Wichita) and requested by Rep. Sean Willcott (R-Holton), would provide for occupational licensing of electricians by the Kansas State Board of Technical Professions. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development and will be heard Thursday, Feb. 5, at 1:30 p.m.

HB 2599: Economic Development/Kansas Lemonade Stand Act. This bill, introduced by Rep. Bradley Barrett (R-Osage City) and members of the House Republican caucus, would enact the Kansas Lemonade Stand Law, which would exempt minor-owned businesses from paying sales tax on the first $10,000 of sales from tangible personal property sold each calendar year and from local taxes, licenses, permits, and other governmental permissions. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Taxation chaired by Rep. Adam Smith (R-Weskan).

HB 2602: Labor and Employment/Employment Benefits. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Insurance chaired by Rep. William Sutton (R-Gardner) and requested by Rep. Laura Williams (R-Lenexa), would establish requirements for a portable benefit plan for an independent contractor; determine type and amount of contributions to a portable benefit plan; and provide for a subtraction modification for contributions to a portable benefit plan for Kansas income tax purposes. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Insurance.

Employment

HB 2597: Labor and Employment/Paid Sick Leave. This bill, introduced by Rep. Dan Osman (D-Overland Park) and members of the House Democratic caucus, would establish a right to paid sick leave for Kansas employees and sets forth minimum requirements and rules for the provision of such paid sick leave. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development chaired by Rep. Tom Kessler (R-Wichita)

HB 2598: Labor and Employment/Kansas Paid Family Leave Act. This bill, introduced by Rep. Dan Osman (D-Overland Park) and members of the House Democratic caucus, would enact the Kansas Paid Leave Family Act; require notice of such paid family leave by employers; and establish the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Fund. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development chaired by Rep. Tom Kessler (R-Wichita).

Environment

HB 2567: Safe Battery Collection and Recycling Act. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources chaired by Rep. Ken Rahjes (R-Agra) requested by the National Waste & Recycling Association, would enact the Safe Battery Collection and Recycling Act; prohibit the sale of covered batteries or battery containing products unless the producer is part of a battery stewardship organization with an approved plan; require battery stewardship organizations to submit a battery stewardship plan to the Secretary of Health and Environment for approval; provide the responsibilities of battery stewardship organizations, including cost coverage and reimbursement to local governments; mandate the collection of covered batteries and set criteria for collection sites and events; promote the implementation of the battery stewardship plan through education, outreach, and safety training; require annual reports from battery stewardship organizations, detailing financials, collection data, and outreach efforts; mandate the department to publish approved plans and reports on its website while protecting proprietary information; provide liability protection for compliance with an approved battery stewardship plan; allow independent fee-based collection services under certain conditions; prohibit improper disposal of covered batteries and outline responsibilities for waste facilities; establish penalties for violations of the Act, including false statements and fee nonpayment; direct the department to review studies on expanding coverage to other products or batteries; allow battery stewardship organizations to recover costs from noncompliant producers through civil actions; establish the Battery Stewardship Fund for administering the act; authorize the Secretary of Health and Environment to adopt rules and regulations for the administration of the Act; and limit the number of full-time equivalent positions that the department can fill to administer and enforce the Act. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Federal and State and Affairs chaired by Rep. Tom Kessler (R-Wichita) and will be heard Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 9 a.m.

Government

HB 2571: Municipalities/Road Maintenance. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Local Government chaired by Rep. Emil Bergquist (R-Park City), would require cost-sharing agreements between municipalities for the maintenance of shared roads. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Local Government.

HB 2581: Animal Shelters/Pet Animal Act. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources chaired by Rep. Ken Rahjes (R-Agra) and requested by the Southeast Kansas Humane Society, would authorize animal shelters to move neonatal animals needing treatment or care to a foster home and would require shelters to display photographs of animals at a location other than the shelter during a holding period. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources.

HB 2592: Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Legislative Modernization chaired by Rep. Carl Turner (R-Leawood) and requested by Rep. Nick Hoheisel (R-Wichita), would create the task force on artificial intelligence and emergencies and would provide membership and duties of such task force. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Legislative Modernization.

HB 2603: Battery-Charged Security Fences. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development chaired by Rep. Tom Kessler (R-Wichita) and requested by Rep. William Sutton (R-Gardner), would prohibit regulation of battery-charged security fences by municipalities. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development.

