Kansas Bills

SB 487 requires the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) to create a single statewide system for law enforcement agencies to manage offender registrations under Kansas' existing registration law. This system allows offenders to report workplace or school locations once instead of multiple times, streamlining registration. The bill also establishes a $10 technology fee for offenders (capped at $10), with funds deposited into a dedicated "offender registration technology fund" to cover system development and maintenance costs. It updates current registration rules to mandate real-time data submission to the new system and requires courts to provide clear registration instructions to offenders.

HB 2647 authorizes Kansas' Department of Transportation (KDOT) to build and manage a statewide fiber optic conduit system - underground pathways for broadband cables - directly affecting KDOT, broadband providers, and ultimately Kansas residents seeking improved internet access. The bill establishes a "Kansas Broadband Revolving Fund" to cover system costs through fees charged to entities (like internet companies) using the infrastructure, plus revenue bonds and transfers from the state highway fund. Key provisions include requiring KDOT to set cost-based fees, prioritize space in the system, and report annually to lawmakers on construction progress, costs, and users. This creates a public infrastructure model where KDOT manages the physical network while private providers pay to connect to it, with funding recycled from user fees rather than taxpayer dollars.

HB 2652 requires Kansas court clerks to publish monthly online lists of court cases where decisions haven't been filed within six months of submission (for Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and district court cases) or where review petitions remain pending for six months. This affects courts, attorneys, and the public by increasing transparency around delayed cases. Key provisions include mandating that the published lists include case names, numbers, and submission dates, and requiring courts to respond to delays within 30 days by either issuing decisions or setting firm deadlines. The bill aims to streamline case resolution by making delays visible to the public, judges, and lawmakers.

HB 2435 allows Kansas natural gas utilities to defer depreciation and carrying costs for new infrastructure (like pipelines or equipment) into a regulatory asset instead of immediately recovering them through customer rates. The bill establishes a temporary "interim rate adjustment" mechanism, letting utilities recover these deferred costs over 20 years via customer bills, with a 60-month limit unless a new rate case is filed. Utilities must notify the State Corporation Commission before deferring costs and can only recover amounts that don’t exceed 20% of their base revenue. This directly affects Kansas natural gas utilities operating under the State Corporation Commission’s oversight, changing how they account for and recover investments in new infrastructure.

SB 353 designates the Great Plains Transportation Museum in Wichita as the official site for the Kansas Railroad Hall of Fame, commemorating individuals who shaped Kansas' railroad history. It establishes a selection committee (including museum and historical society directors, industry representatives, and public members) to annually honor two Kansans annually who significantly contributed to the state's railroad industry or heritage. The committee will review nominations detailing candidates' work with Kansas railroads, manufacturing, or preservation efforts. This is a ceremonial bill with no budgetary impact or policy changes, solely focused on recognizing historical contributions.

HB 2497 prohibits lenders from charging prepayment penalties on home loans used for personal, family, or household purposes after six months from the loan's start date. It directly affects homeowners who pay off or refinance their mortgages within the first six months of the loan term, preventing lenders from imposing fees for early repayment after that period. The bill amends Kansas law to allow lenders to still collect actual government filing fees and reasonable closing costs, but bans all other prepayment penalties beyond six months. This applies specifically to standard residential mortgages secured by real estate, excluding business or agricultural loans. The law takes effect upon publication in the Kansas statutes.

SB 325 prohibits covering Kansas vehicle license plates with any clear, opaque, or plastic-like material that affects visibility or reflectivity, or with frames that obstruct the plate. It directly affects all Kansas vehicle owners who currently use such coverings or frames on their license plates. The bill requires plates to be securely fastened, clearly visible from a safe distance, and free from foreign materials that could obscure the registration number, state, or expiration details. This replaces existing Kansas law (K.S.A. 8-133 and 8-15,110) with updated visibility standards for license plate display.

HB 2467 limits how Kansas courts and the Division of Vehicles can use past traffic violations to suspend or restrict driver's licenses. It prohibits considering any conviction or sanction related to a traffic citation that occurred more than five years ago when making decisions about license suspensions. The bill also removes specific notice requirements the Division of Vehicles must follow when handling suspended or restricted licenses. This change primarily affects drivers with older unpaid traffic citations, preventing those outdated violations from causing new license penalties.

HB 2479 allows judges to require electronic monitoring with victim notification as a condition of pretrial release for defendants charged with domestic violence, domestic battery, stalking, or violating a protective order. Victims must provide informed consent after being briefed on the monitoring system's function, risks, and their rights, including the ability to withdraw consent. Judges must consider factors like the severity of past violence, the defendant's history, weapon access, and mental health when deciding, and must define specific exclusion zones (e.g., the victim's home) the defendant must avoid. The defendant pays for monitoring costs, and alerts from the system can serve as probable cause for arrest if the defendant violates a protective order. This bill amends Kansas criminal procedure law to add this monitoring requirement as a possible release condition.

SB 382 allows Kansas virtual schools to administer and proctor statewide student assessments (like standardized tests) remotely for full-time virtual students. It requires virtual schools to follow strict security rules: assessments must occur during the same time window as in-person students, use synchronized sessions managed by school staff, monitor students via camera (using one device with integrated proctoring or two devices), enforce browser lockdown, and maintain a 10:1 student-to-proctor ratio. The bill directly affects full-time virtual school students in Kansas and their schools, enabling remote testing while ensuring assessment integrity. All costs for implementation will be covered by the state education department, and the policy supplements Kansas' virtual school act. The bill is currently pending before the Education Committee after introduction in January 2026.

This bill designates Bridge No. 0087-B0854 on I-135 in Sedgwick County as the Don Snyder Memorial Bridge. It requires the Kansas Secretary of Transportation to install standard memorial signage on the bridge after complying with existing procedures (K.S.A. 68-10,114). The bill does not create new policies, funding, or affect specific individuals or groups beyond the general public encountering the bridge signage. It is a ceremonial designation with no substantive legislative impact.

HB 2501 grants civil immunity to gun shops (federal firearms licensees) in Kansas when they return a customer's legally stored firearm at the end of a prearranged storage agreement. It directly affects gun shops and customers who use these "firearm hold agreements" to temporarily store guns at licensed businesses. The bill prevents lawsuits against shops for returning firearms as agreed, unless the shop acted unlawfully during the arrangement. This policy change removes civil liability risk for shops following standard storage procedures, without altering gun ownership laws.