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HB 2569 Kansas House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Requiring actions challenging the constitutionality of an election statute to be brought in the district court of Shawnee county and providing a conditional amendment to limit advance voting if a court order invalidates or enjoins the signature verification requirement.

HB 2569 requires any lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of statewide election laws (including related rules) to be filed exclusively in Shawnee County district court. This applies to all such cases, regardless of the type of relief sought (like injunctions or declarations). If a case is filed in any other Kansas district court, it must be transferred to Shawnee County court. The law does not change election rules or limit existing court jurisdictions; it only specifies where these constitutional challenges must be heard.
Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Vetoed
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 28, 2026 Vetoed Apr 10, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Amended by Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs → Enrolled · 5 edits
MODERATE
This bill establishes a new venue requirement mandating that all lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of Kansas election laws must be filed in the Shawnee County District Court. It also updates advance voting rules to allow specific groups, including those with religious beliefs or physical disabilities, to vote by mail, and sets a new effective date of July 1, 2026, for these changes.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of who can vote by advance ballot to include individuals with religious objections or physical disabilities who cannot vote at their polling place, and it centralizes legal challenges regarding election laws to a single county court.
REQUIREMENT

Mandates that any lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of statewide election laws must be filed in the District Court of Shawnee County.

ELIGIBILITY

Expands eligibility for advance voting ballots to include voters absent due to sickness, disability, or religious belief/practice.

TIMELINE

Sets the effective date for the new advance voting provisions and related statutory repeals to July 1, 2026.

ENFORCEMENT

Requires the Secretary of State to monitor court orders invalidating signature verification requirements and publish notices in the Kansas Register to trigger changes to advance voting rules.

TECHNICAL

Removed the requirement that the act take effect immediately upon publication in the Kansas Register, replacing it with a specific future date.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Actions timeline

Total actions
23
Key actions
15
Committee
11
Apr 10, 2026
Vetoed
No motion to reconsider vetoed bill; Veto sustained
lower
Apr 9, 2026
Vetoed
Vetoed by Governor; Returned to House on Wednesday, April 8, 2026
lower
Mar 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 78, Nay 45, Absent 2
lower
Mar 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 28, Nay 12
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Conference committee report now available
upper
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee Report agree to disagree adopted; Rep. Pat Proctor, Rep. Paul Waggoner and Rep. Kirk Haskins appointed as second conferees
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Conference committee report now available
upper
Mar 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Conference Committee Report agree to disagree adopted; Sen. Mike Thompson, Sen. Tory Marie Blew and Sen. Oletha Faust Goudeau appointed as second conferees
upper
Mar 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Motion to accede adopted; Sen. Mike Thompson, Sen. Tory Marie Blew and Sen. Oletha Faust Goudeau appointed as conferees
upper
Mar 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Nonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Rep. Pat Proctor, Rep. Paul Waggoner and Rep. Kirk Haskins
lower
Mar 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea 26, Nay 14
upper
Mar 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended
upper
Mar 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
upper
Mar 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Committee
Referred to Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Introduced
Received and Introduced
upper
Feb 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Final Action - Passed; Yea 74, Nay 48, Absent 3
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Be passed
lower
Feb 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee Report recommending bill be passed by House Committee on Elections
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Committee
Referred to House Committee on Elections
lower
Jan 28, 2026
Introduced
Introduced
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.