HB 2669 prevents homeowner associations (HOAs) in Kansas from banning rooftop solar panels on individual units. It directly affects unit owners who want to install solar systems, ensuring associations cannot restrict or prohibit such installations. Associations may set reasonable placement rules, but these cannot block installation, harm system function, limit usage, or increase costs or reduce efficiency. The law does not apply to shared common areas like hallways or pools. This bill updates Kansas’ housing laws to support solar adoption while allowing limited, non-discriminatory HOA oversight.
HB 2657 requires social media platforms to block children under 16 from creating, maintaining, or accessing accounts without verified parental permission. Platforms must implement reliable age-verification systems that minimize data collection and suspend accounts of minors until consent is confirmed. Parents or guardians can revoke consent anytime or request account deletion. The Kansas Attorney General enforces this under the state’s consumer protection law, treating violations as deceptive acts without requiring proof of a transaction. The bill directly affects minors under 16, social media companies, and parents/guardians managing children’s online access.
SB 434 creates a new Kansas sales tax exemption for veterans with a 100% service-connected disability certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It exempts purchases of tangible personal property or services (excluding motor vehicles, alcohol, tobacco, and e-cigarettes) for personal use, up to $24,000 annually per veteran. Eligible veterans must obtain a state-issued exemption ID card and provide proof of their VA certification. The exemption also extends to surviving spouses until remarriage and covers purchases made on behalf of the veteran by authorized household members.
HB 2667 requires landlords to give tenants the first opportunity to purchase their rental home before selling it to the public. Landlords must send tenants a written notice with key terms (like price and closing date) and give them 30 days to submit a purchase offer. If the tenant’s offer matches the notice, the landlord must accept it; otherwise, they can counter or choose between multiple offers. The law excludes sales to family members, foreclosures, properties with four or more units, and certain other transfers. It directly affects tenants in qualifying single-family rentals and their landlords.
This Kansas bill (HB 2665) changes how rental agreements end when landlords fail to meet health/safety standards in the lease. It gives tenants the right to end their lease by giving 30 days' written notice after a serious landlord violation affecting health/safety, but allows landlords 14 days to fix the issue before termination. If the same problem happens again after the 14-day window, tenants can terminate without giving the landlord another chance to fix it. The bill directly affects Kansas renters and landlords under residential lease agreements.
HB 2674, the PFAS Protection Act, prohibits the sale in Kansas of certain consumer products containing intentionally added PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), including carpets, cookware, cosmetics, feminine hygiene products, firefighting foam, and children's items. It directly affects manufacturers and sellers of these products within Kansas by banning PFAS in their formulations and requiring them to disclose PFAS content and conduct product testing. Key mechanisms include a statewide prohibition on intentionally added PFAS in covered products, mandatory disclosure of PFAS information to the Department of Health and Environment, and testing requirements for products sold in the state. The bill excludes medical devices, federally regulated products, and used items, focusing on everyday consumer goods where PFAS are deliberately added for function.
SB 477 establishes the Kansas First Responder Scholarship Program, providing tuition assistance at Kansas postsecondary institutions for eligible first responders (including firefighters, EMTs, law enforcement officers, and public safety telecommunicators) with at least six years of service in Kansas, and their dependents (with the parent having at least 12 years of service). The scholarship covers tuition fees (including course and activity fees) but excludes room, board, books, and other materials, for up to 10 semesters of undergraduate study. To qualify, applicants must meet admission requirements, apply for other federal and state financial aid first, and provide proof of employment and residency each year. The state board of regents administers the program, and participating colleges can seek reimbursement from the state for waived tuition.
SB 449, the Clean Air Preservation Act, prohibits conducting polluting atmospheric experiments in Kansas, including solar radiation modification, geoengineering, weather modification, cloud seeding, and other interventions releasing pollutants. It directly affects any entity - such as government agencies, corporations, or research organizations - conducting these activities within the state. The bill creates criminal penalties for violations, repeals prior weather modification laws, and requires law enforcement to enforce the ban through investigation and interdiction of prohibited activities. Key provisions define prohibited "atmospheric activities" as any pollutant-releasing experiments harming health, environment, or agriculture, including methods like chaff dispersal or aerosol injection.
SB 493 amends Kansas law to specifically address online grooming by adding a new provision (subsection a(5)) that makes it a crime to knowingly use electronic communication, social media, or text messages to gain a child's trust or prepare them for sexual exploitation. This directly affects individuals who engage in predatory digital communication targeting minors under 18. The bill defines "sexually explicit conduct" broadly and reclassifies certain violations as severity level 5 felonies (e.g., for communications involving children under 14). It also clarifies that possession of artificially generated images mimicking real children for sexual purposes is illegal. The law expands existing protections to cover digital interactions, not just physical acts.
SB 464 creates a new licensure system for anesthesiologist assistants (AAs) in Kansas, requiring them to be licensed and work under the supervision of a physician anesthesiologist. The bill establishes two license types: "active" (for AAs practicing under a supervising anesthesiologist) and "inactive" (for those not currently practicing). Key provisions include application requirements, renewal rules with continuing education, and a process for reinstating canceled licenses. This directly affects AAs seeking to practice in Kansas and the supervising physicians responsible for their oversight. The bill replaces current rules governing AAs under Kansas law.
HB 2629 increases Kansas income tax standard deduction amounts for 2024 and beyond. It raises the standard deduction to $3,605 for single filers, $8,240 for married couples filing jointly, and $6,180 for heads of household in 2024, with further increases scheduled for 2026. This bill directly affects Kansas residents who claim the standard deduction instead of itemizing deductions on their state income tax returns. The change reduces taxable income for qualifying filers, lowering their overall tax liability under Kansas law.
HB 2768 requires Kansas landlords to accept multiple payment methods for rent as long as the full amount is paid on time, and to consider all types of income (including wages, government benefits, pensions, and child support) when evaluating tenant applications. Landlords who refuse multiple payments must refund the amount, and those who reject applicants for not considering all income must pay double the application fees. Violations can result in actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees for tenants. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, and applies to all residential rental agreements under Kansas' landlord-tenant law.
