SB 515 Kansas Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Authorizing nonpublic schools to permit nonaccredited private elementary or secondary school students to participate in certain activities for such nonpublic schools.

SB 515 allows Kansas nonpublic schools to permit students enrolled in nonaccredited private elementary or secondary schools to participate in school activities like sports, clubs, and events. To qualify, students must be Kansas residents, meet age and eligibility requirements set by the activities association, and pay any fees required of all participants. The bill prohibits nonpublic schools from denying participation based on a student's enrollment status in a nonaccredited school and ensures these students have the same rights and responsibilities as other participants. This policy change removes barriers for nonaccredited private school students seeking to join extracurricular activities at nonpublic schools.
Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 18, 2026 Last action Apr 10, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

As Introduced {As Amended by Senate Committee of the Whole} · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended to add a moratorium on interscholastic contests and practices during specific times, including Sundays, major holidays, and Wednesday evenings. This change restricts when schools can hold these activities, likely to ensure student rest and family time, while the original provision prohibiting discrimination based on enrollment status was removed.
Scope change
The bill's scope was narrowed by removing the explicit anti-discrimination mandate for students based on enrollment status and adding new restrictions on when activities can occur.
REQUIREMENT

Added a moratorium prohibiting interscholastic contests, activities, and practices on Sundays, during specific holiday periods (Christmas, Easter, July 4), and on Wednesday evenings from September through April.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed the explicit statement making it unlawful to discriminate against students based on their enrollment status.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date section number from Sec. 2 to Sec. 23 to accommodate the new text inserted before it.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Actions timeline

Total actions
10
Key actions
5
Committee
4
Mar 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to House Committee on Education
lower
Mar 13, 2026
Introduced
Received and Introduced
lower
Mar 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea 23, Nay 16, Absent 1
upper
Mar 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended
upper
Mar 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Sen. Chase Blasi was adopted
upper
Mar 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Sen. Chase Blasi
upper
Mar 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Report recommending bill be passed by Senate Committee on Education
upper
Feb 19, 2026
Committee
Referred to Senate Committee on Education
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Introduced
Introduced
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.