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SB 254 Kansas Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Prohibiting aliens who are unlawfully present in the United States from receiving any state or local public benefit in accordance with applicable federal law.

SB 254 prohibits immigrants unlawfully present in the U.S. from receiving most Kansas state or local public benefits, including reduced college tuition. It requires applicants 18+ to provide proof of lawful presence (like a driver's license or federal immigration documents) before accessing benefits, and mandates state agencies to verify status through the federal DHS system. The bill also requires immigration status checks for non-citizen criminal defendants during bond hearings, creating a presumption they might flee. Exceptions include benefits required by federal law, and it explicitly excludes driver's license services from the definition of "public benefit."
Issues: ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRequires immigration status checks for non-citizen criminal defendants during bond hearings, restricting due process rights in criminal proceedings.90% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts reduced college tuition access for undocumented immigrants, directly limiting educational access as stated in the bill's summary.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRestricts undocumented immigrants' access to state benefits, requires verification of lawful presence, mandates status checks for criminal defendants95% confidence
Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Jan 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Vetoed
Apr 2026
Introduced Feb 10, 2025 Vetoed Apr 10, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled → {As Amended by House on Final Action} · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was significantly expanded to include provisions regarding the release of non-citizens prior to criminal trials. In addition to the original text prohibiting unlawful aliens from receiving public benefits, the amended version now requires immigration status verification for any person charged with a crime who is not a U.S. citizen and establishes a legal presumption that unlawfully present aliens are at risk of flight.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from solely regulating public benefits to also governing pre-trial release procedures for non-citizens charged with crimes.
SCOPE

Added new requirements for verifying the immigration status of non-citizens charged with crimes during their first court appearance.

REQUIREMENT

Created a rebuttable presumption that aliens determined to be unlawfully present are at risk of flight, which affects bond decisions.

DEFINITION

Added a new section amending K.S.A. 22-2802 to incorporate the new pre-trial release and status verification rules.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill title and summary to reflect the new criminal justice provisions.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Actions timeline

Total actions
30
Key actions
19
Committee
14
Amendments
1
Apr 10, 2026
Vetoed
No motion to reconsider vetoed bill; Veto sustained
upper
Apr 9, 2026
Vetoed
Vetoed by Governor; Returned to Senate on Monday, April 6, 2026
upper
Mar 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 22, Nay 18
upper
Mar 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 78, Nay 46, Absent 1
lower
Mar 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference committee report now available
lower
Mar 4, 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 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee Report agree to disagree adopted; Rep. Tom Kessler, Rep. Rebecca Schmoe and Rep. Heather Meyer appointed as second conferees
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference committee report now available
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Rep. Bob Lewis is appointed to replace Rep. Rebecca Schmoe on the Conference Committee
lower
Feb 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Motion to accede adopted; Rep. Tom Kessler, Rep. Rebecca Schmoe and Rep. Heather Meyer appointed as conferees
lower
Feb 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Nonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Sen. Mike Thompson, Sen. Tory Marie Blew and Sen. Oletha Faust Goudeau
upper
Feb 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Emergency Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea 86, Nay 36, Absent 3
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Motion for the previous question adopted.
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Rep. John Carmichael
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Rep. Bob Lewis was adopted
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Rep. Bob Lewis
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee of the Whole
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Introduced
Received and Introduced
lower
Jan 28, 2026
Upper · Passed
Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea 30, Nay 9, Absent 1
upper
Jan 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended
upper
Jan 27, 2026
Introduced
Sen. Mike Thompson raised a question of germaneness. The amendment was ruled germane.
upper
Jan 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Sen. Tim Shallenburger
upper
Jan 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs
upper
Feb 11, 2025
Committee
Referred to Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs
upper
Feb 10, 2025
Introduced
Introduced
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.