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Kansas Legislative Insights Newsletter | February 9, 2026

Lawmakers at the Kansas Statehouse spent last week advancing and debating a wide range of proposals, from civil justice and election law to higher education funding, public benefits oversight, energy development, and consumer protections. Several measures moved forward, while others set up legal, fiscal, and political questions that remain unresolved.

In the week ahead, committees and legislative leaders will decide which issues advance and which stall. Below are closer looks at four issues drawing particular attention: proposed changes to Kansas landlord-tenant law, efforts to limit “jury anchoring” in civil trials, an update on the efforts of the 2025 Water Task Force, and background on the process of “emergency final action” and its effects on the legislative process. A brief preview of upcoming hearings and floor action follows.

Three Hearings, Three Policy Fault Lines: Housing, Water, and the Courts

As budget and tax negotiations continue, this week, the Kansas Legislature also advanced debate on three issues with lasting consequences for communities across the state: housing, water, and civil justice.

The Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs heard SB 391, which would prohibit cities and counties from requiring landlords to accept Housing Choice (Section 8) vouchers and from limiting standard screening practices, including credit history, eviction records, criminal background checks, security deposits, or rights of first refusal. Supporters argue the bill protects private property rights, preserves voluntary participation in federal housing programs, and establishes statewide consistency. Opponents say local governments need flexibility to respond to housing shortages and promote tenant stability, warning the measure could narrow options for low-income renters.

The House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget received an update on the Water Program Task Force, created to address declining groundwater in western Kansas, reservoir sedimentation in the east, and growing risks to public water systems. The bipartisan group is reviewing outdated planning statutes, comparing Kansas to states such as Texas and Colorado, and evaluating long-term funding models. Members expect a preliminary report later this session and plan additional meetings this spring to develop funding strategies and draft potential legislation ahead of a final report next year.

Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Judiciary considered SB 413, aimed at limiting “jury anchoring” by prohibiting attorneys from suggesting dollar amounts, ranges, formulas, or unrelated comparisons when arguing noneconomic damages. Backers say the change could reduce inflated verdicts and settlement pressure. Critics warn it may complicate trials and leave juries with less guidance. Fiscal analysts note the bill could lengthen some cases and increase appeals, with uncertain cost to the judicial branch.

Together, these hearings show lawmakers weighing statewide consistency against local control, planning for Kansas’ water future, and recalibrating courtroom practice — while still working to balance the state budget.

Emergency Final Action: When Process Becomes the Story

Legislative outcomes often dominate headlines, but this week the process itself became the story when the House used Emergency Final Action (EFA) to advance Senate Bill 254 directly on the floor.

EFA allows a chamber to declare a bill urgent and move it to final consideration without the customary committee process. Debate and amendments remain permitted, but EFA compresses what is typically a multi-step, public deliberative process into a single floor action. Invocation requires a two-thirds vote, making the procedure lawful under House rules but consequential in its effect.

Senate Bill 254, which addresses eligibility for certain state and local public benefits, became a case study in how this authority operates. Instead of proceeding through a standing committee, the bill moved directly to floor consideration. Supporters framed the approach as an efficient way to manage legislation that had already passed the Senate. Critics argued the process limited opportunities for public input normally provided through committee hearings.

Unlike regular consideration on general orders, EFA permits the chamber to end debate by motion, commonly referred to as “calling the question.” In this instance, the House halted debate while members were still seeking to speak, forcing an immediate vote. After several hours of discussion and consideration of amendments — one of which was adopted — the House passed the bill and returned it to the Senate for further action.

Next procedural step: The Senate has several options on SB 254. It may concur in the House amendments by motion, requiring 21 votes. It may refuse to concur and request a conference committee with the House. Alternatively, the president of the Senate may determine the House amendments materially changed the bill and refer it to a Senate committee for further consideration or no further action.

Whether SB 254 ultimately advances or stalls, its path underscores a broader legislative reality: procedural tools designed for urgency can also reshape deliberation. Sometimes the most consequential decision is not what lawmakers vote on, but how they choose to get there.

Upcoming Week: February 9- 13, 2026

This is the final full week for committee action on all bills not introduced by, or previously acted upon by, an exempt committee in either the House or the Senate. To date, 332 bills have been introduced in the House and 199 bills in the Senate by individual legislators or non-exempt committees.

Monday, Feb. 9

• House Legislative Modernization Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2592: Creating the Kansas task force on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to study such technologies and make recommendations to the legislature.
• House Local Government Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2363: Requiring the board of county commissioners or the city governing body to refer the proposed creation of a conservation easement to the appropriate planning commission for review and recommendation; providing the board of county commissioners or the city shall approve or deny the creation of conservation easements.
• Senate Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee
  • Confirmation Hearings on:
    • Tonya Barta, State Banking Board
    • Jared Brown, State Banking Board
    • Darren Gragg, State Banking Board
    • Liz Miller, Kansas Development Finance Authority
    • Jacinda Zerr, State Banking Board
• Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee
  • Hearing on SB 405: Making 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.
• Senate Judiciary Committee
  • Hearing on SB 459: Changing the membership of the prisoner review board and requiring parole hearings to be postponed if proper notice of the public comment session is not made to the victim.
• House Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Committee
  • Informational briefing: Grasslands, Mike Beam, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Agriculture
• House Commerce, Labor, and Economic Development Committee
  • Commerce Conversations: Textron
• House Community Corrections Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2653: Requiring the secretary of corrections to assist inmates with obtaining identification and employment-related documentation prior to release from custody.
• House Education Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2576: Establishing Erin's Law to require school districts to provide training and age-appropriate student instruction on the identification and reporting of signs of child sexual abuse.
• House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2582: Establishing the developing veterinary medicine in rural Kansas program within the Kansas Department of Agriculture and providing financial assistance and support to certain veterinarians practicing in rural communities.
• House Taxation Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2541: Enacting the Kansas Rural Business Growth Program Act, providing a premium tax credit to incentivize capital investment in rural areas and establishing a program to be administered by the secretary of commerce for the purpose of incentivizing such investment.
  • 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.
• House Insurance Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2540: Exempting contingent deferred annuities from certain requirements of the Standard Nonforfeiture Law for Individual Deferred Annuities Act and authorizing the commissioner of insurance to establish nonforfeiture benefits for such contingent deferred annuities through rules and regulations.
  • Hearing on HB 2602: Establishing requirements for a portable benefit plan for independent contractors, determining types of contributions to such plans, and providing a subtraction modification for Kansas income tax purposes.

Tuesday, Feb. 10

• Senate Transportation Committee
  • Hearing on SB 411: Providing for the use of triple trailers on highways, increasing the allowable gross weight for such vehicle combinations, and allowing the use of trailers with dealer license plates.
• House Federal and State Affairs Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2635: Enacting the Pregnancy Center Autonomy and Rights of Expression Act to protect the ability of private pregnancy centers to provide life-affirming care.
• House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2483: Enacting the Transparency and Reform Of Utility Expenditures Act.
• House Veterans and Military Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2626: Expanding veterans’ preference in government employment to include current members of the national guard and such members' eligible spouses.
• House Water Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2558: Increasing the amount of money transferred from the State General Fund to the State Water Plan Fund and from the State Water Plan Fund to the Water Technical Assistance Fund and the Water Project Grant Fund.
• Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee
  • Hearing on SB 402: Modifying the definition of household income, providing for one refund claim form and providing an eligibility exception for claimants who are required to live away from the homestead by reason of health or other hardship for purposes of homestead property tax refunds, providing that a person shall not lose eligibility for a homestead 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, and establishing a constant household income threshold for purposes of the SAFESR tax credit.
  • Hearing on SB 397: Providing 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.
• Senate Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee
  • Hearing on SB 147: Modifying uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage liability limitations for bodily injury or death.
• Senate Local Government, Transparency and Ethics Committee
  • Hearing on SB 436: Increasing the cost threshold for when a county shall use the public bidding process in awarding a construction contract.
• Senate Judiciary Committee
  • Hearing on SB 375: Enacting the Proxy Advisor Transparency Act, requiring proxy advisors to make certain disclosures when recommending an action against company management, authorizing the attorney general to investigate and take enforcement actions against violators, and establishing a private right of action for a declaratory judgment or injunctive relief.
• Senate Commerce Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2229: Amending the Kansas Amusement Ride Act relating to inspections of amusement rides and inflatable devices, training regarding the operation of amusement rides and inflatable devices, and establishing an annual permit fee for inflatable devices.
• 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.
• Senate Utilities Committee
  • Hearing on SB 439: Enacting the Utility Railroad Crossing Act and establishing a process and limitations for utilities to interact with railroad right-of-way.
• House Education Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2142: Requiring each school district to adopt an independent review process as part of such district's policies prohibiting and preventing bullying.
• House Health and Human Services Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2676: Permitting a pharmacist to initiate therapy for certain conditions consistent with the pharmacist's education, training, and experience.
  • Hearing on HB 2702: Providing that applicants for a physician assistant license submit to a criminal record check, providing for the collaboration between physicians and physician assistants, and requiring the revocation of a physician assistant license under certain circumstances.
• House Judiciary Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2593: Requiring that a political subdivision hold an open meeting to discussrequiring the attorney general to approve such contracts.
  • Hearing on HB 2652: Requiring the clerk of the appellate courts to publish monthly a list of cases of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals in which a decision has not been entered and filed within six months of submission and a list of cases in which a petition for review has not been granted or denied within six months of submission.
• House Tax Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2642: Removing obsolete reference to global intangible low-taxed income provided for under the federal internal revenue code in determining Kansas adjusted gross income.
  • Hearing on HB 2644: Requiring a county appraiser to adjust the value of residential and commercial property upon final determination or obtain a fee simple appraisal if the appraised value exceeds 5% increase over three years.
  • Hearing on HB 2712: Increasing the authority for a countywide retailers' sales tax and providing for the dedicated apportionment of special purpose tax revenues up to 2% and limiting special purpose city and countywide retailers' sales taxes to 10 years.

