SB 96 Kansas Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Creating the crime of deprivation of rights under color of law and providing a civil action for victims.

SB 96 creates a new criminal offense for government officials (like police or county employees) who knowingly violate someone's constitutional or legal rights while acting under their official authority. It classifies violations as misdemeanors or felonies based on harm (e.g., causing bodily harm is a felony, emotional distress is a misdemeanor) and allows victims to sue for up to three times their actual damages or $10,000, plus attorney fees. The bill also requires courts to order restitution for victims' expenses, including legal costs, and permits the state attorney general to pursue cases on behalf of victims. This directly affects individuals harmed by officials' misconduct and imposes new criminal penalties and civil remedies in Kansas.
Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 28, 2025 Last action Apr 10, 2026
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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
3
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Jan 29, 2025
Committee
Referred to Senate Committee on Judiciary
upper
Jan 28, 2025
Introduced
Introduced
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of David Haley
David Haley
DDemocratic
KS
4