HB 2412 Kansas House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Requiring instruction to provide students with an understanding of communist, fascist and socialist regimes and ideologies and that students pass an American civics examination in order to graduate with a high school diploma.

This bill increases penalties for endangering children under six years old in Kansas. It reclassifies "endangering a child" for this age group from a misdemeanor to a severity level 9 felony, and raises "aggravated endangering" from a level 9 to a level 8 felony. The law directly affects caregivers - such as parents, guardians, or others responsible for a child - who knowingly or recklessly place children under six in situations endangering their life, body, or health. Key provisions include mandatory consecutive sentencing for these offenses and specific definitions related to drug-related environments.

Issues: ✗ Criminal Justice

Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Vetoed

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Vetoed Apr 10, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Amended by Senate Committee → Enrolled · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten to focus on social studies education and American civics rather than child endangerment penalties. It requires schools to teach about the negative impacts of communist, fascist, and socialist regimes and mandates that all high school students pass a 20-question American civics exam based on US citizenship standards to graduate.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted entirely from criminal law regarding child endangerment to educational requirements for social studies and graduation.

SCOPE

All provisions regarding penalties for endangering a child, including definitions of aggravated endangering and sentencing guidelines, were removed.

REQUIREMENT

New requirements mandate that schools teach students about the negative impacts of communist, fascist, and socialist regimes.

A new graduation requirement was added requiring all high school students to pass a 20-question American civics exam based on US citizenship standards.

TIMELINE

The civics exam requirement applies to students enrolling in grade nine on or after July 1, 2026.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'accredited' schools was expanded to include dual accreditation by the state board and other accrediting entities.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 10, 2026

Vetoed

No motion to reconsider vetoed bill; Veto sustained

lower

Apr 10, 2026

Vetoed

Vetoed by Governor; Returned to House on Thursday, April 23, 2026

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 80, Nay 43, Absent 2

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Motion to suspend Joint Rule 4 (k) to allow consideration adopted

lower

Mar 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 23, Nay 14, Absent 3

upper

Mar 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference Committee Report agree to disagree adopted; Sen. Renee Erickson, Sen. Adam Thomas and Sen. Dinah Sykes appointed as second conferees

upper

Mar 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference committee report now available

upper

Mar 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

Rep. Susan Estes, Rep. Kyle McNorton, and Rep. Jerry Stogsdill are appointed to replace Rep. Susan Humphries, Rep. Laura Williams, and Rep. Dan Osman on the Conference Committee

lower

Mar 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

Sen. Renee Erickson, Sen. Adam Thomas, and Sen. Dinah Sykes are appointed to replace Sen. Kellie Warren, Sen. Kenny Titus, and Sen. Ethan Corson on the Conference Committee

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Motion to accede adopted; Sen. Kellie Warren, Sen. Kenny Titus and Sen. Ethan Corson appointed as conferees

upper

Mar 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

Nonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Rep. Susan Humphries, Rep. Laura Williams and Rep. Dan Osman

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea 40, Nay 0

upper

Mar 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended

upper

Mar 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Senate Committee on Judiciary

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Committee

Referred to Senate Committee on Judiciary

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Introduced

Received and Introduced

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Final Action - Passed; Yea 124, Nay 0, Absent 1

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee of the Whole - Be passed

lower

Feb 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee Report recommending bill be passed by House Committee on Judiciary

lower

Jan 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to House Committee on Judiciary

lower

Jan 12, 2026

Introduced

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors