HB 2656 establishes Kansas' "No Kid Hungry in Schools" program, requiring public school districts with high student poverty rates to provide free breakfasts and lunches to all students. The state reimburses districts for the cost difference between federal meal reimbursements and the federal free-meal rate, covering up to one breakfast and one lunch per student daily. School districts must participate if they qualify under federal poverty thresholds for free meal eligibility, and must offer two federally reimbursable meals per student per day. The bill amends existing school meal funding laws to implement this state-level reimbursement system.
HB 2637 requires Kansas school districts that qualify under federal guidelines (where at least 40% of students are eligible for free school meals) to consider joining the federal Community Eligibility Provision, which allows all students in a school to receive free meals without individual applications. School boards must vote to participate if eligible, but can opt out by demonstrating financial hardship at a public meeting. The Kansas State Department of Education must provide assistance to districts seeking to join the program. This directly affects school districts with high poverty rates, enabling them to simplify meal access while offering a financial hardship exception.
SB 441 authorizes private providers to deliver medically necessary applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy during school hours for students with autism spectrum disorder, as prescribed by a healthcare provider. School districts must permit these services when parents provide documentation from a healthcare provider and a treatment plan, and private providers must pass background checks. The bill requires school districts to adopt policies for this service and allows third-party insurance to cover costs, without replacing existing school-based behavioral support under IEPs.
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.
SB 339 requires Kansas public school districts to provide at least 30 minutes of daily organized recess for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. This recess time is designated as part of the school term, meaning it counts toward the state's minimum school hour requirements (465 hours for kindergarten, 1,116 hours for grades 1-11). The bill amends Kansas Statute 72-3115 to explicitly include recess as part of the school term and repeals the previous version of the law. It applies directly to all Kansas public school districts serving students in grades K-5.
SB 387 requires Kansas school districts to verify the household gross earned income of students applying for free meals through the national school lunch program (using written proof), excluding those directly certified via other programs. It also mandates that school districts cannot seek federal "community eligibility" payments - allowing schools to serve free meals to all students without individual applications - without explicit legislative approval after July 1, 2026. During legislative recesses, districts may seek temporary approval from the Legislative Coordinating Council within 14 days. This bill directly affects school districts managing meal programs and students qualifying for free meals, changing how income eligibility is confirmed and how federal funds are accessed.
HB 2420 requires Kansas school districts to obtain written parental consent before providing school-based mental health services to students, including verbal notification about the service's purpose and plan. It directly affects students, parents, and school staff, covering services designed to address emotional, behavioral, or social needs (excluding universal tier 1 support). Exceptions allow immediate suicide risk assessments under existing law when a credible report of suicide risk exists. Violations trigger a $5,000 civil penalty per incident, recoverable by the attorney general or county prosecutor.
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).
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.
HB 2103 amends Kansas school attendance law to allow students to be absent for approved agricultural science activities, FFA events, and 4-H competitions without it counting as an unexcused absence. School boards will have the authority to create specific rules defining which activities qualify as valid excuses and to limit the number of such absences permitted. This directly affects students participating in these educational activities, school staff responsible for attendance tracking, and school boards developing the new policies. The bill adds these categories to existing valid excuses while maintaining current reporting requirements for unexcused absences.
