SB 408 Kansas Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Excluding a child engaging in age-appropriate independent activities from the definition of a child in need of care in the revised Kansas code for care of children, requiring the secretary for children and families to enter into a memorandum of understanding with military organizations and create a referral process for children in need of care cases involving children of military personnel to provide families with services that a military family advocacy program offers, authorizing a challenge to a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity as soon as practicable after discovery of fraud, duress or mistake of fact and specifying that certain genetic testing results shall constitute a change of circumstances that warrants a court finding of material mistake of fact.

SB 408 clarifies that children engaging in age-appropriate independent activities - like walking to school alone or playing outside without direct supervision - will no longer be considered "children in need of care" under Kansas law. It amends statutes including K.S.A. 21-5601 (endangering a child) and K.S.A. 38-2202 to explicitly exclude such normal activities from endangerment charges, unless a parent knowingly or recklessly ignored an obvious danger. The bill directly affects parents, guardians, and children by preventing child welfare interventions for routine, age-appropriate independence. This change aims to reduce unnecessary legal involvement in typical childhood experiences.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 28, 2026 Signed Apr 9, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Amended by House Committee on Judiciary Enrolled · 4 edits · Apr 9, 2026
MODERATE
This bill updates the legislative text for SB 408, clarifying the bill's title and amending sections related to child welfare and paternity. The most significant substantive change is the addition of specific requirements for Memorandums of Understanding between the state and military organizations, ensuring referrals to military family advocacy programs include methods for identifying military families and strict confidentiality rules. Additionally, the bill modifies the definition of 'endangering a child' to explicitly exclude children engaging in age-appropriate independent activities and clarifies that a child is not endangered solely because a parent relies on prayer for treatment.
Scope change
The bill's scope regarding child endangerment has been narrowed by creating a specific exemption for children engaged in independent activities, while the scope of military family support has been expanded by adding detailed procedural requirements for inter-agency cooperation.
REQUIREMENT

Added specific sub-requirements to the Memorandum of Understanding between the secretary for children and families and military organizations, including a method to identify military families and mandates for confidentiality.

DEFINITION

Modified the definition of 'endangering a child' to explicitly exclude children participating in age-appropriate independent activities.

Added a provision stating that a child is not considered endangered solely because a parent relies on spiritual means (prayer) for treatment.

TECHNICAL

Corrected formatting errors, removed outdated committee session headers, and updated the bill title to accurately reflect the full scope of the amendments.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Actions timeline

Total actions
17
Key actions
12
Committee
5
Apr 9, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor on Thursday, April 9, 2026
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Concurred with amendments in conference; Yea 39, Nay 0, Absent 1
upper
Mar 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Motion to accede adopted; Rep. Susan Humphries, Rep. Laura Williams and Rep. Dan Osman appointed as conferees
lower
Mar 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Nonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Sen. Kellie Warren, Sen. Kenny Titus and Sen. Ethan Corson
upper
Mar 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Emergency Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea 124, Nay 0, Absent 1
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Motion to advance to Emergency Final Action adopted
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
lower
Mar 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by House Committee on Judiciary
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Committee
Referred to House Committee on Judiciary
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Introduced
Received and Introduced
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Final Action - Passed; Yea 40, Nay 0
upper
Feb 17, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Be passed
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Report recommending bill be passed by Senate Committee on Judiciary
upper
Jan 29, 2026
Committee
Referred to Senate Committee on Judiciary
upper
Jan 28, 2026
Introduced
Introduced
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.