Insurance

HB 2540: Standard Nonforfeiture Law for Individual Deferred Annuities. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Insurance chaired by Rep. William Sutton (R-Gardner), would exempt contingent deferred annuities from certain provisions therefrom and would authorize the Commissioner of Insurance to regulate such contingent deferred annuities through the adoption of rules and regulations. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Insurance.

HB 2549: Health Insurance Plans/Coverage of Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome and other Pediatric Disorders. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Health and Human Services chaired by Rep. Will Carpenter (R-El Dorado) and requested by Rep. Allen Reavis (R-Atchison), would require that certain plans would provide for the coverage for the diagnosis and prescribed treatment of PANS and PANDAS. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Insurance chaired by Rep. William Sutton (R-Gardner).

HB 2550: Health and Healthcare/Certain 340B Entities and Federal 340B Drug Pricing Program. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Insurance chaired by Rep. William Sutton (R-Gardner), would require 340B entities under the federal 340B drug pricing program entities to annually report to the Department of Insurance on certain costs, savings, and payments made under such program; require the Department of Insurance to publish such reports on the Department's website; and authorize the commissioner of insurance to adopt rules and regulations necessary to effectuate and administer the provisions of this Act. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Insurance and will be heard Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 3:30 p.m.

HB 2551: Insurance/Third Party Administrators. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Insurance chaired by Rep. William Sutton (R-Gardner), would provide for pharmacy services administrative organizations and the regulation thereof by the commissioner of insurance; enact the Pharmacy Services Administrative Organization Act; require certain disclosures relating to ownership for contracts between pharmacy services administrative organizations and independent pharmacies, PBMs, and third-party payers; establish certain requirements pertaining to appeals and audits; and provide for penalties for noncompliance. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Insurance and will be heard Monday, Feb. 2, at 3:30 p.m.

HB 2556: Insurance/Contracts Between Insurer and Dental Health Provider. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Insurance chaired by Rep. William Sutton (R-Gardner) and requested by Rep. Allen Reavis (R-Atchison) on behalf of the Kansas Dental Association, would prohibit certain terms in a contract between a health insurer and a dentist, requiring that reviews, audits, or investigations of healthcare providers concerning healthcare provider claims be completed within six months, and would provide certain exceptions thereto. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Insurance.

HB 2564: Insurance/Dental Benefit Plans. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Health and Human Services chaired by Rep. Will Carpenter (R-El Dorado) and requested by Rep. Allen Reavis (R-Atchison) on behalf of the Kansas Dental Association, would provide for the use of alternative forms of payment and would allow such payment to remain in force for the duration of the contract between a dentist and a dental benefit plan. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Insurance chaired by Rep. William Sutton (R-Gardner).

Judicial

HB 2552: Crimes, Punishment and Criminal Procedure/Reports and Records. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Appropriations chaired by Rep. Troy Waymaster (R-Bunker Hill) and requested by the Kansas Sentencing Commission, would require pre-sentence investigation reports and journal entries to be completed and submitted in the form and manner prescribed by the Sentencing Commission. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice chaired by Rep. Bob Lewis (R-Garden City).

HB 2593: Contingent Fee Contracts for Legal Services/Political Subdivision. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Rep. Susan Humphries (R-Wichita) on behalf of the Office of the Attorney General, would require an open meeting before a political subdivision may approve such a contract and would require the attorney general to approve such contract before such contract becomes effective. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

HB 2594: Crimes, Punishment and Criminal Procedure/Blackmail. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Rep. Susan Humphries (R-Wichita) on behalf of the Kansas County and District Attorneys Association, would modify the elements related to threatened dissemination of any videotape, photograph, film, or image of another identifiable person who is nude or engaged in sexual activity by removing the connection to breach of privacy and describing the content of the videotape, photograph, film, or image. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary and will be heard Thursday, Feb. 5, at 3:30 p.m.

HB 2595: Practice of Law in Kansas. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources chaired by Rep. Ken Rahjes (R-Agra), would provide financial assistance to law students who practice law in rural areas of the state; establish the Attorney Training Program For Rural Kansas Fund; and transfer moneys to such fund. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development chaired by Rep. Tom Kessler (R-Wichita).

Public Health and Welfare

HB 2508: Children and Minors/Health and Healthcare. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Health and Human Services chaired by Rep. Will Carpenter (R-El Dorado), would prohibit healthcare providers from prescribing medication, administering diagnostic tests, or conducting ongoing behavioral health treatments to minors except in certain circumstances. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Health and Human Services.

