HB 2479 Kansas House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Authorizing electronic monitoring with victim notification as a condition of release prior to trial for certain offenders charged with a domestic violence offense, domestic battery, stalking or violation of a protective order, modifying the culpable mental state required to commit the crime of breach of privacy and increasing the criminal penalties for certain violations of such crime, modifying the elements of the crime of blackmail related to threatened dissemination of any image, video or other recording of another identifiable person who is nude or engaged in sexual activity, describing who is a person in a position of authority for a school for the crime of unlawful sexual relations and increasing the penalties for the crimes of endangering a child and aggravated endangering a child if the child is less than six years of age.

HB 2479 allows judges to require electronic monitoring with victim notification as a condition of pretrial release for defendants charged with domestic violence, domestic battery, stalking, or violating a protective order. Victims must provide informed consent after being briefed on the monitoring system's function, risks, and their rights, including the ability to withdraw consent. Judges must consider factors like the severity of past violence, the defendant's history, weapon access, and mental health when deciding, and must define specific exclusion zones (e.g., the victim's home) the defendant must avoid. The defendant pays for monitoring costs, and alerts from the system can serve as probable cause for arrest if the defendant violates a protective order. This bill amends Kansas criminal procedure law to add this monitoring requirement as a possible release condition.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 20, 2026 Signed Apr 9, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Amended by Senate Committee As Amended by House Committee · 2 edits
MINOR
The House Committee amended the bill to restore detailed requirements for informing victims about their rights and available services regarding electronic monitoring, which were previously removed. Additionally, the amendment narrows the liability protection for monitoring technology suppliers, limiting their immunity only to cases involving manufacturing defects rather than all injuries or deaths.
REQUIREMENT

Restored a list of eight specific pieces of information that must be provided to a protected person before electronic monitoring begins, including their right to refuse participation, how the technology works, and available support services.

ENFORCEMENT

Changed the liability rule for technology suppliers so they are only immune from lawsuits if the injury or death was caused by a manufacturing defect, rather than being immune for any injury or death.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Actions timeline

Total actions
21
Key actions
14
Committee
8
Apr 9, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor on Thursday, April 9, 2026
lower
Mar 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 124, Nay 0, Absent 1
lower
Mar 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 39, Nay 0, Absent 1
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Conference committee report now available
upper
Mar 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Motion to accede adopted; Sen. Kellie Warren, Sen. Kenny Titus and Sen. Ethan Corson appointed as conferees
upper
Mar 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Nonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Rep. Susan Humphries, Rep. Laura Williams and Rep. Dan Osman
lower
Mar 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea 40, Nay 0
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
upper
Mar 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Senate Committee on Judiciary
upper
Feb 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Senate Committee on Judiciary
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Introduced
Received and Introduced
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea 118, Nay 1, Absent 6
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
lower
Feb 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by House Committee on Judiciary
lower
Jan 20, 2026
Committee
Referred to House Committee on Judiciary
lower
Jan 20, 2026
Introduced
Introduced
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.