HB 2609 Kansas House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Enacting the supported decision-making agreements act to provide a statutory framework for allowing an adult to receive decision-making assistance from one or more other adults, requirements for decision-making agreements and duties related thereto.

HB 2609 creates a legal framework allowing adults (18+) to voluntarily receive decision-making assistance from trusted individuals for daily life choices like healthcare, finances, living arrangements, and work. It requires written agreements specifying the support needed, signed by both the adult (principal) and their supporters, with safeguards against coercion and clear definitions of supported areas. The law also treats violations of these agreements as mistreatment of vulnerable adults under existing protections. This provides a formal alternative to court-appointed guardianship for those who want support while maintaining autonomy.
Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 2, 2026 Last action Apr 10, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

As Introduced As Amended by House Committee on Judiciary · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to replace the original 'As Introduced' version with the 'As Amended by House Committee on Judiciary' version. This revision incorporates significant substantive changes, including the addition of new definitions for 'Capacity', 'Conservator', and 'Supported decision-making agreement', and the introduction of entirely new sections establishing a supported decision-making framework.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to include a formal supported decision-making system, allowing adults to receive assistance with decision-making while retaining their legal authority, subject to new eligibility requirements and supporter qualifications.
DEFINITION

New definitions were added for 'Capacity', 'Conservator', 'Supported decision-making agreement', and 'Supporter' to clarify the legal terms used in the bill.

REQUIREMENT

New sections were added to establish a supported decision-making agreement, outlining how adults can voluntarily enter into agreements to receive assistance from supporters while maintaining their own decision-making power.

New requirements were introduced for supporters, specifying that they must be adults without existing protective orders against them and must sign a declaration acknowledging their duties.

New provisions require supported decision-making agreements to include specific notices to third parties and declarations of relationship and willingness from each supporter.

TECHNICAL

The header and page numbering were updated to reflect the committee amendments, changing the status from 'As Introduced' to 'As Amended by House Committee on Judiciary'.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Actions timeline

Total actions
10
Key actions
4
Committee
3
Feb 26, 2026
Committee
Referred to Senate Committee on Judiciary
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Introduced
Received and Introduced
upper
Feb 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea 122, Nay 0, Absent 3
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
lower
Feb 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by House Committee on Judiciary
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Committee
Referred to House Committee on Judiciary
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Introduced
Introduced
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.