HB 2509: Health and Healthcare/Healthcare Provider Insurance Availability Act. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Health and Human Services chaired by Rep. Will Carpenter (R-El Dorado), would add advanced practice registered nurse to the definition of healthcare provider. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Health and Human Services and will be heard Monday, Feb. 2, at 1:30 p.m.

HB 2520: Adult Care Homes/Adult Care Home Licensure Act. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Health and Human Services chaired by Rep. Will Carpenter (R-El Dorado), would amend the definition of home plus to increase the cap of residents from 12 to 16. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Health and Human Services and will be heard Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 1:30 p.m.

HB 2548: Health and Healthcare/Personal Needs Allowances. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Health and Human Services chaired by Rep. Will Carpenter (R-El Dorado), would increase the personal needs allowance for residents receiving long-term care in a Medicaid-approved nursing facility. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Health and Human Services.

HB 2557: Children and Minors/Adoption and Placement of Child Among States. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Child Welfare and Foster Care chaired by Rep. Cyndi Howerton (R-Wichita) on behalf of the Department for Children and Families, would enact the interstate compact for the placement of children, declaring legislative findings for the enactment of the compact; authorize the administration and implementation of such compact; allow for supplementary or financial agreements; and require compliance with the compact and imposing a penalty for noncompliance. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Child Welfare and Foster Care and will be heard Monday, Feb. 2, and Tuesday, Feb. 3, respectively at 1:30 p.m.

HB 2563: Day Care Facilities. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Health and Human Services chaired by Rep. Will Carpenter (R-El Dorado), would permit certain healthcare providers to complete health assessments for children enrolled at day care facilities and would require such facilities to keep such assessments on file. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Health and Human Services.

HB 2587: Licensed Private Psychiatric Hospital/Emergency Medication Kits. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Health and Human Services chaired by Rep. Will Carpenter (R-El Dorado), would authorize a licensed private psychiatric hospital to maintain a stock supply of emergency medication kits for pharmaceutical emergencies. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Health and Human Services.

HB 2589: Child Abuse and Neglect. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Child Welfare and Foster Care chaired by Rep. Cyndi Howerton (R-Wichita), would prohibit the secretary for children and families from accepting or assigning anonymous reports of child abuse or neglect; require the secretary to inform anonymous reporters of such prohibition and other pertinent information regarding the reporting of child abuse or neglect, confidentiality of identifiable information, and penalties for false reporting; allow law enforcement agencies to accept anonymous reports of child abuse or neglect; and provide for the confidentiality of reporter information in law enforcement records. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Child Welfare and Foster Care and will be heard Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 1:30 p.m.

HB 2600: Health and Healthcare/Medical Assistance. This bill, introduced by Rep. Suzanne Wikle (D-Lawrence) and multiple members of the Democratic Caucus, would establish the Affordable Healthcare for Kansans program and expand income limits for eligibility to 138% of the federal poverty level. This bill has been referred to Committee on Health and Human Services chaired by Rep. Will Carpenter (R-El Dorado).

HB 2601: Children and Minors/Child Abuse or Neglect. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Child Welfare and Foster Care chaired by Rep. Cyndi Howerton (R-Wichita), would establish a child abuse and neglect registry to be maintained by the secretary for children and families; require administrative hearings and an opportunity for appeal before placing an individual on the registry; allow for expungement from the registry; limit use of information on the registry; and permit the secretary to maintain other registries or records to meet federal requirements. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Child Welfare and Foster Care.

Public Utilities

HB 2544: Communications Service Providers/Directives for Municipalities to Relocate Facilities Within the Public Right-of-Way. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications chaired by Rep. Leo Delperdang (R-Wichita), would establish the Relocation Reimbursement Assistance Fund to provide monetary assistance to certain communications service providers that are required to relocate facilities and would require the state treasurer to administer such fund and establish an application process for disbursement of moneys in such fund. This bill was referred to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications and was heard Thursday, Jan. 29, at 9 a.m.

HB 2586: Telecommunications Service Providers/Broadband Services. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications chaired by Rep. Leo Delperdang (R-Wichita) on behalf of Cox Communications, Inc., would require revenues received by telecommunications service providers for the provision of broadband services to be calculated when determining gross receipts. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications and will be heard Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 9 a.m.

Taxation

HB 2541: Economic Development/Kansas Rural Growth Program Act. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Taxation chaired by Rep. Adam Smith (R-Weskan) on behalf of Advantage Capital, would enact the Kansas Rural Business Growth Program Act, which would establish a premium tax credit program to be administered by the secretary of commerce for the purpose of incentivizing capital investment in rural areas. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Taxation.