Wednesday, Feb. 11

• Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee
  • Hearing on: Ethanol Tax Credit
• Senate Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee
  • Hearing on SB 410: Providing that earned wage access service registrants are subject to the Kansas Financial Institutions Information Security Act.
  • Hearing on SB 412: Imposing the duty to notify nonparties to a conservatorship of any court order commanding performance or safekeeping of the conservatee's estate assets.
• Senate Local Government, Transparency and Ethics Committee
  • Presentation on local government funding:
    • League of Kansas Municipalities 
    • Kansas Association of Counties
• Senate Federal and State Affairs
  • Hearing on SB 395: Requiring treasurers of candidates and persons who support or oppose constitutional amendments to report lists of small donors' names and addresses to the public disclosure commission and providing that such lists shall not be a part of any report required to be made public.
• Senate Judiciary Committee
  • Hearing on SB 415: Making certain violations of the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act subject to the remedies and enforcement provisions of the Kansas Consumer Protection Act.
  • Hearing on SB 426: Enacting the Kansas Transparency in Consumer Legal Funding Act.
• Senate Commerce Committee and House Commerce, Labor and Economic Development Committee joint meeting
  • Presentation on: Unemployment Insurance Modernization and Conformity Act
• Senate Education Committee
  • Hearing on SB 381: Requiring instruction to provide students with an understanding of communist and socialist regimes and ideologies and that students pass an American civics examination in order to graduate with a high school diploma.
• House Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2655: Authorizing the chief judge of each municipal court to establish a specialty court program and providing for expungement when a person has completed the requirements of such program.
• House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
  • Informational hearing: Rural Lawyer Initiatives

Thursday, Feb. 12

• Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
  • Hearing on SB 465: Including limited liability partnerships as an entity required to obtain county approval to establish a dairy or swine production facility.
• Senate Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee
  • Hearing on SB 422: Reorganizing certain provisions that apply to foreign insurance companies seeking authorization to do business in Kansas, authorizing the suspension or revocation of a nonresident agent's license without notice and opportunity for a hearing following notification to the commissioner of insurance that such nonresident agent no longer holds a home state license, and requiring agents and public adjusters to respond to inquiries from the commissioner.
• House Federal and State Affairs Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2687: Prohibiting any governmental agency from regulating landings and takeoffs or the operation of aquatic aircraft on waters of the state.
• House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications
  • Hearing on HB 2483: Enacting the Transparency and Reform Of Utility Expenditures Act.
  • Hearing on HB 2435: Enacting the Natural Gas Infrastructure Availability Act to authorize natural gas public utilities to defer to a regulatory asset all depreciation expense and carrying cost for any new plant, facilities, or equipment that such utility has put into service and authorizing recovery of such regulatory asset via an interim rate adjustment mechanism.
• House Veterans and Military Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2627: Expanding permissive preference in private employment to include current service members and eligible spouses.
• Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee
  • Hearing on SB 452: Including federal law enforcement officers in the definition of law enforcement officer that is used in certain crimes and traffic provisions and clarifying that enforcement of a federal law is covered under the Tort Claims Act.
• Senate Commerce Committee
  • Hearing on SB 429: Extending the sunset for the angel investor tax credit to 2031.
• House Health and Human Services Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2370: Requiring additional licensing requirements for assisted living facilities with dementia care.
• House Transportation Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2583: Requiring commercial motor vehicle drivers to possess certain identification documents and proficiency of the English language while operating a commercial motor vehicle and establishing fines and penalties for violations thereof.
  • Hearing on HB 2647: Authorizing the Kansas Department of Transportation to establish a statewide fiber system.
• House Taxation Committee
  • Hearing on HB 2745: Requiring a vote of the electors to approve increases in property tax revenues for the next year, establishing the property tax relief fund and providing transfers to counties that limit property taxes to certain increases, establishing the property tax limit in lieu of the revenue neutral rate to provide for certain budget increases of taxing subdivisions, and continuing in existence the taxpayer notification costs fund.

Bill Introductions

HOUSE BILLS

Agriculture

HB 2693: Application of Swine Waste. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources chaired by Rep. Ken Rahjes (R-Agra) on behalf of the Kansas Sierra Club, would prohibit certain applications except with low-pressure drop nozzles within an average height of three feet and using secretary-approved methods; require contour buffer strips for application on land with slopes of 3% or greater; establish setback rules for property lines, road rights-of-way, habitable structures, refuges, and parks; and require applicators to prevent nuisance conditions. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources.

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 was 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 was heard Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 9 a.m.

Commerce

HB 2648: Consumer Protection/Electronic Communications. 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 Social Media and Telecommunications Fraud Accountability Act, which would require social media platforms to exercise reasonable care in preventing the dissemination of fraudulent advertisements; prohibit a person or business from falsely identifying such person's or business's name or telephone number on telephone caller identification systems; prohibit the unauthorized use of a bank name in electronic advertisements or solicitations; make violations of the act an unconscionable act or practice under the Kansas Consumer Protection Act; authorize the attorney general to enforce violations of the act; and would provide for civil penalties and private civil actions against violators of the act. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Financial Institutions and Pensions.

HB 2650: Noncompete Agreements. This bill, introduced by Rep. Steven K. Howe (R-Salina), would require that such agreements be reasonable, providing that such agreements are null and void upon the sale or change in ownership or control of an employer. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development chaired by Rep. Tom Kessler (R-Wichita).

HB 2657: Consumer Protection/Social Media Age Restrictions. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Legislative Modernization chaired by Rep. Carl Turner (R-Leawood) and requested by Rep. Nikki McDonald (D-Olathe), would prohibit social media platforms from allowing children under 16 years of age to create, maintain, or access an account unless the platform has obtained verified parental consent; require social media platforms to implement age verification measures and suspend access to current accounts until verified parental consent is obtained; allow a parent or guardian to revoke consent at any time and request for the deletion of the minor's account; and authorize the attorney general to enforce the provisions of the section pursuant to the Kansas Consumer Protection Act. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Legislative Modernization.

HB 2671: Consumer Protection/Community Harmed by AI Technology Act. This bill, introduced by the Committee on K-12 Education Budget and requested by Rep. Nikki McDonald (D-Olathe), would establish the Community Harmed by AI Technology Act, which would require covered entities to mandate user accounts for accessing companion AI chatbots and to verify user age using commercially available methods; classify users as minors or adults based on age verification; mandate parental account affiliation and parental consent for minors; block minor users' access to interactions involving suicidal ideation or sexually explicit communications; protect the confidentiality of age information and monitoring interactions for suicidal ideation; require popups to inform users that they are interacting with AI, not humans; require the attorney general to issue compliance guidance by Dec. 31, 2026; outline enforcement actions under the Kansas Consumer Protection Act; and would provide a safe harbor for covered entities that rely on user-provided age information and comply with the attorney general's guidance. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Legislative Modernization.

HB 2675: Economic Development/International Trade. This bill, introduced by Rep. Lauren Bohi (R-Olathe), would establish the Kansas-Italy trade commission to advance, promote, and encourage business and other mutually beneficial activities between Kansas and Italy and would establish the Kansas-Italy trade commission fund. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development chaired by Rep. Tom Kessler (R-Wichita).

