Healthcare

passed · Kansas · Senate Mar 14, 2025

SR 1715: Recognizing March 13, 2025, as Mental Health Advocacy Day at the capitol.

This Senate resolution designates March 13, 2025, as Mental Health Advocacy Day at the Kansas Capitol. The measure formally acknowledges the presence of student groups and mental health organizations visiting the statehouse to promote awareness and discuss wellness programs. By issuing this recognition, the Senate highlights ongoing efforts to reduce stigma and improve access to behavioral health services for Kansans. The resolution does not alter laws or allocate funding but serves as a symbolic gesture to support these advocacy efforts.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill designates Mental Health Advocacy Day to promote awareness, reduce stigma, and improve access to behavioral health services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

passed · Kansas · Senate Mar 13, 2026

SR 1734: Congratulating and commending the Kansas Health Science University Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine for its inaugural commencement.

Senate Resolution 1734 formally congratulates and commends Kansas Health Science University's Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine for its first graduation ceremony. This resolution recognizes the inaugural class of osteopathic physicians who will graduate in May 2026 and highlights their contributions to expanding medical education and addressing healthcare needs in Kansas. The bill directs the Secretary of the Senate to send 10 copies of the resolution to the university president as an official acknowledgment of this milestone.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill commends a medical school for graduating osteopathic physicians, expanding the healthcare workforce and improving patient access.70% confidence

Track

passed · Kansas · House Mar 14, 2025

HR 6014: Recognizing March 13, 2025, as Mental Health Advocacy Day at the Capitol.

This Kansas House resolution designates March 13, 2025, as Mental Health Advocacy Day at the state Capitol. The measure formally acknowledges the efforts of youth groups and mental health organizations that plan to visit legislators on that date to promote awareness and support for behavioral health services. By recognizing this specific day, the resolution highlights ongoing state progress in mental health care and encourages continued community involvement in reducing stigma. It does not alter laws or funding but serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment of advocacy efforts within the legislature.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill designates a day to promote mental health awareness and support services, aligning with indicators for supporting mental health.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HCR 5013: Urging Congress to give state insurance regulators authority over Medicare Advantage plans.

This legislative resolution urges the U.S. Congress to grant state insurance regulators the authority to oversee Medicare Advantage plans, which are currently managed primarily by the federal government. The bill argues that state-level oversight would be more effective at preventing deceptive marketing and protecting vulnerable seniors from aggressive sales tactics. It specifically calls for states to enforce their own consumer protection laws regarding plan advertising, network access, and benefit disclosures. While the text cites complaints from Kansas about misleading practices, the resolution itself is a non-binding recommendation rather than a law that directly changes federal regulations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill aims to protect vulnerable seniors from deceptive marketing and aggressive sales tactics, thereby safeguarding patient rights and improving access to fair healthcare services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare

Track

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HCR 5029: Proposing to amend the bill of rights of the constitution of the state of Kansas by adding a new section relating to the public right to possess and use cannabis for medical purposes.

This bill proposes adding a new section to the Kansas Constitution that would guarantee the public's right to possess and use cannabis for medical purposes. The amendment includes a clause allowing reasonable laws and regulations to protect public health, safety, and general welfare. If passed by the legislature and approved by voters in the 2026 general election, it would legally enshrine medical cannabis rights at the state level.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enshrines medical cannabis rights, protecting civil liberties and reducing criminalization of medical users, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enshrines the right to medical cannabis, expanding patient access to a treatment option and protecting patient rights.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Public Health

Track

passed · Kansas · House Mar 24, 2026

HR 6039: Recognizing and honoring SparkWheel for its outstanding service on Kansas youth and families.

This bill is a House Resolution that formally recognizes and honors SparkWheel, a Kansas-based nonprofit organization, for its work supporting youth and families. It commends the group's leadership, staff, volunteers, and partners for their efforts in providing mentorship, mental health support, and career guidance through partnerships with schools and businesses. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but serves as an official statement of appreciation for SparkWheel's contributions to the community.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill honors a nonprofit providing mental health support and career guidance to youth and families, aligning with healthcare service indicators.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 504: Enacting the Kansas healthcare professional employment mobility and patient access act to prohibit post-employment noncompete agreements.

