Labor & Employment

signed · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2025

HB 2160: Enacting the municipal employee whistleblower act to provide statutory protections for municipal employees who report or disclose unlawful or dangerous conduct.

HB 2160 creates the Kansas municipal employee whistleblower act, protecting employees of cities, counties, school districts, and other local government units from retaliation when reporting certain issues. The law prohibits supervisors from taking disciplinary action against employees who disclose violations of law, unsafe conditions, misuse of public funds, or specific dangers to public health or safety to authorities or the public. Employees facing retaliation can sue within 90 days for damages and attorney fees, and local governments must prominently post the law for all staff to see. This law directly affects municipal workers who report wrongdoing, ensuring they can speak up without fear of job loss or punishment.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill protects municipal employees from retaliation for reporting unsafe conditions, misuse of funds, or violations of law, directly advancing worker protections and workplace safety.95% confidence

vetoed · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2025

SB 29: Substitute for SB 29 by Committee on Public Health and Welfare - Removing the authority of the county or joint board of health or local health officer to prohibit public gatherings when necessary for the control of infectious or contagious disease.

SB 29 removes local health officials' authority to prohibit public gatherings during infectious disease outbreaks. It revokes the power of county health boards, local health officers, and the secretary of health to order isolation, quarantine, or impose penalties for violations. The bill also creates a legal right for employees to sue employers who fire them for following health guidelines or based on vaccination status. This legislation directly affects public health officials, employers, and residents by limiting emergency health measures and expanding employee protections. It amends multiple Kansas statutes related to public health authority and disease control.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRemoves local health officials' authority to enforce quarantines/isolation during outbreaks, weakening public health disease control measures.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates legal right for employees to sue employers who fire them for following health guidelines or vaccination status, directly protecting workers' rights in employment disputes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

Track

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2411: Reducing the required waiting period for employment of KPERS retirants hired by a school district for a covered position that requires a teaching license or certificate.

This bill removes the standard 60-day waiting period for Kansas public school retirees (KPERS members) who return to work as licensed teachers. It specifically exempts retirees hired by school districts for covered teaching positions requiring a license or certificate from the waiting rule. The change applies to all school districts participating in the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System and allows immediate reemployment without the prior waiting period requirement.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves 60-day waiting period for retired teachers returning to licensed K-12 positions, facilitating staff recruitment and retention in schools.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves 60-day waiting period for KPERS retirees returning to licensed teaching roles, enabling immediate reemployment and supporting employment standards for this specific group.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Workforce Development

Track

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2151: Increasing the Kansas minimum wage to $15 an hour.

HB 2151 would raise Kansas' state minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 per hour for most hourly workers. The bill amends Kansas law (K.S.A. 44-1203) to establish this new rate and repeals the current minimum wage provisions. It directly affects most employees in Kansas, excluding specific categories like agricultural workers, domestic workers, and certain executive or administrative staff as defined in the law. Employers covered by federal minimum wage law would still follow the federal $7.25 rate, but all other Kansas employers would be required to pay at least $15 per hour.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly increases state minimum wage from $7.25 to $15/hour for most workers, directly advancing wage standards per Labor & Employment indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

Track

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2239: Requiring every employer to provide each employee with meal periods and rest periods.

HB 2239 requires most Kansas employers to provide employees with a 30-minute uninterrupted meal period during work shifts of 6 to 8 hours, and additional periods for longer shifts (e.g., two periods for shifts over 14 hours). It prohibits combining meal and rest periods, allows employees to waive meal periods only with written consent they can revoke, and bans employer coercion in such waivers. Employers may seek exemptions for "undue hardship" (defined as significant difficulty or expense relative to business size/resources), but cannot exempt workers under 16. Violations carry fines up to $2,000 per incident. The law directly affects all Kansas employers with hourly or salaried workers.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates meal/rest periods, prohibits coercion in waivers, and protects worker rights - directly strengthens workplace safety and employee well-being standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

Track

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 189: Providing injured employees the freedom of choice to designate their healthcare provider and requiring the employer to pay for the services of such healthcare provider with regard to workers compensation.