HB 2700: Consumer Protection/Right-to-Repair Act. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development chaired by Rep. Tom Kessler (R-Wichita) on behalf of Federico Duerst Consulting Group and Garmin International, Inc., would enact the Right-To-Repair Act; establish a right for persons who purchase or lease digital electronic equipment to obtain the legal authorization and necessary documentation and parts from original equipment manufacturers to diagnose, maintain, and repair such equipment; provide for enforcement by the attorney general; create liability limitations; and limit application of such act to digital electronic equipment made available for sale on or after July 1, 2026. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic.

HB 2737: Economic Development/Tax Increment Financing. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development chaired by Rep. Tom Kessler (R-Wichita) on behalf of Hageman Capital, would provide for alternative financing of project through taxpayer agreement and would enact the Taxpayer Agreement Act. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development.

Education

HB 2637: School Districts/Community Eligibility Program. This bill, introduced by Reps. Robyn R. Essex (R-Olathe), Lauren Bohi (R-Olathe), Charlotte Esau (R-Olathe), Angela Stiens (R-Shawnee), and Laura Williams (R-Lenexa), would require eligible boards of education to consider participation in the community eligibility program; provide a financial hardship exception to such participation; and require the Kansas Department of Education to assist school districts seeking such participation. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Education chaired by Rep. Susan Estes (R-Wichita) and will be heard Thursday, Feb. 12, at 1:30 p.m.

Elections

HB 2622: Municipal Lease-Purchase Agreements. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Elections chaired by Rep. Pat Proctor (R-Fort Leavenworth) on behalf of Rep. Emil Bergquist (R-Park City), would modify the protest petition requirements. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Elections.

HB 2640: Voter Registration Systems. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Elections chaired by Rep. Pat Proctor (R-Fort Leavenworth), would require periodic comparisons with the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database by the secretary of state and annual reporting to the legislature on such comparison. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Elections.

HB 2659: Elections/Audits and Recounts. This bill, introduced by Rep. Samantha Poetter Parshall (R-Paola), would require that audits and recounts be conducted using a hand count of paper ballots. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Elections.

Environment

HB 2674: Environment/PFAS Protection Act. This bill, introduced by Rep. Lauren Bohi (R-Olathe), would enact the PFAS Protection Act; prohibit certain products that contain intentionally added PFAS; authorize the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to adopt rules and regulations to prohibit certain products that contain intentionally added PFAS; and require disclosure of information and the testing of products that contain intentionally added PFAS and are sold, offered for sale, distributed, or distributed for sale in this state. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Health and Human Services chaired by Rep. Will Carpenter (R-El Dorado).

HB 2682: Public Health and Environment/Solid Waste. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources chaired by Rep. Ken Rahjes (R-Agra) on behalf of Rep. Bradley Barrett (R-Osage City), would enact the Kansas Organic Waste Land Application Accountability Act; regulate the land application of biosolids and organic waste materials, except when applied by a bona fide farmer conducting normal farming operations on land owned or leased by such farmer; establish the permitting, testing, sampling, documentation, setbacks, operational limitations, and odor and dust abatement requirements; define nuisance conditions; authorize the secretary of health and environment or the applicable county to issue cease and desist orders or impose civil penalties in response to any violation of the act; and authorize counties to adopt additional restrictions and investigate complaints, conduct inspections, collect samples, and enforce the act concurrently with the secretary.

Government

HB 2624: Fire Districts. This bill, introduced by Rep. Timothy Johnson (R-Basehor), would authorize the disorganization of a county fire district by the board of county commissioners when such district contains no territory. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Local Government chaired by Rep. Emil Bergquist (R-Park City).

HB 2633: Department of Wildlife and Parks/Fees. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources chaired by Rep. Ken Rahjes (R-Agra) on behalf of John’s Sport Center, would increase the service charge fee for each license, permit, stamp, or other issue of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks to an amount of not to exceed $2 and, in the case of each migratory waterfowl habitat stamp, an amount of not to exceed $1. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources and will be heard Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 3:30 p.m.

HB 2685: Public Official Accountability Act. This bill, introduced by Rep. Bill Rhiley (R-Wellington), would enact the Public Official Accountability Act, which would provide that public officials are personally liable for actions that violate constitutional rights or exceed such official's lawful duties. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs chaired by Rep. Tom Kessler (R-Wichita).

HB 2699: Legal Publications. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development chaired by Rep. Tom Kessler (R-Wichita) on behalf of Sedgwick County, would allow for official legal publications on a county website for counties with a population of 100,000 or more. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Local Government chaired by Rep. Emil Bergquist (R-Park City).

HB 2708: State Boards, Commissions, and Authorities. This bill, introduced by Rep. Angel Roeser (R-Manhattan), would establish within the legislative branch the office of the executive director for Kansas advisory commissions and the Advisory Commission on Asian American and Pacific Islander Affairs; transfer the Hispanic and Latino American Affairs Commission and the Advisory Commission on African-American Affairs to the legislative branch; require the executive director to serve each advisory commission; and require legislative leadership and the governor to appoint members to each advisory commission. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Local Government chaired by Rep. Emil Bergquist (R-Park City).

HB 2711: Dissolution of a City. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Elections chaired by Rep. Pat Proctor (R-Fort Leavenworth) on behalf of Rep. Emil Bergquist (R-Park City), would amend the process by which qualified electors of a city of the third class may seek to dissolve the city as a corporate body. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Elections.

Insurance

HB 2668: Health Insurance. This bill, introduced by Rep. Alexis Simmons (D-Topeka), would mandate health insurers to provide coverage for pain management services. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Insurance chaired by Rep. William Sutton (R-Gardner).

HB 2677: Health Insurance Coverage. This bill, introduced by Rep. Steven K. Howe (R-Salina), would mandate health insurance policies to provide coverage and payment for hearing aids for children under the age of 18 and would provide for an exemption for such coverage. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Insurance chaired by Rep. William Sutton (R-Gardner).

HB 2703: Accident and Health Coverage/Health Insurance Affordability Transparency Act. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Insurance chaired by Rep. William Sutton (R-Gardner), would enact the Kansas Health Insurance Affordability Transparency Act and would require the Kansas Department of Insurance to prepare a report upon the request of a legislator concerning the financial impact to covered individuals that would result from the passage of certain health insurance legislation. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Insurance.

HB 2735: Health Insurance. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Insurance chaired by Rep. William Sutton (R-Gardner) requested by Rep. Blake Carpenter (R-Derby), would enact the Patient’s Right to Save Act; establish shared saving programs maintained by health insurers; and provide for the duties and requirements of such shared savings programs. This bill was referred to the Committee of Insurance.

HB 2736: Health and Healthcare/Hospital Billing. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Insurance chaired by Rep. William Sutton (R-Gardner), would require non-disproportionate share hospitals to screen patients for eligibility for such hospital's financial assistance programs or charity care policy. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Insurance.

Judicial

HB 2610: Crimes, Punishment, and Criminal Procedure/Issuance of Warrants. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Rep. Susan Humphries (R-Wichita) and requested by Rep. Laura Williams (R-Lenexa), relates to the issuance of a warrant or summons when there is probable cause to believe that a defendant has committed a crime; limit the use of a summons instead of a warrant to misdemeanor crimes; and require that any bond set on a warrant issued after failure to appear in response to a summons shall not allow release on the defendant's own recognizance. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary and was heard Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 3:30 p.m.

HB 2611: Pretrial Release. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Rep. Susan Humphries (R-Wichita) and requested by Rep. Laura Williams (R-Lenexa), would provide limitations and restrictions on releasing a person charged with a crime upon the person's own recognizance. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary and as heard Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 3:30 p.m.

HB 2612: Crimes, Punishment, and Criminal Procedure/Sentencing. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Rep. Susan Humphries (R-Wichita) and requested by the Kansas Association of Court Services Officers and the Kansas County & District Attorneys Association, would provide that the supervision term in certain multiple conviction cases will be based on the longest supervision term imposed for any of the crimes. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

HB 2613: Crime Victims Compensation Board/Chargeable Fees for Examination of Victims of Sexual Assault. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Rep. Susan Humpries (R-Wichita) and requested by Rep. Lauren Bohi (R-Olathe) on behalf of the office of the attorney general, would authorize the Kansas Crime Victims Compensation Board to establish fees chargeable for conducting examinations of persons who may be victims of sexual assault and adopt rules and regulations for the administration thereof and would authorize the board to use moneys in the crime victims compensation fund for the payment of such fees. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

HB 2614: Crime Victims Compensation Board/Confidentiality of Records. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Rep. Susan Humpries (R-Wichita) on behalf of the office of the attorney general, would provide certain exceptions to the confidentiality of records. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

HB 2652: Clerk of Court/Publishing Information. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Rep. Susan Humpries (R-Wichita) on behalf of the office of the attorney general, would require the clerk of the appellate courts to publish monthly a list of cases of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals in which a decision has not been entered and filed within six months of submission and a list of cases in which a petition for review has not been granted or denied within six months of submission. This bill has been referred to Committee on Judiciary.

