SB 330 requires insurance companies to use secure electronic systems for prior authorization requests (replacing fax or separate portals) by 2027, with strict response time limits: 2 hours for emergencies, 24 hours for urgent care, and 14 days for routine services. It prohibits prior authorization for childbirth, neonatal care, and emergency services, and mandates that authorizations for chronic conditions remain valid for the entire treatment period. The bill directly affects insurance companies (as "utilization review entities"), healthcare providers submitting requests, and patients seeking timely care. It aims to reduce delays and administrative burdens in healthcare access through standardized electronic processes and clearer timelines.
SB 350 establishes grade-level rules for school-issued digital devices in Kansas public schools (K-12), directly affecting students, schools, and parents. It bans digital devices entirely for K-5 (requiring print-based instruction), restricts shared device use with time limits (max 1 hour/day) and blocks social media for grades 6-8, and allows issued devices for grades 9-12 with strict safety settings (blocking social media, disabling cameras, limiting use to 90 minutes/day). The bill mandates schools to provide media literacy instruction on digital health risks and requires parental opt-out for device issuance, home use, or digital testing. Schools must delete personal data between student uses and maintain safety standards for all devices.
HB 2421 requires Kansas school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to prohibit students from using personal electronic devices (like phones or tablets) during school hours, with exceptions for students with individualized education plans (IEPs) or medical needs approved by a licensed healthcare provider. It also bans school staff from using social media platforms (e.g., Instagram, Snapchat) to communicate directly with students for school purposes, allowing only public, one-way communications. Schools must report the average screen time for kindergarten and grades 1-4 students during a typical school day, starting September 2026, using aggregate data without personally identifiable information. The law applies to in-person schools but excludes virtual schools and does not restrict school-issued devices like tablets.
SB 372, the App Store Accountability Act, requires app stores operating in Kansas to verify the age of users and obtain parental consent for minors (under 18) before they can download apps, purchase apps, or make in-app purchases. It directly affects app stores (like Apple App Store or Google Play), developers, parents, and minors in Kansas. Key provisions include mandatory age verification at account creation, requiring parental consent for minors' app activities, and notifying parents of "significant changes" to apps (like new ads or in-app purchases). The law enforces these rules through Kansas consumer protection laws and allows affected individuals to file private lawsuits for violations.
HB 2594 updates Kansas' blackmail law by removing the requirement that a threatened image must have been obtained illegally (violating privacy laws). The bill now makes it blackmail to threaten sharing any image of an identifiable person who is nude or engaged in sexual activity, including images altered by artificial intelligence. This change broadens the law to cover threats regardless of how the image was obtained, focusing solely on the act of threatening dissemination. The bill directly affects individuals making such threats and the people targeted by these threats.
HB 2342 authorizes the Kansas Secretary of Commerce to conduct national criminal background checks on final applicants and current employees in specific high-risk positions within the Department of Commerce. It defines "sensitive positions" as roles like division directors, IT managers, chief counsel, finance managers handling funds, or any position involving significant financial management, confidential data, or fraud risk. The bill requires that individuals in these roles have no misdemeanor convictions for theft, fraud, or financial crimes, or any felony convictions. This policy change updates existing background check procedures under K.S.A. 22-4714 to apply specifically to Commerce employees and applicants.
SB 204 requires Kansas courts to keep criminal and juvenile case records, warrants, and subpoenas confidential until warrants are executed or requests are denied. Law enforcement may still access these records for warrant execution, but public access is restricted otherwise. The law applies retroactively to all pending cases and mandates courts to make written "good cause" findings before sealing records, balancing privacy/safety concerns against public access to court proceedings. It directly affects defendants in criminal/juvenile cases, courts, and law enforcement by changing how sensitive case information is handled.
HB 2214, the SAVE Act, limits fees charged by non-governmental advocates helping veterans navigate benefits claims. It prohibits upfront or nonrefundable fees and caps compensation at five times the monthly benefit increase if a claim succeeds. The bill requires written agreements, mandates specific disclosures that the service isn't affiliated with the VA or free government programs, and bans guarantees of specific benefits. It also includes data privacy rules for advocates handling veterans' personal information, such as requiring criminal background checks for staff accessing medical or financial data. The law applies to individuals or businesses charging for veterans benefits assistance, excluding VA-accredited representatives.
SB 46, the Blind Information Access Act, requires the Kansas state library to provide on-demand digital information services (including books, news, and emergency alerts) via audio, text, and braille to residents who are blind, visually impaired, deafblind, or print-disabled. It mandates the state librarian to contract with a service provider and establish a dedicated funding stream by transferring annual amounts from the Kansas Universal Service Fund to a new "Blind Information Access Fund." The bill specifies that these services must cover Kansas publications, national content, and real-time emergency alerts, with funding secured through existing telecommunications user fees. This creates a permanent, state-funded mechanism for accessible information without new tax obligations.
SB 52 creates tax incentives to attract film, video, and digital media productions to Kansas. It provides an income tax credit and sales tax exemption for productions spending at least $50,000 in the state, requiring at least 10% of crew to be Kansas residents and excluding news, local ads, or non-commercial projects. The Secretary of Commerce administers the program, verifying eligibility and issuing annual reports to the legislature. This directly affects producers of eligible content like feature films, TV series, and video games meeting the spending and residency criteria.
