Sign Up
SB 29 Kansas Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Substitute for SB 29 by Committee on Public Health and Welfare - Removing the authority of the county or joint board of health or local health officer to prohibit public gatherings when necessary for the control of infectious or contagious disease.

SB 29 removes local health officials' authority to prohibit public gatherings during infectious disease outbreaks. It revokes the power of county health boards, local health officers, and the secretary of health to order isolation, quarantine, or impose penalties for violations. The bill also creates a legal right for employees to sue employers who fire them for following health guidelines or based on vaccination status. This legislation directly affects public health officials, employers, and residents by limiting emergency health measures and expanding employee protections. It amends multiple Kansas statutes related to public health authority and disease control.
Issues: ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRemoves local health officials' authority to enforce quarantines/isolation during outbreaks, weakening public health disease control measures.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates legal right for employees to sue employers who fire them for following health guidelines or vaccination status, directly protecting workers' rights in employment disputes.95% confidence
Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Vetoed
Apr 2025
Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Vetoed Apr 10, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Amended by House Committee → Enrolled · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill removes the authority for local health officials to ban public gatherings and clarifies that they can only recommend against them. It adds new powers for the state secretary to issue isolation orders for individuals who refuse vaccination or testing, including allowing law enforcement to assist in enforcing these orders. The bill also establishes a new process for the legislature to revoke emergency orders and creates a specific court procedure for challenging those orders.
Scope change
The bill narrows the scope of local health officials' powers regarding public gatherings while expanding the scope of the state secretary's authority to mandate isolation and quarantine for specific public health threats.
REQUIREMENT

Removed the authorization allowing county health boards or local health officers to prohibit public gatherings.

Added authority for the state secretary to order individuals to isolation or quarantine if they refuse vaccination, medical examination, treatment, or testing.

Established a requirement for courts to hold hearings within 72 hours for challenges to public health orders.

ENFORCEMENT

Authorized law enforcement officers to assist in executing isolation or quarantine orders.

Created a new mechanism for the legislature to revoke emergency orders via concurrent resolution or legislative coordinating council vote.

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
12
Committee
6
Apr 10, 2025
Vetoed
Motion to override veto prevailed; Yea 86, Nay 38, Absent 1
lower
Apr 10, 2025
Vetoed
Motion to override veto prevailed; Yea 31, Nay 9
upper
Apr 10, 2025
Vetoed
Vetoed by Governor; Returned to Senate on Thursday, April 3, 2025
upper
Mar 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Concurred with amendments; Yea 31, Nay 9
upper
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Emergency Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea 88, Nay 36, Absent 1
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Motion to advance to Emergency Final Action adopted
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
lower
Mar 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Passed over and retain a place on the calendar
lower
Mar 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by House Committee on Health and Human Services
lower
Feb 20, 2025
Committee
Referred to House Committee on Health and Human Services
lower
Feb 20, 2025
Introduced
Received and Introduced
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Final Action - Substitute passed; Yea 28, Nay 12
upper
Feb 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Substitute bill be passed
upper
Feb 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Sen. Patrick Schmidt
upper
Feb 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted recommending substitute bill be passed
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Report recommending substitute bill be passed by Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare
upper
Jan 17, 2025
Committee
Referred to Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare
upper
Jan 16, 2025
Introduced
Introduced
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.