HB 2559: Property Taxation/Classification of Land Devoted to Agriculture Use. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Taxation chaired by Rep. Adam Smith (R-Weskan), would remove the presumption that leased land shall be classified as land devoted to agricultural use. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Taxation.

HB 2572: Sales and Compensating Use Tax/Property Tax. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Taxation chaired by Rep. Adam Smith (R-Weskan), would provide for a sales tax exemption for purchases made to establish and maintain Kansas war memorials and would provide for an exemption for Kansas war memorials. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Taxation.

Transportation

HB 2553: Motor Vehicles/PBS Kansas License Plate. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Transportation chaired by Rep. Shannon Francis (R-Liberal), would provide for the PBS Kansas license plate. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Transportation.

HB 2554: Motor Vehicles/Distinctive License Plate. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Transportation chaired by Rep. Shannon Francis (R-Liberal), would provide for the pheasants forever and quail forever license plates. This bill mirrors SB 403 and has been referred to the Committee on Transportation.

HB 2562: Motor Vehicles/Registration. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Health and Human Services chaired by Rep. Will Carpenter (R-El Dorado) and requested by Rep. David Buehler (R-Lansing), would provide for the issuance of a special license plate or permanent or temporary placard for a person with a disability based on documentation of satisfactory proof of disability from a physical therapist. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Health and Human Services.

HB 2575: Motor Vehicles Registration and Registration Fees/Taxation. This bill, introduced by Rep. Bill Rhiley (R-Wellington), would eliminate registration fees and yearly registration requirement for motor vehicles used as passenger vehicles and vehicles used for personal use if registered by an individual or individuals and would eliminate the imposition of sales and property tax on certain motor vehicles. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Transportation chaired Rep. Shannon Francis (R-Liberal).

HB 2578: Antique Farm Vehicles. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Transportation chaired by Rep. Shannon Francis (R-Liberal) on behalf of the Kansas Farm Bureau, would create a definition for antique farm vehicle; permit such vehicles to register as an antique vehicle; direct the Kansas Division of Vehicles to design a decal for such vehicles; and exempt such registered vehicles from the Uniform Commercial Drivers' License Act. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Transportation and will be heard Thursday, Feb. 5, at 1:30 p.m.

HB 2583: Commercial Drivers’ License. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Transportation chaired by Rep. Shannon Francis (R-Liberal), would modify the definition of commercial motor vehicle in the Uniform Commercial Drivers’ License Act; require commercial motor vehicle driver’s license holders to possess certain identification documents and proficiency of the English language while operating a commercial motor vehicle; and establish fines for violations of such provisions on commercial motor vehicle employers and nonresident commercial driver's license holders. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Transportation.

HB 2584: Driver’s License/Contents. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Transportation chaired by Rep. Shannon Francis (R-Liberal), would permit a licensee to request that licensee’s mailing address (as opposed to licensee’s residence) be provided on a driver’s license. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Transportation.

Water

HB 2558: Water/Funding for State Water Plan and Water Infrastructure Projects. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Water chaired by Rep. Jim Minnix (R-Scott City), would increase the amount of moneys transferred from the State General Fund to the State Water Plan Fund and would require the Water Office to transfer appropriations for the Water Technical Assistance Fund and the Water Projects Grant Fund. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Water.

HOUSE RESOLUTIONS

HR 6023: Opposing Federal Preemption of State Laws Regulation Artificial Intelligence. This house resolution, introduced by the Committee on Legislative Modernization chaired by Rep. Carl Turner (R-Leawood), would express opposition to any federal legislation, executive order, or federal policy that would preempt, freeze, or otherwise restrict Kansas from enacting, enforcing, or modifying laws and regulations governing AI. This house resolution has been referred to the Committee on Legislative Modernization.

SENATE BILLS

Agriculture/Environment

SB 407: Hazardous Waste Monitoring. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources chaired by Sen. Virgil Peck (R-Havana), would authorize the adoption of certain rules and regulations regarding hazardous waste monitoring and permit application fees by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources.

SB 425: Agriculture Seeds. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources chaired by Sen. Virgil Peck (R-Havana), would increase the maximum annual registration fee for seed retailers and wholesalers and would authorize a late fee for registrations renewed after the expiration date of such registrations. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Banking

SB 410: Financial Institutions/Cybersecurity. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance chaired by Sen. Brenda Dietrich (R-Topeka), would provide that earned wage access service registrants are subject to the provisions of the Kansas Financial Institutions Information Security Act. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance.