SB 189 allows injured workers in Kansas to choose their own healthcare provider for workers' compensation treatment, requiring employers to cover the costs of that provider's services. The bill amends state law to establish this choice as standard practice, while maintaining a $800 cap on employer coverage for initial visits without prior approval. This applies to all workers covered under Kansas workers' compensation, giving employees greater control over their medical care decisions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows injured workers to choose healthcare providers, requiring employer coverage, enhancing patient autonomy and access under workers' compensation.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAllows injured workers to choose healthcare provider, requiring employer to pay, expanding worker benefits and protecting rights under workers' compensation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

Track

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2264: Restoring local government control over wages, compensation and benefits for construction projects.

HB 2264 restores authority to Kansas cities and counties to set their own wage, compensation, and benefits requirements for construction projects by repealing state laws that previously invalidated local ordinances conflicting with state standards. The bill removes provisions (K.S.A. 12-16,132 and 19-26,114) that declared local wage rules void if they conflicted with state statutes (12-16,130/131), allowing local governments to establish their own requirements without state override. This directly affects construction workers, contractors, and local governments participating in public construction projects across Kansas. The policy change enables communities to tailor labor standards to local economic conditions without state-level interference.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves state barriers to local wage standards, enabling cities/counties to establish higher or stronger worker protections without state override.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

Track

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 257: Expanding medical assistance eligibility and enacting the healthcare access for working Kansans (HAWK) act.

SB 257, the Healthcare Access for Working Kansans (HAWK) Act, would expand Kansas' medical assistance program to cover non-pregnant adults under 65 with incomes at or below 138% of the federal poverty level, effective January 1, 2026. Applicants must provide employment verification (e.g., pay stubs or W-2 forms), with exemptions for students, parents, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and those experiencing homelessness. The bill requires the state to administer benefits through a managed care system and includes a provision to phase out coverage over 12 months if federal Medicaid funding falls below 90%.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands state medical assistance program, requiring increased state funding for healthcare access, thus increasing public service funding.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands medical assistance to cover non-pregnant adults under 65 with incomes ≤138% FPL, increasing healthcare access for working Kansans.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands healthcare benefits for working Kansans under 65, directly advancing worker benefits through medical assistance access as a core employment standard.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransVeterans are explicitly exempt from employment verification requirements, removing a barrier to healthcare access under the HAWK Act.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

Track

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 163: Prohibiting school employment contracts from excluding documentation of disciplinary actions or behavioral corrective actions taken with regard to an employee.

SB 163 prohibits school districts from including clauses in employment contracts that exclude documentation of disciplinary or behavioral corrective actions taken against professional employees. The bill directly affects school districts and their professional employees (such as teachers and certified staff), requiring contracts to explicitly include such records. It amends Kansas law (K.S.A. 72-2218) to ensure these records cannot be omitted from employment agreements, promoting transparency in personnel documentation. The policy change applies specifically to professional employees, not administrative staff covered under separate definitions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates transparency in teacher employment contracts for disciplinary records, promoting accountability and supporting educator integrity within school districts.80% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires school districts to include disciplinary documentation in employment contracts, promoting transparency and protecting professional employees' rights by preventing exclusion of such records.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

Track

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2310: Enacting the career advancement, resources, employment and supports for the disability workforce act, providing for career education programs for students and career enhancement programs for professionals, requiring performance-based contracting for disability services providers, facilitating choice in services by individuals with disabilities, mandating rate parity across all state waiver programs, providing for an online data portal system for waitlist management and services-related communications, requiring the secretary of labor to publish information regarding the disability service provider workforce and providing that direct support workers may be covered by the state health plan.

HB 2310, the "Kansas CARES Act," creates career pathways for direct support workers serving individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities. It requires new career education programs for students and professional development for current workers, mandates performance-based contracts for disability service providers, and ensures equal payment rates across all state disability waiver programs. The bill also establishes an online portal to manage waitlists and service communications, and requires the state to publish workforce data while expanding health coverage for direct support workers. These changes directly affect individuals with disabilities (by improving service choice), direct support workers (through career and health benefits), and disability service providers (through new contracting rules).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDirect support workers covered by state health plan expands healthcare access for disability workforce, aligning with coverage expansion indicators.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates rate parity for fair wages and requires career development programs for direct support workers, enhancing employment standards and workforce protections.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

Track