Education (School Safety)

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2673: Establishing the positive learning environment act to provide for certain rights for teachers and require school districts to adopt school management plans to address behavioral infractions by students.

HB 2673, the Positive Learning Environment Act, requires Kansas school districts to create school management plans for each school. These plans must define minor (e.g., classroom disruptions) and major (e.g., violence, substance abuse) student behavior issues and establish a clear, step-by-step system for handling them - teachers address minor issues, while administrators handle major ones. The bill also grants teachers specific rights, including the ability to remove disruptive students from class, have their disciplinary decisions respected, and teach in a safe environment, with protections against retaliation for using these rights. School districts must share these plans with parents, students, and staff at the start of each school year and review them annually using behavior data.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill grants teachers rights to remove disruptive students and mandates school management plans, directly supporting teacher authority and classroom environment in K-12 education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Teachers

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2662: Enacting the student safety and awareness act to require school districts to designate a month during the school year as student safety and awareness month and to provide educational programs for students on the dangers and effects of fentanyl use, personal safety and awareness and social media literacy, safety and responsibility during such designated month.

HB 2662 requires Kansas public school districts to designate one month annually as "Student Safety and Awareness Month" and implement age-appropriate educational programs for students. These programs must cover fentanyl/substance abuse risks, personal safety boundaries, social media literacy, and digital citizenship, with content tailored to grade levels (e.g., basic internet safety for K-5, bullying prevention for 6-8, dating safety for 9-12). Schools may integrate these topics into existing health or social studies classes and cannot require new staff or funding, though parents may opt their children out of specific sessions. The law mandates annual reporting to the state board, with a state model to be developed by July 2027.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates annual safety education programs on fentanyl, personal safety, and social media literacy, enhancing student curriculum and educational programming.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 302: Requiring school districts to prohibit the use of personal electronic communication devices during instructional time and prohibiting any employee of a school district from using social media to directly communicate with any student for official school purposes.

SB 302 requires Kansas public and nonpublic K-12 schools to ban student use of personal electronic devices (like phones, tablets, or smartwatches) during instructional time, with exceptions for students with individualized education plans (IEPs) or medical needs approved by a physician. It also prohibits school staff from using social media platforms (such as Instagram or TikTok) to directly message students for official school business, allowing only public, one-way communications on approved platforms. Schools must adopt written policies by 2026 and certify compliance by September 1, 2026, covering enforcement procedures and student device storage requirements. The law applies to all on-campus instructional time but excludes virtual schools.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts student device use during instruction and limits staff social media communication, directly limiting technology access and communication methods in classrooms.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education School Safety

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 424: Enacting the student secular bill of rights to establish statutory protections against religious coercion and discrimination in public schools.

SB 424 establishes statutory protections in Kansas public schools against religious coercion and discrimination, directly affecting students, parents, and school staff. It defines prohibited actions like forced participation in religious activities, school-sponsored prayer, religious displays, or proselytizing, while clarifying that academic study of religion remains permissible when objective and secular. The bill creates a legal cause of action for students or parents to seek remedies if schools violate these protections. It aligns with established constitutional principles, referencing Supreme Court rulings on church-state separation, and aims to codify existing First Amendment safeguards into state law.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes legal protections against religious coercion in public schools, ensuring student rights and secular educational environment per its title and summary.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2489: Requiring school districts to provide fentanyl abuse education programs and maintain supplies of naloxone in each school.

HB 2489 requires Kansas public school districts to implement fentanyl abuse education programs for students in grades 9-12, using age-appropriate guidance developed by the state board of education. It also mandates that all schools maintain a stock supply of naloxone (an opioid overdose reversal medication) in accessible storage, with trained staff authorized to administer it during emergencies. School districts may use funds from the Kansas Fights Addiction Fund - partially sourced from opioid litigation settlements - to purchase naloxone supplies. The bill establishes specific protocols for naloxone storage, inventory tracking, and administration by designated school personnel. This law directly affects all Kansas public schools and their students, aiming to address opioid misuse through prevention education and emergency response readiness.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates fentanyl education programs for grades 9-12 and naloxone access, enhancing student health safety within school curriculum and programs.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates naloxone access and fentanyl education in schools to combat opioid crisis, advancing public health initiatives and protecting student health.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Substance Abuse

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 350: Enacting the age-appropriate school device act to establish safety standards and requirements for the use of school-issued devices in certain grade levels and authorizing parents to opt students out of certain uses of such devices.