Commerce

SB 393: Alcohol Beverages/Days and Hours of Sales. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Federal and State Affairs chaired by Sen. Mike Thompson (R-Shawnee), would authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the duration of the FIFA 2026 World Cup. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs.

Education

SB 383: Special Education State Aid Reimbursement. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Education chaired by Sen. Renee Erickson (R-Wichita), would add certain third parties who contract with school districts to the definition of special teacher, authorizing such reimbursement for qualified teachers who provide approved special education or related services to students with an IEP administered by such school district pursuant to a contract. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Education.

SB 386: Federal Tax Credits for Contributions to Scholarship Granting Organizations/Tax Credit for Low Income Scholarship Students. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Education chaired by Sen. Renee Erickson (R-Wichita), would elect to participate in the federal tax credit for individual contributions to scholarship granting organization and would increase the aggregate tax credit limit for the tax credit for the low income students scholarship program. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Education.

SB 387: School Districts. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Government Efficiency chaired by Sen. Renee Erickson (R-Wichita), would require school districts to verify the household gross earned income of each student who qualifies for free meals under the national school lunch program and would require legislative authorization to receive special assistance payments under federal law. This bill was referred to the Committee on Education and was heard Thursday, Jan. 29, at 9:30 a.m.

SB 421: Safeguarding Personal Expression at K-12 Schools Act. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Education chaired by Sen. Renee Erickson (R-Wichita), would enact the Safeguarding Personal Expression at K-12 Schools Act, which would authorize students to engage in protected speech or expression; provide limitations for such speech or expression; and provide a civil cause of action for violations of the act. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Education and will be heard Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 1:30 p.m.

SB 424: Student Secular Bill of Rights. This bill, introduced by Sen. Silas Miller (D-Wichita), would enact the student secular bill of rights; establish statutory protections against religious coercion and discrimination in public schools; and provide a cause of action for students and parents for violations thereof. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Education chaired by Sen. Renee Erickson (R-Wichita).

Elections

SB 394: Elections/Signature Verification Requirements for Advance Voting Ballot Envelopes. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Federal and State Affairs chaired by Sen. Mike Thompson (R-Shawnee), would require the Secretary of State to, among other things, monitor all litigation challenging the validity of the signature verification requirements in K.S.A. 25-1124(h), and amendments thereto and require the Secretary of State to publish in the Kansas Register a notice of a final order or judgment from any court of competent jurisdiction that invalidates the signature verification requirement of K.S.A. 25-1124(h); upon such publication in the Kansas Register, the statutory authorization for advance voting by mail in Kansas would become null and void in its entirety. This bill is parallel to HB 2490 and has been referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs. This bill was heard Monday, Feb. 2, at 10:30 a.m.

SB 395: Elections/Campaign Finance. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Federal and State Affairs chaired by Sen. Mike Thompson (R-Shawnee), would require treasurers for candidates and persons who promote or oppose the adoption of constitutional amendments to report lists of small donors to the public disclosure commission and would provide that such lists shall not be a part of any report required to be made public. This bill is parallel to HB 2512 and has been referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs.

Insurance

SB 409: Health Insurance Coverage. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance chaired by Sen. Brenda Dietrich (R-Topeka), would require a no cost-sharing requirement be imposed on insureds for diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations for breast cancer. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance and was heard Monday, Feb. 2, at 9:30 a.m.

SB 422: Regulation/Foreign Insurance Companies. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance chaired by Sen. Brenda Dietrich (R-Topeka), would reorganize certain provisions that apply to foreign insurance companies seeking authorization to do business in Kansas; authorize the suspension or revocation of a nonresident agent's license without notice and opportunity for a hearing after 30 days following notification to the Commissioner of Insurance that such nonresident agent no longer holds a home state license; and require agents and public adjusters to respond to inquiries from the Commissioner of Insurance within 14 calendar days. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance.

SB 423: Health Insurance/Cost-Sharing Requirements. This bill, introduced by Sen. Dinah Sykes (D-Lenexa), would require certain cost-sharing assistance be applied toward a covered individual's deductible or annual out-of-pocket limit under the individual's health benefit plan. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance.

Judicial

SB 376: Punishment and Criminal Procedure/Gambling Devices. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Federal and State Affairs chaired by Sen. Mike Thompson (R-Shawnee), would change the age for determining when a slot machine is an antique for purposes of exempting such device from criminal gambling statutes. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs.

