Education (School Choice)

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 515: Authorizing nonpublic schools to permit nonaccredited private elementary or secondary school students to participate in certain activities for such nonpublic schools.

SB 515 allows Kansas nonpublic schools to permit students enrolled in nonaccredited private elementary or secondary schools to participate in school activities like sports, clubs, and events. To qualify, students must be Kansas residents, meet age and eligibility requirements set by the activities association, and pay any fees required of all participants. The bill prohibits nonpublic schools from denying participation based on a student's enrollment status in a nonaccredited school and ensures these students have the same rights and responsibilities as other participants. This policy change removes barriers for nonaccredited private school students seeking to join extracurricular activities at nonpublic schools.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly expands educational access by allowing nonaccredited private school students to participate in school activities like sports and clubs, removing enrollment-based barriers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Choice

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2680: Renaming the tax credit for low income students scholarship program the Kansas K-12 students scholarship program, expanding eligibility under the program, increasing the aggregate tax credit limit and moving the program's administration to the state treasurer.

HB 2680 renames Kansas' low-income student scholarship program to the "Kansas K-12 Students Scholarship Program" and expands eligibility to include students identified by scholarship organizations as having financial need, not just those meeting income thresholds (250% of federal poverty guidelines). The bill increases the annual scholarship limit to $8,000 per student and transfers program administration from the Department of Revenue to the State Treasurer. It also adds requirements for scholarship organizations, including financial reporting and bonding for larger contributions. The changes aim to broaden access to private school funding while centralizing oversight under the State Treasurer's office.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax credit eligibility and increases annual limit to $8,000, providing tax relief for low-income students under a scholarship program.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands scholarship eligibility beyond income thresholds and increases annual funding limit to $8,000 per student, directly advancing educational access and funding for K-12 students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits K-12 Education School Choice School Funding

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2628: Establishing a refundable income tax credit for tuition payments and fees made to postsecondary educational institutions.

HB 2628 creates a refundable Kansas income tax credit for residents paying tuition and fees at eligible colleges or universities. It allows qualifying taxpayers to claim up to $300 per year toward these costs for themselves or their child, with any unused portion refunded if the credit exceeds their tax bill. The credit applies to Kansas residents who paid for attendance at institutions meeting state-defined standards under K.S.A. 72-3222. This policy directly supports families and individuals covering higher education expenses, making the credit accessible even if they owe no state income tax.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRefundable tax credit reduces liability for tuition, offering direct tax relief to families supporting education expenses, aligning with tax relief indicators for middle-income groups.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates refundable tax credit for postsecondary tuition, directly reducing costs and increasing access to higher education for Kansas residents.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Higher Education School Choice Student Financial Aid

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vetoed · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2468: 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.

Kansas would join a federal tax credit program allowing individual taxpayers to deduct contributions to scholarship organizations supporting low-income students. The bill increases the tax credit percentage from 70% to 75% for contributions made after 2022 and raises the state's annual credit limit from $10 million to $20 million (with a potential maximum of $30 million). If credits claimed approach 75% of the annual limit, the cap automatically increases for the next year. This directly affects Kansas residents who donate to qualifying scholarship organizations, providing a larger tax incentive for such contributions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases tax credit percentage (70%→75%) and annual limit ($10M→$20M) for low-income student scholarships, directly advancing tax relief and funding allocation within state budget/fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases tax credit limits for low-income student scholarships, expanding educational access and funding through state tax incentives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Tax Incentives School Choice Student Financial Aid

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vetoed · Kansas · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SB 361: Electing to participate in the federal tax credit for individual contributions to scholarship granting organizations.

