Education in Kansas | MyRepTracker

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 342: Extending the expiration date of the Kansas school equity and enhancement act from 2027 to 2028.

SB 342 extends the expiration date of Kansas' existing school funding law (the Kansas School Equity and Enhancement Act) from July 1, 2027, to July 1, 2028. This procedural bill directly affects the current school finance law by changing its sunset date, ensuring its provisions remain in effect for one additional year. The key mechanism is amending Kansas Statute 72-5176 to update the expiration date from 2027 to 2028, with the existing section being repealed as part of the process. This change does not alter the law's substance or create new policies, only delays its automatic termination.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics School Funding

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 386: Electing to participate in the federal tax credit for individual contributions to scholarship granting organizations and increasing the aggregate tax credit limit on the tax credit for low income students scholarship program.

SB 386 allows Kansas taxpayers to claim a state tax credit for donations to scholarship-granting organizations that serve low-income students. It increases the credit rate from 70% to 75% of contributions for tax years after 2022 and raises the annual spending cap from $10 million to $20 million (with a potential maximum of $30 million). The bill also establishes a mechanism to automatically increase the cap by 25% if 75% of the current cap is reached in a given year. This directly affects donors - such as businesses, banks, and individuals - who contribute to eligible scholarship organizations in Kansas.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Government Spending Tax Credits School Choice Student Financial Aid

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 316: Authorizing the state bank commissioner to establish a nonprofit organization incorporated under the laws of Kansas to provide charitable consumer financial education initiatives in Kansas.

SB 316 authorizes Kansas' state bank commissioner to create a Kansas-incorporated nonprofit organization focused on providing free consumer financial education to Kansans. The nonprofit can directly offer financial literacy programs, fund other nonprofit education efforts, provide education scholarships, or invest idle funds - all funded through public donations, fines from enforcement actions (paid as donations instead of fines), and settlement funds. The nonprofit must operate without paid staff, own no property beyond educational materials, and cannot engage in political activities. It will be governed by a volunteer board appointed initially by the commissioner, with no state agency status.

Topics ✓ Education

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2431: Enacting the student secular bill of rights to establish statutory protections against religious coercion and discrimination in public schools.

HB 2431 establishes statutory protections against religious coercion and discrimination in Kansas public schools, directly affecting students and parents. It defines prohibited actions like school-sponsored prayer, religious displays, or forced participation in religious activities, while allowing objective academic study of religion. The bill creates a legal cause of action for students or parents to sue if schools violate these protections. Key provisions clarify terms like "religious activity" and require school officials to avoid endorsement of religion in official capacities. This bill aims to strengthen existing constitutional separation of church and state in education, building on Supreme Court rulings like *Engel v. Vitale* and *McCollum v. Board of Education*.

Topics ✓ Education

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 419: Enacting the Kansas intellectual rights and knowledge act, providing a civil cause of action and penalties for violations of such act and authorizing students and student associations to exercise political and ideological beliefs, values and missions.

SB 419, the Kansas Intellectual Rights and Knowledge Act (KIRK Act), requires public postsecondary institutions in Kansas to protect students' and student associations' free speech rights. It defines "expressive activity" (including protests, speeches, and guest speakers) as protected on campus, particularly in outdoor areas, and prohibits censorship unless speech constitutes severe, pervasive harassment. The bill creates a civil cause of action for students or associations to sue institutions that violate these rights, amending existing statutes to ensure compliance with First Amendment standards. It directly affects students, student groups, and university administrators at Kansas public colleges and universities.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Higher Education

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2484: Eliminating the Kansas residency requirement after completing a Kansas promise scholarship program, clarifying the work requirements upon completion of such program and repealing the sunset on the program.

HB 2484 removes the requirement for Kansas Promise Scholarship recipients to live in Kansas after completing their education. It clarifies that students must work in Kansas for two years post-graduation (or continue studying in-state) but eliminates the prior residency mandate. The bill also permanently extends the program by repealing its sunset date, making the scholarship available indefinitely. This directly affects students who received or will receive the Kansas Promise Scholarship, changing their post-graduation obligations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2415: Requiring each local board of education of a school district to appoint a nonvoting student representative to such board of education.

HB 2415 (Kansas Youth Voice Act) requires every Kansas public school district to appoint at least one student from grades 10-12 as a nonvoting member of their school board. Student representatives may attend open meetings, express opinions, and receive materials but cannot vote, attend closed sessions, or receive pay. School boards must establish application processes and provide orientation, including a board liaison and training on board procedures. This affects all Kansas school districts and students in grades 10-12, with appointments required by August 2026 and subsequent annual terms (max two total terms per student).

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 223: Providing countywide retailers' sales tax authority for Russell county for the purpose of financing costs of attendance centers or other school district facilities.

SB 223 authorizes Russell County to seek voter approval for a countywide sales tax on retail purchases, specifically to fund school district facilities like attendance centers. The bill amends Kansas law to allow Russell County commissioners to propose this tax after meeting standard voter petition thresholds (10% of voters or city resolutions), similar to existing provisions for other counties. If approved by voters, the tax revenue would directly support school facility costs, with the tax ending once all project costs are covered. This bill does not create the tax itself but provides Russell County the legal authority to pursue it through the established voter approval process.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Revenue

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 224: Providing for the preceptor income tax incentive act, establishing an income tax credit for nursing home administrators, registered nurses and registered dietitians that serve as a community-based faculty preceptor in adult care homes and medical care facilities by providing personalized instruction, training and supervision for students.

SB 224 creates a Kansas income tax credit for licensed nursing home administrators, registered nurses, and registered dietitians who provide unpaid mentoring to healthcare students. For every 40 hours of mentoring provided to students training to become healthcare professionals, the preceptor earns a $250 tax credit against their state income tax. To qualify, the mentoring must be uncompensated, and the preceptor must verify hours through their educational institution. This credit applies only to Kansas-licensed professionals working with Kansas postsecondary institutions and does not exceed the taxpayer’s annual income tax liability.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Tax Incentives Long-Term Care

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2236: Establishing the mental health intervention team program in the Kansas department for aging and disability services in state statute and providing incentives for coordination between school districts, qualified schools and mental health intervention team providers.

HB 2236 establishes a Mental Health Intervention Team Program under Kansas' Department for Aging and Disability Services to improve access to mental health services for K-12 students. The program requires mental health providers to offer 24/7 outpatient care, person-centered treatment planning, and coordination with schools, while providing incentives for school districts and qualified schools (including nonpublic schools meeting accreditation standards) to collaborate with providers. It specifically targets students needing mental health support, such as those in foster care or referred to family programs, and aims to address staffing shortages in rural schools by fostering coordinated care outside traditional school hours.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Special Education Student Health Mental Health

All education bills