SB 471 would raise Kansas' minimum wage to $16 per hour for workers already covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), such as most hourly employees in retail, hospitality, and service industries. It amends Kansas law to set this new $16 hourly rate as the minimum for employers and employees subject to federal wage rules, replacing the current $7.25 rate. The bill specifically targets workers who fall under federal FLSA protections, ensuring Kansas' minimum wage aligns with and exceeds the federal standard for these employees. It repeals the existing state minimum wage provisions and takes effect upon publication in the statute book.
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.
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.
HB 2123 increases Kansas' minimum wage for tipped employees from $2.13 to $6.15 per hour. It requires employers to pay this base rate, and if the employee's tips plus this base rate total less than $7.25 per hour (the standard minimum wage), the employer must cover the difference. This directly affects restaurant workers, servers, and other service employees in Kansas who rely on tips as part of their income. The bill amends Kansas law to ensure tipped workers earn at least the full minimum wage when combining tips with their base pay. It does not apply to workers covered by federal minimum wage rules under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
SB 153 establishes Kansas' first statewide paid prenatal leave law, requiring most employers to provide 20 hours of paid leave annually for pregnancy-related healthcare (like checkups, tests, and doctor visits) starting January 1, 2026. Employees earn this leave at their regular pay rate or minimum wage, whichever is higher, and cannot be penalized for using it. The law prohibits employers from retaliating against workers who request or take this leave and mandates employers restore employees to their previous position after leave. Employers must also inform staff about this benefit through the state labor department's outreach efforts.
SB 218 would raise Kansas's minimum wage to $15 per hour starting January 1, 2026, with future increases tied to the Midwest Consumer Price Index (cost of living). It applies to most Kansas workers not covered by federal minimum wage law, excluding agricultural workers, domestic workers, and others defined in the bill. Tipped employees would receive at least half the minimum wage plus tips, with employers covering any shortfall if tips don’t meet the full minimum. The current $7.25 hourly rate would remain in effect until the end of 2025.