SB 504 prohibits most noncompete agreements that restrict healthcare professionals from practicing patient care after leaving a job. It directly affects physicians and mid-level practitioners (like nurse practitioners) who may have faced such restrictions. The bill allows limited 24-month restrictions only if an employee voluntarily leaves, capped at 15 miles from the practice location, and requires employers to offer a financial buyout covering unamortized recruitment costs - prohibiting penalties for lost profits or training. It does not affect confidentiality agreements or medical practice sale terms. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, voiding existing post-employment restrictions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits noncompete agreements restricting healthcare worker mobility, directly improving patient access to care by enabling professionals to practice without geographic or employment barriers.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits noncompete agreements restricting healthcare workers' job mobility, directly protecting employment rights and workplace flexibility.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

Track

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2678: Enacting the Kansas medical cannabis act to authorize the cultivation, processing, distribution, sale and use of medical cannabis and medical cannabis products.

HB 2678 would establish Kansas' first legal medical cannabis program, allowing licensed businesses to cultivate, process, and sell cannabis products for medical use to qualifying patients. It requires the state to expunge past cannabis-related criminal records and imposes an excise tax on sales, with funds directed to child care, economic development, mental health, low-cost housing, and property tax rebates. The bill creates new licensing systems for cultivators, processors, and dispensaries, while exempting medical cannabis use from certain drug possession laws. It directly affects patients with qualifying medical conditions, licensed cannabis businesses, and the state's criminal justice and social service funding mechanisms.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill imposes excise tax on cannabis sales funding child care, mental health, housing, and property tax rebates, directly advancing public service funding through new revenue.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires expungement of past cannabis convictions, reducing barriers for affected individuals and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables medical cannabis access for patients and allocates excise tax revenue to mental health services, directly advancing healthcare access and funding.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill directs cannabis excise tax revenue to 'low-cost housing' programs, explicitly funding affordable housing initiatives as part of its tax allocation structure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Sales Tax Drug Policy Mental Health Property Development Property Taxes

Track

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2720: Enacting the Kansas surrogate medical decisions act to establish a hierarchy for identifying a surrogate who would make healthcare decisions and provide associated definitions and provider guidelines.

HB 2720 establishes a clear priority order for who can make healthcare decisions for Kansas residents who lack the capacity to decide for themselves. It directly affects patients without decision-making capacity, healthcare providers, and families needing to navigate medical choices during emergencies. The bill defines key terms (like "surrogate" and "capacity") and sets the hierarchy: guardians (appointed by court) come first, followed by healthcare agents (like proxies), then patients' designated surrogates (chosen in writing), and finally providers identifying surrogates from family/friends based on a specific order (spouse, adult children, parents, etc.). It also provides guidelines for healthcare providers on implementing this process while respecting patient preferences and legal standards.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes clear surrogate decision-making hierarchy to protect patient rights during incapacity, aligning with healthcare policy protections.85% confidence

Track

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2785: Renaming the medication donation program providing for the registration of qualifying centers to accept, administer, supply or dispense certain donated drugs or devices.

HB 2785 renames Kansas' "Utilization of Unused Medications Act" to the "Medication Donation Program" and updates its rules. The bill allows pharmacies, manufacturers, and patients to donate unused drugs to qualifying centers (like indigent clinics, community mental health centers, and pharmacies), which then distribute them to medically indigent Kansas residents who are uninsured or underinsured. Key changes include updated eligibility criteria for donations, new annual reporting requirements for centers (detailing drugs received, patients served, and handling fees), and clarifications that federal Medicaid-funded drugs cannot be part of the program. The program aims to safely redirect unused medications to low-income residents while ensuring centers follow safety standards.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables donation of unused medications to indigent clinics for uninsured/underinsured residents, directly improving medication access and expanding healthcare coverage for vulnerable populations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health

Track