This bill proposes adding a new provision to the Kansas Constitution to restrict how public money is used for K-12 education. Specifically, it would limit state funds to secular public schools and explicitly ban the use of any public money to aid or maintain private nonpublic schools. The measure requires a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers to pass and would then be placed on the ballot for voters to approve or reject in 2026. If passed, the change would legally prevent the state from directing taxpayer dollars toward private educational institutions.
This bill reduces the property tax rate that Kansas school districts can charge on taxable property, lowering it from the current rate to 20 mills for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years, then gradually decreasing by one mill each year until it reaches 15 mills starting in the 2031-2032 school year. The measure directly affects school districts across Kansas by limiting how much tax revenue they can collect from property owners to fund general operating budgets, maintain public schools, and repay certain redevelopment bonds. Under the new provisions, most tax revenue collected must be sent to the state treasurer and deposited into the state school district finance fund, while districts are prohibited from using certain other tax authority mechanisms. The changes apply to all school districts in Kansas and take effect once the bill is published in the state statute book.
HB 2527 prohibits courts from assigning defendants to work release programs if they have any prior conviction or court finding for a crime requiring sex offender registration under Kansas law. It also bans the secretary of corrections from granting inmates with such prior convictions leave for work release or educational release programs. This law directly affects individuals with prior sex offense convictions that mandate registration under Kansas' sex offender registry system. The bill amends Kansas statutes 21-6604 and 75-5267 to enforce these restrictions.
This Kansas bill prohibits postsecondary educational institutions from using state funds or student fees to pay collegiate student athletes for the use of their name, image, likeness, or athletic reputation. The law applies to all types of colleges and universities, including public, private, and not-for-profit institutions, and specifically covers athletes registered for courses while participating in varsity intercollegiate athletics. By preventing the commingling of these funds with payments to athletes, the bill aims to restrict how educational institutions can monetize student athletes' identities using taxpayer and student-generated money. The legislation defines key terms such as state moneys, student fees, and collegiate student athletes to ensure clear application across different types of institutions.
HB 2746 clarifies that granting tenure to faculty at Kansas postsecondary institutions does not create a legal right or property interest in continued employment. It directly affects all faculty members (including teaching and research staff, excluding those with employment contracts) at Kansas colleges and universities covered by the law. The bill removes the legal presumption that tenure guarantees job security, stating that institutions may terminate tenured faculty for reasons unrelated to performance, as long as they follow their own established procedures. This change applies to all tenure awards made before, on, or after the bill's effective date.
HB 2743 modifies Kansas teacher education requirements by prohibiting state-approved teacher preparation programs from including any coursework, training, or content related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as a condition for program approval or teacher licensure. It also extends the deadline for retired and substitute elementary teachers to complete required literacy training under the Kansas Blueprint for Literacy by two additional years. The bill directly affects teacher training institutions, current and prospective educators, and school districts implementing the literacy program. Key mechanisms include amending state education code to mandate exclusion of DEI content in teacher prep curricula and adding a two-year extension for specific educator groups to meet literacy training requirements.
HB 2631 increases the property tax exemption for residential homeowners in Kansas, raising the amount exempt from the statewide school levy from $75,000 to $125,000 of a property's appraised value. This change directly affects Kansas homeowners with residential properties who pay school taxes. The bill amends existing law to apply this higher exemption starting in 2027, reducing their taxable value for school funding purposes. The exemption applies to all taxable years beginning in 2027 and beyond.
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.
SB 309 increases the property tax exemption for residential homes in Kansas from $75,000 to $150,000 of a home's appraised value, reducing the tax burden from the statewide school levy. This change directly affects Kansas homeowners whose properties are valued at or above $150,000, as it exempts the first $150,000 of their home's value from school property taxes. The bill amends existing tax law to apply this higher exemption starting in 2026 for all future taxable years. The change is limited to school levy taxes and does not affect other property tax obligations.
HB 2486 requires Kansas public school districts to enroll only toilet-trained kindergarten students, defined as children who can independently communicate bathroom needs, use the toilet without assistance, and manage personal hygiene after accidents. Parents must provide written assurance of toilet training during enrollment, with exceptions for children with IEPs, 504 plans, or verified medical conditions. School districts must establish policies to address non-toilet-trained students, including referrals for developmental evaluations and support resources. The bill does not apply to children who have already completed kindergarten in another state or meet age requirements.