HB 2654: Traffic Regulations/Failure to Comply with Traffic Citation. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice chaired by Rep. Bob Lewis (R-Garden City) on behalf of the Kansas Department of Corrections, would prohibit past sanctions that are more than five years old from being considered by courts or the division of vehicles in determining suspended or restricted driving privileges and would eliminate certain notice requirements for the Kansas Division of Vehicles related to suspended or restricted drivers' licenses. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice and will be heard Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 1:30 p.m.

HB 2655: Municipal Courts. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice chaired by Rep. Bob Lewis (R-Garden City), would provide for expungement of convictions and related arrest records when a person has completed the requirements of a specialty court program and would authorize the chief judge of each municipal court to establish a specialty court program in accordance with Supreme Court rules. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice and will be heard Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 1:30 p.m.

HB 2658: Law Enforcement/Safe and Transparent Arrest Act. This bill, introduced by Rep. Angela Martinez (D-Wichita), would enact the Safe and Transparent Arrest Act, which would require all law enforcement agencies operating in Kansas to adopt a written policy regarding the use of facial coverings; prohibit law enforcement officers from wearing a facial covering that conceals or obscures their facial identity in the performance of their duties except as expressly authorized by law; waive any privilege or immunity against a claim of civil liability for certain tortious conduct committed while committing violations thereof; and provide criminal penalties for violations thereof. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Transportation and Public Safety Budget chaired by Rep. Avery Anderson (R-Newton).

HB 2686: Law Enforcement/ICE. This bill, introduced by Rep. Susan Ruiz (D-Shawnee), would prohibit certain agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from being eligible for employment as a law enforcement officer in Kansas. This bill has referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs chaired by Rep. Tom Kessler (R-Wichita).

HB 2688: Nondisclosure Agreements. This bill, introduced by Reps. Lauren Bohi (R-Olathe), Laura Williams (R-Lenexa), Bradley Barrett (R-Osage City), and Bob Lewis (R-Garden City), would provide that a nondisclosure agreement by any party in an action related to child sexual abuse or human trafficking shall not be judicially enforceable in a dispute involving childhood sexual abuse or human trafficking allegations or claims. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Rep. Susan Humphries (R-Wichita).

HB 2692: ICE Standards of Conduct. This bill, introduced by Rep. Alexis Simmons (D-Topeka) and several members of the Democratic caucus, would establish standards of conduct for agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); prohibit facial covering; require agency vehicles to be clearly marked; prohibit raids in schools, places of worship, daycare centers, hospitals, and courts; require judicial search warrants; and require minimum training. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs chaired by Rep. Tom Kessler (R-Wichita).

HB 2696: Notary Public Process/Real Estate. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Rep. Susan Humphries (R-Wichita) on behalf of the Register of Deeds of Leavenworth County, would create a new category of verified notaries public with respect to real estate documents; provide for the development, implementation, and administration of a device-bound authentication system for notarization of real estate documents; and require the use of a three-dimensional liveness biometric antifraud system by all notaries public in such new category by Dec. 31, 2027. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

HB 2697: Crimes, Punishment, and Criminal Procedure/Crimes Involving Property. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Rep. Susan Humphries (R-Wichita) on behalf of the Johnson County district attorney, would modify the crime of unlawful acts involving theft detection shielding devices to include possessing, with the intent to commit theft, a computer program, application, software, or other device adapted, designed, or commonly used to operate a lock or locks on or start a motor vehicle without an ignition key or key fob, or to copy, store information relating to, or interfere with those functions, and would provide for exceptions. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary. 

HB 2704: Crimes, Punishment, and Criminal Procedure/Credit for Time Spent. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice chaired by Rep. Bob Lewis (R-Garden City) on behalf of the Kansas Department of Corrections, would provide that certain amendments are applicable to any sentence computed on or after Oct. 20, 2023. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice.

HB 2706: Law Enforcement. This bill, introduced by Rep. Ford Carr (D-Wichita), would prohibit certain federal law enforcement officers from entering hospitals, schools, and places of worship under certain circumstances and would prohibit law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings that conceal or obscure their facial identity in the performance of their duties with certain exceptions. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs chaired by Rep. Tom Kessler (R-Wichita).

HB 2707: Protection from Abuse/Animals and Pets. This bill, introduced by Rep. Melissa Oropeza (D-Kansas City) and several members of the Democratic caucus, would modify the definition of abuse to include certain acts or threats related to pets and would specify that courts may include orders relating to pets in protection orders. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Rep. Susan Humphries (R-Wichita).

HB 2721: Open Records Act/Permissible Exceptions to Disclosure. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Rep. Susan Humphries (R-Wichita) on behalf of the League of Kansas Municipalities, would modify an exception to the Kansas Open Records Act for software programs for electronic data processing and documentation thereof, eliminating a requirement that a public agency maintain a register accessible to the public that describes information such agency maintains on computer facilities and the form that such information can be made available using existing computer programs. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

HB 2722: Uniform Trust Code/Spendthrift and Discretionary Trust. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Rep. Susan Humphries (R-Wichita) on behalf of the Kansas Bar Association, would provide that certain resultant trusts are not subject to claims of the settlor’s creditors. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

HB 2726: Courts/Nonpartisan Selection of Judges. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Rep. Susan Humphries (R-Wichita), would decrease the number of votes required from a majority to 40% to not retain a judge in office. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Elections chaired by Rep. Pat Proctor (R-Fort Leavenworth).

Public Health and Welfare

HB 2635: Healthcare/Pregnancy Center Autonomy and Rights of Expression Act. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Federal and State Affairs chaired by Rep. Tom Kessler (R-Wichita) on behalf of Kansans for Life, would enact the Pregnancy Center Autonomy and Rights of Expression Act; provide statutory protection for private, nonprofit pregnancy centers and medical pregnancy centers to provide life-affirming care, support, and material resources; create a private cause of action for violations of the act; and create a right of intervention in legal proceedings challenging the act. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs and will be heard Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 9 a.m.

HB 2638: Children and Minors/Secretary for Children and Families. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Child Welfare and Foster Care chaired by Cyndi Howerton (R-Wichita) on behalf of Rep. Ford Carr (D-Wichita), would require that a child in the custody of the secretary for children and families be provided notification of such child's rights; maintain records of provision and the child's acknowledgement of the provision of notification of the child's rights; and provide for written confirmation of comprehension by the child of such rights. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Child Welfare and Foster Care and will be heard Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 1:30 p.m.

HB 2651: Children and Minors/Acknowledgment of Claims of Paternity. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Rep. Susan Humpries (R-Wichita) on behalf of Rep. Tom Kessler (R-Wichita), would authorize a challenge to a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity at any time after acknowledgment in cases of fraud, duress, or mistake of fact and would specify that certain genetic testing results are considered a material mistake of fact. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

HB 2672: Persons with Intellectual Disabilities. This bill, introduced by the Committee on K-12 Education Budget chaired by Rep. Jason W. Goetz (R- Dodge City) and requested by Rep. Nikki McDonald (D-Olathe), would remove certain terminologies related to the intellectually disabled from statute. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Health and Human Services chaired by Rep. Will Carpenter (R-El Dorado).

HB 2676: Pharmacists and Pharmacy. 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) on behalf of Kansas pharmacists, would permit a pharmacist to initiate therapy for certain conditions consistent with the pharmacist's education, training, and experience. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Health and Human Services.

HB 2678: Health and Healthcare/Medical Cannabis. This bill, introduced by Rep. Ford Carr (D-Wichita) and several members of the Democratic caucus, would enact the Medical Cannabis Act, which would provide for the licensure and regulation of the cultivation, processing, manufacturing, distribution, sale, and use of medical cannabis and medical cannabis products; establish the medical cannabis registration fund and the medical cannabis regulation fund; require the expungement of cannabis-related charges; assess an excise tax and require amounts collected from such tax to be used to fund child care, economic development, mental health, low-cost housing, and property tax rebates; and make exceptions to the crimes of unlawful manufacture and possession of controlled substances. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs chaired by Rep. Tom Kessler (R-Wichita) and is related to SB 294.

