Technology in Kansas | MyRepTracker

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HR 6023: Opposing the federal preemption of state laws that regulate artificial intelligence.

This Kansas House Resolution expresses strong opposition to any federal laws or policies that would override state authority to regulate artificial intelligence. The measure specifically rejects proposals that would prevent Kansas from creating its own rules for AI use in critical areas such as elections, public safety, employment, and healthcare. While opposing federal preemption, the resolution supports a federal baseline of protections that allows states to maintain their ability to enact stricter regulations tailored to local needs.

Topics ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HCR 5010: Supporting the authorization and funding of the public safety autonomous technologies research, testing, certification and commercialization program and the passage of the national defense authorization act for fiscal year 2025 .

This resolution expresses support for federal funding and authorization of a program designed to research and develop affordable, domestically made drones for public safety use. It specifically encourages the U.S. Department of Commerce to fund projects that create small, uncrewed aerial systems in the United States to reduce reliance on foreign manufacturers. The document also endorses the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2025, which restricts the federal government and its grant recipients from purchasing or operating DJI drones. Additionally, the resolution supports a provision requiring the Department of Defense to assess and potentially ban DJI drones within a year due to security concerns.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Technology ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Procurement Emerging Technology

signed · Kansas · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 2591: Authorizing financial institutions to report suspected financial exploitation of an adult account holder to a designated agency, notify any adult designated as a trusted contact by such account holder of suspected financial exploitation and place a temporary hold on certain transactions or disbursements. Enacting the virtual currency kiosk consumer protection act, providing definitions, and establishing requirements for virtual currency kiosk operators. Prohibiting the office of the state bank commissioner or any other state agency from becoming a receiver for a technology-enabled fiduciary financial institution that becomes insolvent or declares bankruptcy. Providing that earned wage access service registrants are subject to the Kansas financial institutions information security act, and eliminating certain stipulations relating to the payment of negotiable instruments on Saturday afternoons or holidays.

HB 2591 allows Kansas financial institutions (like banks and credit unions) to report suspected financial exploitation of adult account holders (18+) to law enforcement or the Kansas Department for Children and Families. It permits institutions to notify a designated "trusted contact" adult and temporarily pause certain transactions for up to 10 business days (extendable to 30 days) if exploitation is suspected. The bill protects institutions from liability for these actions or inaction when taken in good faith, covering reporting, notification, and transaction holds. This directly affects adult account holders, financial institutions, and designated trusted contacts by creating a legal framework to address financial exploitation.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Cybersecurity

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 531: Prohibiting the development or operation of any new large load data center in a county that has had a drought emergency declared for such county pursuant to the Kansas emergency management act within the preceding three years.

This bill prohibits the development or operation of new large load data centers in Kansas counties that have experienced a drought emergency within the last three years. It directly affects county governments, which would be required to deny applications for such facilities during the three-year period following a drought declaration. The law defines a large load data center as a facility with a monthly electrical demand of 10 megawatts or more and allows counties to issue moratoriums on these projects until the three-year period ends. Existing data centers authorized or permitted before July 1, 2026, are exempt from these restrictions, and the bill does not prevent local governments from adopting even stricter land use regulations.

Topics ✗ Energy ✓ Environment ✗ Technology

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 281: House Substitute for Substitute for SB 281 by Committee on Education - Requiring school districts to prohibit the use of personal electronic communication devices during school hours, prohibiting any employee of a school district from using social media to directly communicate with any student for official school purposes.

SB 281 ends Kansas' low-income family postsecondary savings program after 2027 by removing the treasurer's authority to accept new applications starting in 2028. It reduces the annual grant cap from 1,200 to 1,000 applications per year (for 2025-2027) and eliminates all future audits of withdrawals after 2027. The bill directly affects low-income Kansas families (with household income ≤200% of federal poverty level) who previously qualified for state-matched savings grants. Key changes include halting new enrollments after 2027, lowering annual grant limits, and ending the requirement for retrospective audits of withdrawals.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Education ✗ Technology

Sub-Topics Social Media

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2772: Enacting the Kansas age-appropriate design code act to require businesses to assess and mitigate risks of compulsive use in minors; enacting the Kansas stopping likeness abuse by nonconsensual digital replicas act to create a private right of action for the unauthorized digital replication and distribution of individuals' digital likenesses; enacting the Kansas saving human connection act to prohibit deceptive practices and ensure transparency in chatbot interactions.