SB 361 would allow foreign exchange students residing with host families to enroll in and attend their host family’s school district as if they were residents, exempting them from the district’s open-seat lottery process. It directly affects these students by guaranteeing enrollment without competing for available spots in the lottery system. The key provision amends Kansas law (K.S.A. 72-3123) to explicitly include foreign exchange students in the exemption, aligning them with other priority groups like military students or siblings. This change applies starting with the 2024-2025 school year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationGuarantees enrollment access for foreign exchange students without lottery competition, expanding educational access as defined in the topic description.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Student Financial Aid

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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 & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases tax credit rate (70%→75%) and spending cap ($10M→$20M) for low-income student scholarships, providing tax relief while expanding state-funded education support.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases tax credit for donations to scholarship programs serving low-income K-12 students, expanding educational access and funding through higher contribution limits and caps.95% confidence

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

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2156: Establishing the education opportunity tax credit to provide an income tax credit for taxpayers with eligible dependent children who are not enrolled in public school.

HB 2156 creates an income tax credit for Kansas taxpayers with dependent children not enrolled in public school. It provides $8,000 per child for enrollment in accredited private schools (or working toward accreditation) and $4,000 for nonaccredited private schools. The credit is capped at $125 million for 2025, with annual adjustments based on prior-year usage, and prioritizes previous recipients if demand exceeds funding. Taxpayers must provide children's Social Security numbers, cannot claim the credit if children receive low-income scholarships, and may receive refunds for excess credit over tax liability.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill provides tax credits for private school enrollment, reducing state tax revenue that could fund public education, effectively defunding public schools through tax policy.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tax credits for private school enrollment, expanding educational access options beyond public schools through direct funding support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits School Choice

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2136: Expanding student eligibility under the tax credit for low income students scholarship program, increasing the amount of the tax credit for contributions made pursuant to such program and providing for aggregate tax credit limit increases under certain conditions.

HB 2136 expands eligibility for Kansas' tax credit scholarship program by removing the requirement that students must have previously attended a public school. It increases the tax credit amount for donations to the program and adds new limits on total credits. The bill directly affects low-income students (including those in foster care, military families, or with first-responder parents) and donors who contribute to scholarship organizations. This change allows more students to access private school scholarships through tax-credit donations, without the prior public school enrollment barrier.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases tax credit amount for donations to scholarship program benefiting low-income students, promoting tax-advantaged funding for education access.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands eligibility for low-income students in private school scholarships via increased tax credits, broadening educational access and funding through tax incentives.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits School Choice Student Financial Aid

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signed · Kansas · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 2320: Authorizing children in the custody of the secretary of the department for children and families to attend school in any school district, requiring records for such students to be timely transferred between school districts and requiring a transportation plan if the child remains in the school of origin.

HB 2320 allows children in Kansas's Department for Children and Families (DCF) custody to attend any school district, with two key options: they can enroll in the school district where they are placed or remain in their original school. The bill requires DCF to notify the relevant school district and transfer all school records within two business days of a placement change. If a child stays in their original school, the district must create a transportation plan. This applies to all children under DCF custody who might otherwise face enrollment barriers due to placement shifts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnsures educational continuity for foster youth by allowing school choice and mandating record transfers/transportation, expanding access to K-12 education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice School Transportation

passed · Kansas · Senate Mar 21, 2025

SB 87: Expanding student eligibility under the tax credit for low income students scholarship program, increasing the amount of the tax credit for contributions made pursuant to such program and providing for aggregate tax credit limit increases under certain conditions.

SB 87 expands Kansas' tax credit program for low-income student scholarships by removing the requirement that students must have previously attended a public school. It increases the tax credit rate for donors from 70% to 75% for tax years starting in 2023, while maintaining an annual scholarship cap of $8,000 per student. The bill directly affects low-income students (including those in foster care, military families, or with parents in emergency services) and scholarship organizations by broadening eligibility and making contributions more valuable for donors. Key mechanisms include eliminating prior public school enrollment as a requirement and raising the credit rate to encourage greater private funding for educational scholarships.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax credit for low-income student scholarships, increasing donor incentives from 70% to 75% and broadening eligibility, directly supporting tax-based funding mechanisms.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands tax credit for low-income student scholarships by removing public school attendance requirement and increasing donor tax credit rate, boosting access and funding for disadvantaged students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits School Choice Student Financial Aid

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