HB 2679: Adult Use Cannabis Regulation Act. This bill, introduced by Rep. Ford Carr (D-Wichita) and several members of the Democratic caucus, would provide for the licensure and regulation of cannabis, including the cultivation, manufacturing, transportation, possession, and sale of cannabis; provide certain fines and penalties for violations of the act; provide exemptions from crimes involving controlled substances; require the expungement of cannabis-related charges; assess an excise tax and require amounts collected from such tax to be used to fund child care, economic development, mental health, low-cost housing, and property tax rebates; and establish the cannabis business regulation fund. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs chaired by Rep. Tom Kessler (R-Wichita).

HB 2683: Health and Healthcare/Healthcare Records. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Health and Human Services chaired by Rep. Will Carpenter (R-El Dorado) on behalf of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, would allow fees to be charged by healthcare providers to furnish healthcare records and would provide for the disclosure of a decedent's healthcare records to certain individuals. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Health and Human Services.

HB 2684: Health and Healthcare/Prescription Drugs. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Insurance chaired by Rep. William Sutton (R-Gardner), would provide coverage for insulin drugs and diabetes management devices and would provide price limitations and requirements therefor under health insurance plans. This bill has been referred to by the Committee on Insurance.

HB 2694: Health and Healthcare/Prescription Drugs. This bill, introduced by Rep. Alexis Simmons (D-Topeka), would enact the Opioid Patients’ Right to Know Act, requiring that a healthcare provider disclose the risks of prescribed opioid use. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Health and Human Services chaired by Rep. Will Carpenter (R-El Dorado).

HB 2695: Health and Healthcare/Child Medical Assistance. This bill, introduced by Rep. Steven K. Howe (R-Salina), would enact the Enhanced Oversight and Accountability for the Prescription of Psychotropic Drug Act; enhance oversight of psychotropic drug prescriptions for children receiving medical assistance; and require the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to establish an adverse drug reaction online reporting system. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Health and Human Services chaired by Rep. Will Carpenter (R-El Dorado).

HB 2702: Health Professions and Practices/Physician Assistant Practice Agreements. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Health and Human Services chaired by Rep. Will Carpenter (R-El Dorado) on behalf of the Kansas Academy of Physician Associates, would provide that applicants for a physician assistant license submit to a criminal history record check; provide for the collaboration between a physician and physician assistant; and require the revocation of a physician assistant license under certain circumstances. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Health and Human Services and will be heard Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 1:30 p.m.

HB 2718: Adult Care Homes/Resident Rights. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Health and Human Services chaired by Rep. Will Carpenter (R-El Dorado) on behalf of the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, would create a right for a resident to use such resident's pharmacy of choice without being charged a fee or financial penalty by the adult care home. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Health and Human Services.

HB 2720: Health and Healthcare/Surrogate Medical Decisions Act. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Rep. Susan Humphries (R-Wichita) on behalf of the Kansas Hospital Association, would enact the Surrogate Medical Decisions Act to establish a hierarch for identifying a surrogate who would make healthcare decisions and would provide associated definitions and provider guidelines. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Public Utilities

HB 2636: Energy/Electric Generation and Energy Storage Facilities. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications chaired by Rep. Leo Delperdang (R-Wichita) on behalf of the Kansas Farm Bureau and Kansas Livestock Association, 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; would require the commission to approve and issue a permit prior to the new construction or expansion of any such facility; would require owners of existing industrial energy facilities to register with the commission; would establish minimum setback distances for such facilities; would require the commission to adopt a code of conduct and agricultural mitigation protocols; requiring a facility owner to establish and maintain a decommission plan and provide adequate financial assurance for the decommissioning; and would authorize the commission to issue certain orders and impose civil penalties for violations. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications.

HB 2664: Energy/Private Energy Campus and Industrial Host Site Generation Act. This bill, introduced by Reps. Lance W. Neelly (R-Tonganoxie), David Buehler (R-Lansing), Timothy Johnson (R-Basehor) and Pat Proctor (R-Leavenworth), would enact the Private Energy Campus and Industrial Host Site Generation Act; authorize the sales of electricity and the provision of ancillary services to private industrial and data center enterprises located on a private energy campus; exempt such sales and services from public utility regulation; authorize an electric public utility to enter into interconnection and energy services agreements with a private energy campus; exempt a private energy campus from parallel generation and net metering requirements; and define a private energy campus. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications chaired by Rep. Leo Delperdang (R-Wichita).

HB 2670: Video Programming/Advertisement Volume. This bill, introduced by Rep. Angel Roeser (R-Manhattan) and multiple members of the House, would prohibit certain video streaming services from transmitting commercial advertisements with the audio louder than that of the main video streaming content in which such advertisement is placed. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications chaired by Rep. Leo Delperdang (R-Wichita).

HB 2728: Energy/Siting and Permitting of Certain Energy Facilities. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications chaired by Rep. Leo Delperdang (R-Wichita) on behalf of the Consumer Energy Alliance, would establish requirements and timelines for local government actions relating to such energy facilities; require such energy facilities to establish a decommissioning plan and maintain financial assurance; prohibit the imposition of requirements that impose an undue burden on the construction of an energy facility; establish requirements for judicial review of agency actions and actions of local governments; prohibit the Corporation Commission from engaging in ex parte communications with energy facility applicants or opponents and requiring disclosure thereof; and authorize the Corporation Commission to adopt rules and regulations. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications.

Real Estate

HB 2634: Residential Landlord and Tenant Act/Building and Housing Codes. This bill, introduced by Reps. Leah Howell (R-Derby), Cyndi Howerton (R-Wichita), Robyn R. Essex (R-Olathe) and Sean Tarwater (R-Stilwell), would create a default maintenance code to use for rental properties if a city or county has not adopted such a code. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Local Government chaired by Rep. Emil Bergquist (R-Park City).

HB 2641: Property Rights Protection Act. This bill, introduced by Rep. Bill Rhiley (R-Wellington), would enact the Property Rights Protection Act, which would establish protections for property value diminution from actions of governmental entities and would require just compensation be provided to landowners for actions that burden or diminish the value of private property. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs chaired by Rep. Tom Kessler (R-Wichita).

HB 2665: Residential Landlord and Tenant Act/Termination of Rental Agreement. This bill, introduced by Rep. Rui Xu (D-Mission), would modify how a rental agreement terminates in the case of material noncompliance by the landlord with a rental agreement. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development chaired by Rep. Tom Kessler (R-Wichita).

HB 2666: Residential Landlord and Tenant Act/Disclosures. This bill, introduced by Rep. Rui Xu (D-Mission), would require certain disclosures be made to prospective tenants and would provide restrictions on fees for the late payment of rent. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development chaired by Rep. Tom Kessler (R-Wichita).

HB 2667: Residential Landlord and Tenant Act/Sale of Dwelling Units. This bill, introduced by Rep. Rui Xu (D-Mission), would require landlords to offer to sell certain dwelling units to tenants prior to offering such units for sale to the public. This bill mirrors SB 371 and has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development chaired by Rep. Tom Kessler (R-Wichita).

HB 2669: Real Property/Unit Owner Associations. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Local Government chaired by Rep. Emil Bergquist (R-Park City) and requested by Rep. Dan Osman (D-Overland Park), would prohibit unit owner associations from limiting or prohibiting the installation of rooftop solar energy conversion systems and would authorize such associations to adopt reasonable rules regarding the placement of such rooftop systems. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development chaired by Rep. Tom Kessler (R-Wichita).

HB 2690: Cities and Counties/Interior Inspections in Residential Properties. This bill, introduced by Rep. Rui Xu (D-Mission), would allow cities to abate nuisances in residential properties that involve certain interior code violations or delegate such authority to the county and would authorize inspections without consent of the occupant pursuant to an administrative warrant or if there is probable cause of imminent danger related to public health and safety. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Rep. Susan Humphries (R-Wichita).

HB 2691: Evictions. This bill, introduced by Rep. Rui Xu (D-Mission), would require cause for evictions from residential property; modify the petition and notice requirements in residential eviction cases; and would remove the requirement to post bond before the court may grant a continuance. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Rep. Susan Humphries (R-Wichita).

HB 2701: Housing/Zoning Regulations. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development chaired by Rep. Tom Kessler (R-Wichita) on behalf of Kansas Realtors, would permit non-uniform zoning regulations within a zoning district with respect to classes or kinds of buildings or land uses. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Local Government chaired by Rep. Emil Bergquist (R-Park City).