SB 350 establishes grade-level rules for school-issued digital devices in Kansas public schools (K-12), directly affecting students, schools, and parents. It bans digital devices entirely for K-5 (requiring print-based instruction), restricts shared device use with time limits (max 1 hour/day) and blocks social media for grades 6-8, and allows issued devices for grades 9-12 with strict safety settings (blocking social media, disabling cameras, limiting use to 90 minutes/day). The bill mandates schools to provide media literacy instruction on digital health risks and requires parental opt-out for device issuance, home use, or digital testing. Schools must delete personal data between student uses and maintain safety standards for all devices.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBans digital devices in K-5, restricts device use in grades 6-8, and limits device access in grades 9-12 - imposing direct curriculum restrictions on technology use in schools.85% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts school device access: bans devices K-5, blocks social media/cameras, limits usage time - directly limits technology use in education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Safety Data Privacy Social Media

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 263: House Substitute for SB 263 by Committee on Education - Establishing standards and requirements for active shooter drills conducted by public and accredited nonpublic elementary and secondary schools and regulating active shooter simulations.

SB 263 establishes standards for active shooter drills in Kansas public and accredited nonpublic K-12 schools. It requires drills to be trauma-informed, age-appropriate, and inclusive (including accommodations for students with disabilities), while banning drills that mimic real shootings. Schools must notify parents 24 hours in advance with opt-out options, provide alternative safety education for opted-out students, and conduct annual reviews of drill impacts on student and staff well-being. The bill also mandates annual evidence-based violence prevention training for grades 6-12 and prohibits active shooter simulations during school hours without specific parental consent for grades 9-12.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates trauma-informed, age-appropriate active shooter drills with parent opt-outs to protect student well-being in K-12 schools95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2138: Authorizing school districts to levy an annual tax levy of up to two mills for the purposes of school building safety, security and compliance with the Americans with disabilities act and including such levy in the capital outlay state aid determination for such school districts.

HB 2138 allows Kansas school districts to impose an annual property tax of up to two mills (0.2% of a property's taxable value) to fund school building safety, security, and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. School districts must adopt a resolution for the tax, and if 10% of qualified voters petition against it within 40 days, a public vote may be held. The state will include this tax in its capital outlay aid calculation, meaning school districts receive matching state funds for these projects. This bill amends Kansas law to create a dedicated funding mechanism for school infrastructure improvements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes school districts to levy a limited property tax (0.2%) for safety/security/ADA compliance, with state matching aid to fund essential public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAuthorizes school districts to fund building safety/security/ADA compliance via property tax with state matching funds, directly advancing school infrastructure funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding School Safety

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2259: Requiring school districts to adopt policies to limit the use of personal electronic communication devices during school hours and requiring the state board of education to designate a period of time for social media awareness and develop goals and materials relating thereto.

HB 2259 requires Kansas public school districts to adopt policies banning students' personal phones and tablets during instructional hours, with exceptions for special education plans, teacher-approved educational use, or health emergencies. It also mandates the state education board to create an annual social media awareness period, developing age-appropriate materials teaching students about social media risks (like misinformation and mental health impacts), safe usage (privacy, identifying predators), and benefits (career building, connecting with others). The policy directly affects all public school students and districts, as well as nonpublic schools through shared state materials. This bill implements concrete changes to school device policies and integrates social media education into curricula, without specifying enforcement details or outcomes.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires device restrictions during instruction to improve focus and mandates social media education curriculum, enhancing student digital literacy and learning environment within education framework.85% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts student personal device use during instruction hours, limiting technology access in schools despite exceptions for educational purposes.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Special Education Teachers Social Media

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2104: Standardizing firearm safety programs in school districts.

HB 2104 requires Kansas school districts to use state-established curriculum guidelines for firearm safety education programs if they choose to offer them. It mandates specific, age-appropriate programs: kindergarten through fifth grade must use the NRA's Eddie Eagle Gunsafe program, sixth through eighth grade may choose between Eddie Eagle or the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks' Hunter Education in Our Schools program, and ninth through twelfth grade must use Hunter Education in Our Schools. The bill standardizes these offerings across districts to ensure consistent safety education on firearm accident prevention and response. School districts are not required to implement these programs but must follow the state guidelines if they do. The law takes effect upon publication in the statutes.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationMandates specific curriculum for firearm safety programs, restricting district choice on educational content per bill's requirements.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum School Safety

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