SB 398: Rules of Evidence/Relating to Testimony in the Form of Opinion or Inferences. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Sen. Kellie Warren (R-Leawood), would require the proponent to demonstrate that it is more likely than not that certain specialized knowledge will help the trier of fact to understand the evidence before certain qualified witnesses may testify. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary and will be heard Thursday, Feb. 5, at 10:30 a.m.

SB 399: Kansas Consumer Protection Act/Unauthorized Practice of Law. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Sen. Kellie Warren (R-Leawood), would provide an exception to the prohibition against the unauthorized practice of law for an employee of the judicial branch or a district court providing a standard form to a member of the public. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

SB 412: Probate Code/Guardians and Conservatorship. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance chaired by Sen. Brenda Dietrich (R-Topeka), would impose the duty to notify nonparties to a conservatorship of any court order commanding performance or safekeeping of the conservatee's estate assets. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance.

SB 413: Civil Procedure/Damages for Noneconomic Loss. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Sen. Kellie Warren (R-Leawood), would prohibit counsel from suggesting an amount to award as damages for noneconomic loss in civil actions. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary and will be heard Thursday, Feb. 5, at 10:30 a.m.

SB 426: Kansas Transparency in Consumer Legal Funding Act. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Sen. Kellie Warren (R-Leawood), would enact the Kansas Transparency in Consumer Legal Funding Act, which would set forth requirements for consumer legal funding agreements; prohibit consumer legal funding companies from engaging in certain conduct; require certain consumer disclosures related to consumer legal funding agreements; and provide for penalties for violation of the act. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Public Health and Welfare

SB 377: Children and Minors/Recreational Facilities. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Federal and State Affairs chaired by Sen. Mike Thompson (R-Shawnee), would require cardiac emergency response plans for recreational facilities. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs.

SB 390: Kansas Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources chaired by Sen. Virgil Peck (R-Havana), would prohibit certain additives in food provided by schools as part of certain food service programs and require schools to certify that school facilities do not serve food that contains such food additives. This bill was referred to and then withdrawn from the Committee on Government Efficiency chaired by Sen. Renee Erickson (R-Wichita). This bill has now been referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources.

SB 405: Artificial Intelligence. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Federal and State Affairs chaired by Sen. Mike Thompson (R-Shawnee), would make it unlawful for a person to knowingly train artificial intelligence to encourage or support suicide or the unlawful killing of another person, provide emotional support, develop emotional relationships, act as a healthcare professional, simulate humans, or encourage isolation; provide for civil actions for violations with potential recovery of damages, attorney fees, and litigation costs; and permit courts to order equitable relief to correct unlawful conduct. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs.

SB 428: Public Assistance/Children and Families. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Government Efficiency chaired by Sen. Renee Erickson (R-Wichita), would require the secretary for children and families and the secretary of health and environment to execute a memorandum of understanding, data use agreement, or other written data-sharing instrument upon written request of the United States Department of Agriculture or the United States Department of Health and Human Services; the bill would require such secretaries to comply with written data requests from such federal agencies made pursuant to such memorandum of understanding, data use, agreement or written data sharing instrument. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Government Efficiency and will be heard Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 9:30 a.m.

Public Utilities

SB 379: Emergency Communications/Kansas 911 Act. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Utilities chaired by Sen. Michael Fagg (R-El Dorado), would authorize the state 911 board to establish a statewide emergency medical dispatch and telecommunicator cardiopulmonary resuscitation program; authorize the board to employ, contract for, or enter into an agreement to procure the services of a medical director under such program; authorize the board to establish contract for or enter into an agreement to procure a centralized quality assurance system; provide the option for a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) to retain or procure the PSAP's own emergency medical dispatch and telecommunicator cardiopulmonary resuscitation, medical direction, and quality assurance services; establish the emergency medical dispatch and telecommunicator cardiopulmonary resuscitation fund in the state treasury; and limit civil liability for the provision of emergency medical dispatch and telecommunicator cardiopulmonary resuscitation, medical direction, and quality assurance services. This bill was referred to the Committee on Utilities and was heard Thursday, Jan. 29, at 1:30 p.m.

SB 380: Retail Electric Suppliers/Electric Vehicle Charging Services. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Utilities chaired by Sen. Michael Fagg (R-El Dorado), would require retail electric suppliers to offer fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory rates and services to entities that provide electric vehicle charging services and would prohibit recovery of any costs and expenses associated with any electric vehicle charging station of the retail electric supplier through the retail electric supplier's electric rates. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Utilities and will be heard Thursday, Feb. 5, at 1:30 p.m.