HB 2709: Home Inspectors. This bill, introduced by Rep. Shawn Chauncey (R-Junction City), would require examination and licensure of home inspectors in the same manner as general contractors and would provide that home inspectors obtain liability insurance coverage as required for general contractors. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development chaired by Rep. Tom Kessler (R-Wichita).

Taxation

HB 2620: Income Taxation/Credits. This bill, introduced by Rep. Rui Xu (D-Mission) and several members of the Democratic caucus, would increase the eligible credit amount for the earned income tax credit. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Taxation chaired by Rep. Adam Smith (R-Weskan).

HB 2621: Property Taxation/Exemptions. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Taxation chaired by Rep. Adam Smith (R-Weskan) and requested by Rep. Nick Hoheisel (R-Wichita) on behalf of Wichita Affordable Housing, would provide a property tax exemption for real property owned by certain not-for-profit organizations and used to provide affordable housing. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Taxation.

HB 2628: Income Taxation/Credits. This bill, introduced by Rep. Dan Osman (D-Overland Park) and several members of the Democratic caucus, would establish a refundable income tax credit for tuition payment and fees made to postsecondary educational institutions. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Taxation chaired by Rep. Adam Smith (R-Weskan).

HB 2629: Income Taxation/Deductions. This bill, introduced by Rep. Dan Osman (D-Overland Park) and several members of the Democratic caucus, would increase the amount of the standard deduction. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Taxation chaired by Rep. Adam Smith (R-Weskan).

HB 2630: Taxation/Liquor Enforcement. This bill, introduced by Rep. Dan Osman (D-Overland Park) and several members of the Democratic caucus, would provide counties and cities the authority to levy an additional tax for property tax reduction. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Taxation chaired by Rep. Adam Smith (R-Weskan).

HB 2631: Property Taxation/Exemptions. This bill, introduced by Rep. Dan Osman (D-Overland Park) and several members of the Democratic caucus, would increase the extent of exemption from the statewide school levy for residential property. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Taxation chaired by Rep. Adam Smith (R-Weskan).

HB 2632: Taxation/Homestead Property Tax Refund Claims. This bill, introduced by Rep. Dan Osman (D-Overland Park) and several members of the Democratic caucus, would increase the household income and the appraised value thresholds for eligibility of seniors and disabled veterans. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Taxation chaired by Rep. Adam Smith (R-Weskan).

HB 2642: Income Taxation/Addition and Subtraction Modifications. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Taxation chaired by Rep. Adam Smith (R-Weskan), would remove obsolete reference to global intangible low taxed income provided for under the federal Internal Revenue Code. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Taxation chaired by Rep. Adam Smith (R-Weskan) and will be heard Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 3:30 p.m.

HB 2644: Property Taxation/Valuations. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Taxation chaired by Rep. Adam Smith (R-Weskan), would require a county appraiser to adjust the value of residential and commercial property upon a final determination of valuation appeal or obtain an independent fee simple appraisal if the appraised value exceeds a 5% increase each year for five years. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Taxation.

HB 2712: Sales and Compensating Use Tax/City and Countywide Retailers’ Sales Tax. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Taxation chaired by Rep. Adam Smith (R-Weskan), would increase the authority for a countywide retailers' sales tax, provide for the dedicated apportionment of special purpose tax revenues up to 2%, and limit special purpose taxes to 10 years. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Taxation and will be heard Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 3:30 p.m.

HB 2713: Property Taxation/Used Motor Vehicles. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Taxation chaired by Rep. Adam Smith (R-Weskan) and requested by Rep. Rick James (R-La Cygne), would impose tax on used motor vehicles following the 12th month in which a used motor vehicle was purchased or acquired. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Taxation.

HB 2715: Property Taxation/New Motor Vehicles. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Taxation chaired by Rep. Adam Smith (R-Weskan) and requested by Rep. Rick James (R-La Cygne), would impose tax on new motor vehicles following the 12th month in which a new motor vehicle was purchased or acquired. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Taxation.

Transportation

HB 2647: Communications Services/Department of Transportation. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Transportation chaired by Rep. Shannon Francis (R-Liberal) on behalf of the Kansas Department of Transportation, would authorize the department to establish a statewide fiber optic system; establish the Broadband Revolving Fund for the receipt and disbursement of moneys related to such system; authorize the issuance of revenue bonds by the Kansas Development Finance Authority; and require the secretary of transportation to prepare and submit a report to the legislature regarding such system. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Transportation.

HB 2687: Waters of the State/Aquatic Aircraft. This bill, introduced by Rep. Angel Roeser (R-Manhattan) and several other members of the Republican caucus, would prohibit any governmental agency from regulating landings, takeoffs, or the operation of aquatic aircraft on waters of the state. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs chaired by Rep. Tom Kessler (R-Wichita).

HB 2716: Motor Vehicles/License Plates. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Transportation chaired by Rep. Shannon Francis (R-Liberal), would permit a person with a disability to be issued one special license plate for each vehicle owned, registered, and operated by such person. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Transportation and will be heard Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 1:30 p.m.

Veterans

HB 2626: Veterans and Military/Government Employment Preference. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Veterans and Military chaired by Rick James (R-La Cygne) on behalf of the Kansas Adjutant General’s Office, would expand the government employment preference to include current members of the National Guard and such members’ eligible spouses. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Veterans and Military and will be heard Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 9 a.m.

HB 2627: Veterans and Military/Permissive Preference in Private Employment. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Veterans and Military chaired by Rep. Rick James (R-La Cygne) on behalf of the Kansas Adjutant General’s Office, would expand permissive preference to include service members and eligible spouses. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Veterans and Military and will be heard Thursday, Feb. 12, at 9 a.m.

HB 2646: Veterans and Military/Veterans Benefits. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Veterans and Military chaired by Rep. Rick James (R-La Cygne) on behalf of the Kansas Adjutant General’s Office, would prohibit certain conduct and improper collection of veterans benefit fees; require mandatory counseling concerning the benefit claims process; and require that violations be considered under the Kansas Consumer Protection Act. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Veterans and Military.

Water

HB 2625: Rural Water Districts. This bill, introduced by Reps. Timothy Johnson (R-Basehor), David Buehler (R-Lansing), and Lance W. Neelly (R-Tonganoxie), would require rural water districts to award purchases or contracts in excess of $25,000 through a public letting process and would create exceptions therefor. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Water chaired by Rep. Jim Minnix (R-Scott City).

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS

HCR 5023: Property Taxation. This House concurrent resolution, introduced by Rep. Dan Osman (D-Overland Park) and several members of the Democratic caucus, would amend Section 1, Article 11 of the Kansas Constitution relating to property taxation and would provide that property tax exemptions be approved by the electors of the state. This House concurrent resolution has been referred to the Committee on Taxation

HCR 5024: Property Taxation. This House concurrent resolution, introduced by the Committee on Taxation chaired by Rep. Adam Smith (R-Weskan), would amend Section 1, Article 11 of the Kansas Constitution and determine valuations for real property used for residential purposes. This House current resolution has been referred to the Committee on Taxation.

HCR 5025: Property Taxation. This House concurrent resolution, introduced by Reps. Dan Osman (D-Overland Park), Mike Amyx (D-Lawrence), Barbara Ballard (D-Lawrence) and Brandon Woodard (D-Lenexa), would amend Section 1, Article 11 of the Kansas Constitution relating to the assessed valuation of property in determining property taxes for real property used for residential purposes and real property necessary to accommodate a residential community of mobile or manufactured homes.

HCR 5026: Equal Rights. This House concurrent resolution, introduced by the Committee on Federal and State Affairs chaired by Rep. Tom Kessler (R-Wichita), would amend Section 1 of the bill of rights of the Kansas Constitution to be extended to life from conception. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Interstate Cooperation chaired by Rep. Dan Hawkins (R-Wichita). 

SENATE BILLS

Agriculture/Environment

SB 449: Weather Modification/Clean Air Preservation Act. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Federal and State Affairs chaired by Sen. Mike Thompson (R-Shawnee), would enact the Clean Air Preservation Act, which would prohibit geoengineering, weather modification, cloud setting, and other polluting atmospheric experiments or interventions; create a crime for violation thereof and imposing penalties thereto; and repeal the Kansas Weather Modification Act. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs.

