Criminal Justice (Drug Policy)

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 506: Increasing the penalty for a second or subsequent adjudication of criminal use of weapons and modifying the penalties for the crime of criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and the length of the ban on possessing a weapon for certain felons.

SB 506 increases penalties for second or subsequent convictions involving criminal weapon use, making it a more serious felony (severity level 8) for offenses like possessing short-barreled firearms as a minor. It modifies penalties for convicted felons who possess weapons, raising the severity of these offenses, and extends the length of the weapon possession ban for certain felons. The bill amends Kansas statutes K.S.A. 21-6301 (defining criminal weapon use) and 21-6304 (penalties for weapon possession by felons). It directly affects individuals with prior convictions for weapon-related crimes or those convicted of specific felonies, imposing harsher consequences for repeat violations.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for weapon offenses, raises felony severity levels, and extends weapon possession bans for felons - directly expanding criminalization and harsher sentencing per indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms

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in committee · Kansas · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 2765: Adding and removing certain substances in schedules I, III and IV of the uniform controlled substances act and making conforming changes to the criminal code definition of fentanyl-related controlled substance.

HB 2765 updates Kansas' controlled substances scheduling by adding specific fentanyl-related compounds to Schedules I, III, and IV of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act and removing certain other substances. It directly affects law enforcement, prosecutors, and medical professionals who must comply with these updated drug classifications under Kansas law. The bill makes technical changes to ensure the criminal code's definition of "fentanyl-related controlled substances" aligns precisely with the revised scheduling lists. This is a procedural adjustment to legal definitions, not a new policy.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill adds fentanyl-related compounds to stricter drug schedules (I, III, IV), expanding criminalization and enforcement under Kansas law, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of increased criminalization.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Law Enforcement

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2751: Increasing the minimum bail requirements for certain crimes from $50,000 to $100,000 and requiring certain findings to reduce such requirements.

HB 2751 increases the minimum bail for certain drug-related offenses from $50,000 to $100,000. It directly affects defendants charged under Kansas statutes covering drug manufacturing (K.S.A. 21-5703), possession of precursor chemicals (21-5709), and related offenses (21-5710). The bill requires courts to set bail at $100,000 unless a judge holds an evidentiary hearing and finds clear evidence the defendant is not a public safety risk or flight risk. Bail reductions are only permitted if the court makes specific written findings and conditions release on house arrest. This changes pretrial release conditions without altering sentencing for these crimes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases minimum bail for drug offenses to $100k, restricting pretrial release and reducing defendant rights without clear reduction pathways.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Drug Policy Judges

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 497: Adding kratom to schedule I of the uniform controlled substances act and making conforming amendments to the definition of fentanyl-related controlled substance in the criminal code.

SB 497 would classify kratom as a Schedule I controlled substance in Kansas, making its possession, sale, or distribution illegal under state law. This directly affects individuals who use or sell kratom, as it would be treated with drugs like heroin or LSD, having no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. The bill also updates the legal definition of "fentanyl-related controlled substance" in the criminal code to align with this change. These are concrete policy shifts, not speculative outcomes. (Note: The bill passed the Kansas Senate on March 5, 2026, with 33-5.)

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeClassifies kratom as Schedule I (like heroin), expanding criminalization of personal use and contradicting criminal justice reform efforts to reduce unnecessary restrictions.90% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareClassifies kratom (used for pain/withdrawal management) as Schedule I, restricting access to a substance some rely on for health purposes, limiting patient access.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 461: Requiring offenders convicted of distribution of a controlled substance causing great bodily harm or death to register under the Kansas offender registration act.

SB 461 requires individuals convicted of distributing a controlled substance that causes great bodily harm or death to register under Kansas' offender registration act for 15 years. This new requirement applies specifically to drug distributors whose actions resulted in serious injury or death, expanding the existing registration categories beyond sex and violent offenders. The bill amends Kansas statutes (22-4902 and 22-4906) to add "drug offender" as a classification for those convicted under these specific circumstances. It does not change registration terms for other offender types but establishes a mandatory 15-year registration period for this new category.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands mandatory registration for drug distributors causing harm, adding punitive registry requirements beyond sex/violent offenders. Increases criminalization without reform focus.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2778: Removing the current exception to the criminal use of weapons statute that allows any individual over the age of 21 or with a provisional license to possess a concealed handgun in or on school property or grounds or at any regularly scheduled school-sponsored activity or event if not otherwise prohibited under either federal or state law.

HB 2778 removes a specific exception in Kansas law that previously allowed people over 21 or holding a provisional handgun license to carry concealed handguns on school property, at school grounds, or during school-sponsored events. This change eliminates a loophole, making concealed firearm possession on school grounds illegal for most adults under the state's criminal weapons statute. The bill amends K.S.A. 21-6301 by deleting subsection (a)(11), which had permitted this exception. It directly affects licensed gun owners who previously could legally carry concealed weapons at schools without violating state law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRemoves exception allowing concealed carry on school grounds, expanding criminalization of firearm possession in schools per K.S.A. 21-6301.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 239: Creating a special sentencing rule to add 100 months to a sentence for distribution of a controlled substance when the substance involved is fentanyl and the distribution causes the death of a child.

SB 239 amends Kansas sentencing laws to add 100 months to prison sentences for individuals convicted of distributing fentanyl when that distribution causes a child's death. It directly affects drug distributors whose actions result in a child's death through fentanyl distribution. The bill modifies Kansas sentencing guidelines (K.S.A. 21-6804 and 21-6805) to create this specific sentencing enhancement, requiring courts to add the 100-month penalty on top of the standard sentence. This change applies only to fentanyl-related distribution cases that directly cause a child's death, not to other drug offenses or adult deaths.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds mandatory 100-month sentence enhancement for fentanyl distributors causing child death, increasing punitive sentencing without rehabilitation focus95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Sentencing

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 206: Requiring any person convicted of distribution of a controlled substance causing great bodily harm or death or register under the Kansas offender registration act for 15 years.

SB 206 expands Kansas' offender registration requirements to include individuals convicted of distributing controlled substances that cause great bodily harm or death. This bill amends the Kansas Offender Registration Act to explicitly define such individuals as "drug offenders" who must register for 15 years. It directly affects people convicted under these specific drug distribution offenses, requiring them to comply with the state's registration system. The change adds this category to existing requirements for sex offenders and violent offenders under the law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands mandatory registration for drug distribution offenses causing harm, increasing criminalization and oversight without reform elements95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2312: Excluding certain offenders convicted of a nonperson felony from participation in certified drug abuse treatment programs and authorizing community correctional services officers to complete criminal risk-need assessments for divertees who are committed to such programs.

HB 2312 restricts access to Kansas' certified drug abuse treatment programs for certain nonviolent felony offenders. It excludes individuals convicted of specific nonperson felonies (like property crimes) from participating unless they meet strict criteria, such as having no prior serious drug-related or violent felony convictions. The bill also authorizes community correctional officers to conduct criminal risk-need assessments for offenders who might qualify for these programs. These changes aim to limit program eligibility based on offense type and criminal history, as defined in amended Kansas statutes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRestricts access to drug treatment programs for nonperson felony offenders, limiting rehabilitation opportunities central to criminal justice reform.90% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts access to drug treatment programs for certain offenders, limiting patient access to healthcare services as defined under the topic.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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