SB 400: Data Centers/Water Consumption. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Utilities chaired by Sen. Michael Fagg (R-El Dorado), would require data centers to use closed-loop cooling systems to mitigate water consumption. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Utilities.

SB 417: Energy/Electric Generation and Energy Storage Facilities. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Utilities chaired by Sen. Michael Fagg (R-El Dorado), would establish requirements for the development, construction, modification, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning of industrial wind and solar energy conversion systems and industrial battery energy storage systems; authorize the board of county commissioners of a county to permit or deny the construction of such industrial energy facilities; establish a protest petition and election process to contest such county action; provide jurisdiction to the State Corporation Commission to control and permit the development, construction, modification, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning of such facilities; require the Commission to approve and issue a permit prior to the new construction or expansion of any such facility; require owners of existing industrial energy facilities to register with the Commission; establish minimum setback distances for such facilities; require the Commission to adopt a code of conduct and agricultural mitigation protocols; require a facility owner to establish and maintain a decommission plan and provide adequate financial assurance for the decommissioning; authorize the Commission to issue certain orders and impose civil penalties for violations; and authorize the Commission to adopt rules and regulations. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Utilities.

Real Estate

SB 388: Residential Landlord and Tenant Act/Fee Provisions in Rental Agreements. This bill, introduced by Sen. Cindy Holscher (D-Overland Park), would set a maximum fee for the late payment of rent. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Commerce chaired by Sen. Larry Alley (R-Winfield).

SB 391: Private Rental Housing. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Federal and State Affairs chaired by Sen. Mike Thompson (R-Shawnee), would prohibit cities and counties from adopting or enforcing any ordinance or resolution that requires landlords to lease housing to tenants receiving financial assistance from or through the housing choice voucher program or any other housing assistance program or that otherwise restricts a landlord's ability to consider the income source of a prospective tenant. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs.

SB 415: Residential Landlord Tenant Act/Remedies and Penalties. This bill, introduced by Sen. Doug Shane (R-Louisburg), would provide that violations of the act involving action or inaction by a landlord that causes a dwelling unit to be considered uninhabitable shall be subject to the remedies and enforcement provisions of the Kansas Consumer Protection Act. This bill has been referred to the Committee on the Judiciary chaired by Sen. Kellie Warren (R-Leawood).

SB 416: Cities and Counties/Interior Inspection of Residential Property. This bill, introduced by Sen. Doug Shane (R-Louisburg), would authorize interior inspections of residential properties without consent of the occupant pursuant to an administrative warrant or when there is probable cause of imminent danger related to health and safety. This bill has been referred to Committee on Judiciary chaired by Sen. Kellie Warren (R-Leawood).

SB 418: Housing/New Housing Development. This bill introduced by Sen. TJ Rose (R-Olathe) and Sen. Ty Masterson (R-Andover), would enact the By-Right Housing Development Act, which would provide a streamlined permit approval process for by-right housing developments; allow for third-party review of new residential construction development documents and inspection of improvements; require political subdivisions to allow certain building provisions for single-family residences of a certain size; exclude owner initiated rezoning to a single-family residential district from protest petition provisions; and provide for all land within the corporate limits of a city to be considered zoned for single-family residential use. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Commerce chaired by Sen. Larry Alley (R-Winfield) and will be heard Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 1:30 p.m.

Taxation

SB 378: Property Tax/Vehicle Credits. This bill, introduced by Sen. Ethan Corson (D-Fairway), would provide a one-time, nonrefundable vehicle registration property tax credit for eligible vehicles defined in the act. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Assessment and Taxation and will be heard Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 9:30 a.m.

SB 389: Sales Tax/Exemptions for Personal Products. This bill, introduced by Sen. Cindy Holscher (D-Overland Park), would provide an exemption for feminine hygiene products, diapers, and incontinence products. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Assessment and Taxation chaired by Sen. Larry Alley (R-Winfield).

SB 397: Homestead Property Tax Refund Act. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Assessment and Taxation chaired by Sen. Larry Alley (R-Winfield), would provide that a person shall not lose eligibility for a homestead property tax refund claim or the Selective Assistance for Effective Senior Relief (SAFESR) tax credit if the appraised valuation of the homestead subsequently exceeds $350,000 after qualifying in a previous tax year. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Assessment and Taxation.