SB 465: Corporations/Agricultural Corporations. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Agricultural and Natural Resources chaired by Sen. Virgil Peck (R-Havana), would include limited liability partnerships as entities required to obtain county approval to establish a dairy or swine production facility. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Agricultural and Natural Resources.

Elections

SB 451: Elections/Campaign Finance Reports. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Federal and State Affairs chaired by Sen. Mike Thompson (R-Shawnee), would require treasurer reports to include the products and services provided by vendors that are paid by an advertising agency, public relations firm, or political consultant from a campaign account expenditure. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs and will be heard Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 10:30 a.m.

Employment

SB 471: Labor and Employment/Minimum Wage. This bill, introduced by Sen. Cindy Holscher (D-Overland Park), would increase the minimum wage to $16 per hour and would provide that such minimum wage apply to employers and employees covered under the provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Commerce chaired by Sen. Larry Alley (R-Winfield).

Government

SB 436: Counties/Public Bids for Construction Contracts. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Local Government, Transparency and Ethics chaired by Sen. Elaine Bowers (R-Concordia), would increase the cost threshold for when the public bidding process shall be used to award such contracts. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Local Government, Transparency and Ethics and will be heard Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 9:30 a.m.

SB 444: Cities and Counties/Interior Inspections and Abatement of Nuisances in Residential Property. This bill, introduced by Sen. Dinah Sykes (D-Lenexa), would allow cities to abate nuisances that involve certain interior code violations or delegate such authority to the county and would authorize inspections without consent of the occupant pursuant to an administrative warrant or if there is probable cause of imminent danger related to public health and safety. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Local Government, Transparency and Ethics chaired by Sen. Elaine Bowers (R-Concordia).

SB 453: Infrastructure/Kansas Critical Infrastructure Act. This bill, introduced by Sen. Craig Bowser (R-Holton), would enact the Kansas Critical Infrastructure Protection Act, which would prohibit access to state critical infrastructure by countries of concern, and would prohibit the acquisition of critical software and other technology used in state infrastructure from countries of concern. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs chaired by Sen. Mike Thompson (R-Shawnee).

SB 468: Prohibition on Municipal Establishment of Guaranteed Income Programs. This bill, introduced by Sen. Cindy Holscher (D-Overland Park), would repeal KSA 2025 supp. 12-16,222, which prohibits cities and counties from adopting laws that establish or provide for the operation of a guaranteed income program that uses tax revenue.

Insurance

SB 467: Accident and Health Insurance/Utilization Review. This bill, introduced by Sen. Cindy Holscher (D-Overland Park), would enact the use of Artificial Intelligence in Medical Decisions Transparency Act; establish requirements for the use of artificial intelligence by certain health insurers and utilization review entities; and require that all medical necessity determinations be made by a competent licensed physician or healthcare professional. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance chaired by Sen. Brenda Dietrich (R-Topeka).

SB 472: Department of Insurance/Commissioner of Insurance Duties and Responsibilities. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance chaired by Sen. Brenda Dietrich (R-Topeka), would authorize the commissioner of insurance to set the amount of certain fees; require the publication of such fees in the Kansas register; and eliminate the 10% credit to the State General Fund required of fee agencies as reimbursement for certain services provided by the state. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance and will be heard Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 9:30 a.m.

SB 474: Accident and Health Insurance: This bill, introduced by Sen. Dinah Sykes (D-Lenexa), would enact the Short-Term Limited Duration Insurance Act; establish definitions, disclosure, premium, renewal, and underwriting requirements related thereto; and authorize the commissioner of insurance to adopt rules and regulations to implement and administer the act. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance chaired by Sen. Brenda Dietrich (R-Topeka).

Judicial

SB 442: Crimes, Punishment, and Criminal Procedure/Exposure to Communicable Disease. This bill, introduced by Sen. Dinah Sykes (D-Lenexa), would modify the elements of such crime to include otherwise lawful or unlawful sexual intercourse or sodomy and would increase the penalties for such crime. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Sen. Kellie Warren (R-Leawood).

SB 446: Social Workers/Attorney-Client Privilege. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Sen. Kellie Warren (R-Leawood), would create an exception to certain mandatory reporting obligations for licensed social workers when working under the supervision of an attorney and would permit attorneys to require certain licensed social workers to keep ethical obligations of attorney-client privilege when working under the supervision of such attorney. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

SB 452: Law Enforcement. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Federal and State Affairs chaired by Sen. Mike Thompson (R-Shawnee), would require traffic laws that apply to local and state law enforcement to apply to federal law enforcement; include federal law enforcement in the definitions used in the crime of interference with law enforcement; include buildings owned by the U.S. in the crime of interference with the conduct of public business in public buildings; and include enforcement of federal laws and executive orders in the exceptions from liability in the Tort Claims Act. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs and will be heard Thursday, Feb. 12, at 10:30 a.m.

SB 454: Crimes, Punishment, and Criminal Procedure/Crush Transnational Repression in Kansas Act. This bill, introduced by Sen. Craig Bowser (R-Holton), would enact the Crush Transnational Repression in Kansas Act, which would provide for enhanced criminal penalties for offenses committed with the intent to commit transnational repression and would require the development of transnational repression recognition and response training. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs chaired by Sen. Mike Thompson (R-Shawnee).

SB 459: Prisoner Review Board/Board Membership. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Sen. Kellie Warren (R-Leawood), would change the appointing authority for the members, create qualifications for the members, and require parole hearings to be postponed if proper notice of the public comment session is not made to the victim. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

SB 460: Replacement Driver’s Licenses. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Sen. Kellie Warren (R-Leawood), would authorize municipal court services agencies to issue an identification certificate to offenders under the agency's probation supervision. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

SB 461: Kansas Offender Registration Act. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Sen. Kellie Warren (R-Leawood), would require offenders convicted of distribution of a controlled substance causing great bodily harm or death to register under the act for 15 years. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

SB 462: Public Nuisance. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Sen. Kellie Warren (R-Leawood), would prohibit civil actions for certain nuisances; require the attorney general to bring nuisance actions that are not wholly contained in one political subdivision; require special injury for certain public nuisance actions; and provide an accrual period for the statute of limitations in public nuisance actions. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

SB 463: Civil Actions/Negligence. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Sen. Kellie Warren (R-Leawood), would prohibit certain persons from recovering damages in negligence actions where the person engaged in wrongful conduct or attempted to engage in wrongful conduct and would create requirements for actions involving negligent security. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

SB 469: Law Enforcement/Safe and Transparent Arrest Act. This bill, introduced by Sen. Cindy Holscher (D-Overland Park), would enact the Safe and Transparent Arrest Act, which would require all law enforcement agencies operating in Kansas to adopt a written policy regarding the use of facial coverings; prohibit law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings that conceal or obscure their facial identity in the performance of their duties except as expressly authorized by law; waive any privilege or immunity against a claim of civil liability for certain tortious conduct committed while committing violations thereof; and provide criminal penalties for violations thereof. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Sen. Kellie Warren (R-Leawood).

SB 478: Punishment and Criminal Procedure/Crimes Against Persons. This bill, introduced by Senators. Ethan Corson (D-Fairway) and Joseph Claeys (R-Wichita), would increase the criminal penalties for assault or battery of a utility or communications employee. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Sen. Kellie Warren (R-Leawood).

SB 481: Courts/Competency Determinations. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Sen. Kellie Warren (R-Leawood), would establish procedures in the code of procedure for municipal courts related to determination of an accused person's competency to stand trial; authorize a municipal judge to order an examination; and  authorize a district court judge to rely on a psychiatric or psychological examination ordered by a municipal court to facilitate an examination. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

SB 486: Civil Rights/Civil Cause of Action. This bill, introduced by Sen. Cindy Holscher (D-Overland Park), would create a civil cause of action for violations of the U.S. Constitution or laws by any person acting under the color of law. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Sen. Kellie Warren (R-Leawood).

SB 493: Crimes, Punishment, and Criminal Procedure/Sex Offenses. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Sen. Kellie Warren (R-Leawood), would add an element of sexual exploitation of a child involving communication through electronic means and social media and would provide criminal penalties therefor. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

SB 494: Domestic Violence/Victims. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Sen. Kellie Warren (R-Leawood), would expand the definition of course of conduct used in the crime of stalking to include more technology-based methods; require law enforcement agencies to adopt policies for making primary aggressor assessments when responding to domestic violence calls; require the prosecutor to affirm a primary aggressor analysis was completed when filing a complaint or indictment in a domestic violence case; prohibit public agencies from charging fees to victims of domestic violence offenses for public records; allow evidence of other domestic violence offenses to be admissible in a criminal action in which the defendant is accused of a domestic violence offense; add prohibitions on certain contact to options for protection from abuse or protection from stalking orders; and allow lifetime extension of protection from abuse orders for victims of domestic battery. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Pensions

SB 435: Retirement and Pensions/Kansas Public Employees Retirement System. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance chaired by Sen. Brenda Dietrich (R-Topeka), would authorize the board of trustees of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement Systems to elect the vice chairperson of the board; require newly affiliated employers of the police and firemen's retirement system to contribute at the actuarial required rate for past and future service; and repeal certain working after retirement statutes for state and local elected officials. This bill has been referred to Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance and was heard Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 9:30 a.m.