HB 2772 creates three new consumer protection laws in Kansas. The Age-Appropriate Design Code Act requires businesses to assess and reduce risks of compulsive digital product use among minors, set privacy settings for minors to the highest default level, and give consumers control over their personal data. The Stopping Likeness Abuse Act establishes a private right of action for individuals whose digital likenesses are used without consent. The Saving Human Connection Act mandates transparency in chatbot interactions, prohibits deceptive practices, and holds chatbot providers liable for injuries caused by their products. These provisions directly affect digital businesses, chatbot providers, and Kansas residents using digital services.

Topics ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy Digital Government

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2648: Enacting the social media and telecommunications fraud accountability act, requiring social media platforms to exercise reasonable care in preventing the dissemination of fraudulent advertisements, prohibiting falsely identifying names or numbers on telephone caller ID systems and the unauthorized use of a bank name in electronic advertisements or solicitations and making violations of the act an unconscionable act or practice under the Kansas consumer protection act.

HB 2648, the Social Media and Telecommunications Fraud Accountability Act, requires social media platforms that accept payment for advertising to implement specific measures to prevent fraudulent ads, including verifying advertiser identities, detecting impersonation, and providing user reporting tools. It also prohibits falsely identifying caller names/numbers on telephone systems and bans using bank names without consent in electronic ads or solicitations. Social media platforms must publish quarterly reports on fraud incidents and remove reported fraudulent ads within 72 hours. Violations are deemed unconscionable under Kansas consumer law, subjecting violators to civil penalties of at least $10,000 per offense and allowing enforcement by the attorney general or private lawsuits.

Topics ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Social Media Telecommunications Tags Consumer Protection

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2669: Prohibiting unit owners associations from imposing certain restrictions on solar energy conversion systems.

HB 2669 prevents homeowner associations (HOAs) in Kansas from banning rooftop solar panels on individual units. It directly affects unit owners who want to install solar systems, ensuring associations cannot restrict or prohibit such installations. Associations may set reasonable placement rules, but these cannot block installation, harm system function, limit usage, or increase costs or reduce efficiency. The law does not apply to shared common areas like hallways or pools. This bill updates Kansas’ housing laws to support solar adoption while allowing limited, non-discriminatory HOA oversight.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Housing ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Solar Homeownership

signed · Kansas · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 2700: Establishing the Kansas digital right-to-repair act to provide the right for persons who purchase digital electronic equipment to obtain the legal authorization and necessary documentation and parts from original equipment manufacturers to diagnose, maintain and repair such equipment.

HB 2700, the Kansas Right-to-Repair Act, gives consumers and independent repair shops the right to access necessary parts, tools, and documentation from manufacturers to repair digital electronic equipment they own or lease. It requires manufacturers to provide these resources on "fair and reasonable terms" without forcing repairers to be authorized by the manufacturer, covering most consumer electronics, home appliances, and farm equipment sold after July 1, 2026. The law explicitly excludes medical devices, critical infrastructure systems, and motor vehicles from its requirements. Enforcement will be handled by the Kansas Attorney General, with liability protections for manufacturers who comply.

Topics ✓ Technology

signed · Kansas · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 2647: Authorizing the Kansas department of transportation to establish a statewide conduit system for fiber optic transmissions of broadband connections.

HB 2647 authorizes Kansas' Department of Transportation (KDOT) to build and manage a statewide fiber optic conduit system - underground pathways for broadband cables - directly affecting KDOT, broadband providers, and ultimately Kansas residents seeking improved internet access. The bill establishes a "Kansas Broadband Revolving Fund" to cover system costs through fees charged to entities (like internet companies) using the infrastructure, plus revenue bonds and transfers from the state highway fund. Key provisions include requiring KDOT to set cost-based fees, prioritize space in the system, and report annually to lawmakers on construction progress, costs, and users. This creates a public infrastructure model where KDOT manages the physical network while private providers pay to connect to it, with funding recycled from user fees rather than taxpayer dollars.

Topics ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Broadband Access

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