SB 402: Homestead Property Tax Refund Act. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Assessment and Taxation chaired by Sen. Larry Alley (R-Winfield), would modify the definition of household income; provide an eligibility exception for claimants who are required to live away from the homestead by reason of health or other hardship; provide for one homestead property tax refund claim form; provide that a person shall not lose eligibility for a homestead property tax refund claim or the SAFESR tax credit if the appraised valuation of the homestead subsequently exceeds $350,000 after qualifying in a previous tax year; and establish a constant household income threshold relating to the SAFESR income tax credit. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Assessment and Taxation.

Transportation

SB 403: Motor Vehicles/Distinctive License Plates. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Transportation chaired by Sen. Mike Peterson (R-Wichita), would provide for the pheasants forever and quail forever license plates. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Transportation and will be heard Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 8:30 a.m.

SB 404: Motor Vehicles/Vehicle Registration and License Plate Procedures. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Transportation chaired by Sen. Mike Peterson (R-Wichita), would modify the registration period for personalized license plates from the date such plate was issued and would authorize county treasurers to charge increased fees for vehicle registration transactions. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Transportation.

SB 411: Traffic Regulations/Use of Triple Trailers. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Transportation chaired by Sen. Mike Peterson (R-Wichita), would provide for the use of triple trailers on highways; increase the allowable gross weight for such vehicle combinations; and provide for the use of trailers with dealer license plates. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Transportation.

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS

SCR 1619: Constitution/Property Tax. This concurrent resolution, introduced by Sen. Cindy Holscher (D-Overland Park), would amend Section 1 of Article 11 of the Kansas Constitution to decrease the assessment percentage used for determining the assessed value of real property used for residential purposes and mobile homes used for residential purposes from 11.5% to 9%. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Assessment and Taxation chaired by Sen. Larry Alley (R-Winfield).

Bill Tracking History

A history of the bills we are tracking as of February 2, 2026, can be found here. 

Kansas Legislative Insights is a publication developed by the government affairs & public policy law practice group of Foulston Siefkin LLP. It is designed to inform business executives, human resources and government relations professionals, and general counsel about current developments occurring in current Kansas legislation. Published regularly during the Kansas legislative session and periodically when the legislature is not in session, it focuses on issues involving healthcare, insurance, public finance, taxation, financial institutions, business & economic development, energy, real estate & construction, environmental, agribusiness, and employment. Bill summaries are by necessity brief, however, for additional information on any issue before the Kansas Legislature, contact Foulston Siefkin’s government affairs & public policy law practice group leader, C. Edward Watson, II, at 316.291.9589 or cewatson@foulston.com. Learn more about the authors below:

C. Edward Watson, II

Editor and Government Affairs & Public Policy Law Team Leader
316.291.9589
cewatson@foulston.com | View Bio

As a partner at Foulston Siefkin, Eddie represents clients in matters before state regulatory commissions, courts, and local government bodies. He has built and maintained relationships with key individuals – including lobbyists, elected and appointed officials, and staff members – that prove valuable in advancing clients’ interests and issues. Drawing on his experience as a regional government affairs attorney for AT&T in Chicago, he helps clients navigate the maze of federal policies and agencies, advises on how processes work in Washington, and provides introductions to those who can help them accomplish their goals.

Susan (Sue) Peterson, PhD

Contributing Author and Government Affairs Consultant
785.341.6717
speterson@foulston.com | View bio

Sue, a government affairs consultant to Foulston Siefkin’s government affairs & public policy practice group, is a strategic advocate, advisor, and connection to the Kansas Legislature, government agencies, and elected officials. She has built a robust and well-established network of state and federal lawmakers, corporate/academic leaders, and policymakers nationwide. She earned a Bachelor of Science in political science from Kansas State University, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Kansas, and a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from KSU. Before joining Foulston, Sue served as Kansas State University’s chief government relations officer for 34 years; her experience also includes staff positions in Kansas’ executive and legislative branches.

Eric L. Sexton, PhD

Contributing Author and Government Affairs Consultant
316.371.7553 
esexton@foulston.com | View bio

Eric, a government affairs consultant to Foulston Siefkin’s government affairs & public policy practice group, has nearly 30 years’ experience providing strategic direction and government relations services. As Wichita State University’s governmental relations leader for 18 years, Eric developed lasting relationships at the local, state, and federal government level around Kansas. Eric holds a doctorate in political science from the University of Kansas and a Masters in Public Administration from Wichita State University, complementing his undergraduate business degree from Wichita State.    

This update has been prepared by Foulston Siefkin LLP for informational purposes only. It is not a legal opinion; it does not provide legal advice for any purpose; and it neither creates nor constitutes evidence of an attorney-client relationship.