Public Health and Welfare

SB 430: Health and Healthcare Professions/Physical Therapist. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Public Health and Welfare chaired by Sen. Beverly Gossage (R-Eudora), would allow licensed physical therapists to perform certain capillary blood tests. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Public Health and Welfare and will be heard Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 8:30 a.m.

SB 431: Health and Healthcare/Pharmacy. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Public Health and Welfare chaired by Sen. Beverly Gossage (R-Eudora), would allow a pharmacy to employ certain remote workers to engage in the remote practice of pharmacy and would provide for the supervision and duties of remote pharmacy workers.  This bill has been referred to the Committee on Public Health and Welfare and will be heard Thursday, Feb. 12, at 8:30 a.m.

SB 432: Health Professions and Practices/Regulation of Dentist. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Government Efficiency chaired by Sen. Renee Erickson (R-Wichita), would eliminate the minimum personal presence requirement of a licensee in a dental office owned by such licensee. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Government Efficiency.

SB 457: Health and Healthcare/Medical Assistance. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Education chaired by Sen. Renee Erickson (R-Wichita), 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 the Committee on Public Health and Welfare chaired by Sen. Beverly Gossage (R-Eudora).

SB 464: Anesthesiologist Assistance Licensure Act. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Public Health and Welfare chaired by Sen. Beverly Gossage (R-Eudora), would enact the Anesthesiologist Assistant Licensure Act, which would provide for the powers, duties, and functions of the state Board of Healing Arts. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Public Health and Welfare.

SB 484: Uniform Controlled Substance Act. This bill, introduced by Sen. Cindy Holscher (D-Overland Park), would move marijuana and tetrahydrocannabinols from schedule I to schedule III of the Uniform Controlled Substance Act. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs chaired by Sen. Mike Thompson (R-Shawnee).

Public Utilities

SB 439: Railroads/Utility Railroad Crossing Act. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Utilities chaired by Sen. Michael Fagg (R-El Dorado), would enact the Utility Railroad Crossing Act, which would require a process for utilities to construct, maintain, operate, or alter utility facilities crossing or parallel to a railroad right-of-way; require notice and certain information regarding the proposed utility facility or changes to such facility be provided to railroads; permit railroads to request certain items for the construction, maintenance, operation, or alteration of utility facilities in such railroad's right-of-way; and provide for objections to utility facilities and resolution of such objections through the State Corporation Commission. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Utilities and will be heard Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 1:30 p.m.

Real Estate

SB 443: Evictions. This bill, introduced by Sen. Dinah Sykes (D-Lenexa), would require cause for evictions from residential property; modify the petition and notice requirements in residential eviction cases; and remove the requirement to post bond before the court may grant a continuance. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Sen. Kellie Warren (R-Leawood).

SB 466: Housing/Denial of Housing or Other Adverse Actions Against Tenants or Prospective Tenants. This bill, introduced by Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau (D-Wichita) would prohibit the reporting by consumer reporting agencies or the use by landlords for adverse action against tenants of information regarding past evictions after three years from the date of such evictions or rental arrears; require consumer reporting agencies to provide an opportunity for individuals to explain any record of evictions or rental arrears; provide that court records of an eviction action be sealed for certain periods; and provide that violations of such provisions by landlords or consumer reporting agencies shall constitute unconscionable acts or practices under the provisions of the Kansas Consumer Protection Act. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Sen. Kellie Warren (R-Lenexa).

SB 482: Residential Landlord and Tenant Act/Condemned Dwelling Units. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Sen. Kellie Warren (R-Leawood), would require landlords to return the security deposit and certain portions of rent payments that would be due. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

SB 485: Residential Landlord and Tenant Act/Consideration of Tenant Income. This bill, introduced by Sen. Cindy Holscher (D-Overland Park), would require landlords to consider certain income of a tenant or prospective tenant when demonstrating income as a condition for qualifying for housing; provide that court records in eviction actions in which the underlying rental agreement is governed by such act shall be sealed for certain periods; require expungement of certain court records of such eviction actions; require mediation in eviction actions in which the underlying rental agreement is governed by such act unless the court finds that mediation would not aid the parties materially; and provide that certain violations of this act constitute deceptive or unconscionable acts or practices under the provisions of the Kansas Consumer Protection Act. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Sen. Kellie Warren (R-Leawood).

Taxation

SB 429: Economic Development/Income Tax Credit. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Commerce chaired by Sen. Larry Alley (R-Winfield), would extend the sunset for the angel investor tax credit to 2031. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Commerce and will be heard Thursday, Feb. 12, at 1:30 p.m.

SB 455: Taxation/Homestead Property Tax Refund Act. This bill, introduced by Sen. Ethan Corson (D-Fairway), would restore homestead renters as eligible to participate in certain homestead property tax refund claims. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Assessment and Taxation chaired by Sen. Caryn Tyson (R-Parker).

SB 470: Sales Taxation/Exemptions. This bill, introduced by Sen. David Haley (D-Kansas City), would provide an exemption for sales of electricity delivered to residential premises for non-commercial use. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Assessment and Taxation chaired by Sen. Caryn Tyson (R-Parker).

SB 476: Property Taxation/Exemptions. This bill, introduced by Sen. Rick Kloos (R-Berryton), would exempt from property taxation certain property used for thrift store purposes by a church or religious organization. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Assessment and Taxation chaired by Sen. Caryn Tyson (R-Parker).

SB 488: Property Tax Freedom Act. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Federal and State Affairs chaired by Sen. Mike Thompson (R-Shawnee), would enact the Property Tax Freedom Act of 2026; provide for the phased elimination of property taxation; maintain existing payments in lieu of taxes for renewable energy facilities; provide revenue replacement grants to taxing subdivisions; establish the Fair Share Purchase Surcharge and the Property Tax Freedom Reserve Fund; provide for the distribution of Kansas Fair Share Purchase Surcharge revenue to school districts, counties, cities, townships and other taxing subdivisions, the State General Fund and the Property Tax Freedom Reserve Fund; provide for a voter-approved local add-on fair share purchase surcharge for debt service of general obligation bonds; and provide for freedom dividend rebates. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Assessment and Taxation chaired by Sen. Caryn Tyson (R-Parker).

SB 489: Property Taxation/Exemptions. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Assessment and Taxation chaired by Sen. Caryn Tyson (R-Parker), would provide for a universal homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation and would provide for state reimbursement to school districts. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Assessment and Taxation.

SB 490: Community Improvement Districts. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Assessment and Taxation chaired by Sen. Caryn Tyson (R-Parker), would authorize the imposition of a privilege tax by a municipality for the privilege of selling alcoholic beverages, food and food ingredients, and tobacco within a community improvement district. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Assessment and Taxation.

Veterans

SB 433: Veterans and Military/Veterans Benefits. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Federal and State Affairs chaired by Sen. Mike Thompson (R-Shawnee), would prohibit certain conduct and improper collection of veterans benefit fees; require mandatory counseling concerning the benefit claims process; and require that violations be considered under the Kansas Consumer Protection Act. This bill has been referred to the Senate Select Committee on Veterans Affairs chaired by Sen. Sen. Mike Thompson (R-Shawnee).

SB 434: Taxation/Veterans and Military. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Federal and State Affairs chaired by Sen. Mike Thompson (R-Shawnee), would provide for a new determination of disability for the purposes of certain retailer's sales tax exemptions. This bill has been referred to the Senate Select Committee on Veterans Affairs chaired by Sen. Mike Thompson (R-Shawnee).

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS

SCR 1621: Property Taxation. This Senate concurrent resolution, introduced by the Committee on Federal and State Affairs chaired by Sen. Mike Thompson (R-Shawnee), would amend Section 1, Article 11 of the Kansas Constitution to prohibit the levy of property taxes by the state or any political or taxing subdivision of the state. This senate concurrent resolution has been referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs.

Bill Tracking History

A history of the bills we are tracking as of February 9, 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.