SB 103 would allow Kansas cities and counties to propose a tax of up to 1% on nonresident workers (those who live outside the city or county but work within it). Before implementation, the tax requires voter approval via ballot measure, and must be resubmitted to voters for renewal every 10 years. Employers would be required to deduct the tax from nonresident employees' paychecks. Revenue from the tax must be used for specific purposes: for cities, at least half must help reduce property tax burdens, and for counties, at least half must help reduce property tax burdens.
HB 2006 changes retirement eligibility for Kansas Department of Corrections security officers. Starting July 1, 2025, these officers will join the state's police and fire retirement system (KP&F) instead of the general public employees system (KPERS). The bill allows officers to buy back prior service time in KPERS to count toward KP&F benefits, with a 7.15% employee contribution rate on salary. This applies to current and future security officers employed by corrections, affecting their retirement calculations and contributions.
SB 19 prohibits discrimination against individuals who refuse certain medical treatments (such as vaccines, drugs, or gene therapies) based on conscience. It bans employers, schools, healthcare providers, and others from taking adverse actions like firing, denying services, or imposing fees due to such refusals. Individuals facing discrimination can sue for triple damages or $10,000, plus legal fees. The bill also revokes the health secretary’s authority to order quarantines and imposes penalties for violations.
HB 2237 increases the annual limit for state employee awards - including hiring, recruitment, and retention bonuses - from $3,500 to $10,000 per employee. It removes the secretary of administration’s authority to create program rules and instead requires an annual report to specific legislative committees about how these awards are used. This bill directly affects all state agencies and employees across Kansas’s executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The key changes simplify oversight by shifting from administrative rule-making to legislative transparency while raising the award cap.
HB 2008 modifies Kansas' retirement system definition of "security officer" to include specific juvenile corrections officer positions. It expands eligibility under the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) to cover roles like juvenile corrections officer I (A), I (B), II, and III, as defined in the state job classification plan. This change ensures these officers qualify for the same retirement benefits, employer contribution rates, and retirement date calculations as other security officers in the corrections department. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and amends K.S.A. 74-4914a and 74-4914e.
HB 2375, the Healthcare Access for Working Kansans (HAWK) Act, expands Medicaid eligibility to working adults under 65 with incomes at or below 138% of the federal poverty level, effective January 1, 2026. It requires applicants to provide employment verification (e.g., pay stubs or W-2 forms) unless exempt - such as students, parents, individuals with disabilities, or those experiencing homelessness. The bill mandates Kansas to seek federal approval for this expansion and establishes a managed care system for administering benefits. Coverage would terminate if federal funding drops below 90%, and the law is contingent on federal approval.
HB 2308 creates tax incentives to attract businesses in aviation, aircraft assembly, electric/hydrogen vehicle manufacturing, and related industries to Kansas. It directly affects companies that commit to creating at least 250 new jobs and meeting specific capital investment thresholds. Key provisions include a refundable tax credit for qualifying investments, retention of a portion of payroll taxes, reimbursement for employee training costs, and a sales tax exemption for construction and equipment. These benefits replace standard tax obligations for eligible projects meeting the job and investment requirements.
SB 120, the Kansas Municipal Employee Whistleblower Act, protects employees of cities, counties, school districts, and their departments from retaliation when reporting violations of law, unsafe conditions, or mismanagement of public funds. The law prohibits supervisors from taking disciplinary action - such as dismissal, demotion, or transfer - for employees who disclose unlawful conduct, public safety dangers, or misappropriated funds to any entity, including legislators or auditors. Employees facing retaliation can sue within 90 days for damages and attorney fees, though the law excludes false, reckless, or confidential disclosures. Municipalities must prominently post the law to ensure all employees are aware of their protections.
HB 2129 transfers all Kansas teachers from the KPERS 3 retirement plan (2015) to the KPERS 2 plan (2009). It defines "teacher" broadly to include certified school staff and college instructors, requiring all new teachers hired on or after July 1, 2025, to join KPERS 2 immediately. Existing teachers will automatically transfer to KPERS 2 on January 1, 2026, with all prior contributions and service credits preserved, and guaranteed benefits not reduced. The bill ensures no loss of rights or benefits during the transition, with employer contributions offsetting transfer costs. This affects all K-12 and community college teachers under KPERS.
SB 277 exempts certain qualified tips from Kansas state income tax by adding a new subtraction to the calculation of Kansas adjusted gross income. This directly affects service industry workers, such as restaurant servers and bartenders, who earn tips meeting the bill's specific qualifications. The bill amends K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 79-32,117 to exclude these qualified tips from taxable income, reducing the tax burden for eligible earners. The exemption applies only to tips defined as "qualified" under the bill, not all tips received.
