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.
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.
HB 2659 requires all election audits and recounts in Kansas to be conducted by hand-counting physical paper ballots, rather than using electronic systems. It directly affects Kansas election officials, voters, and candidates by mandating that paper ballots become the official record for audits and recounts, with hand counts overriding any electronic tallies if discrepancies arise. Key provisions include banning the use of ballot images or copies for audits, requiring voter-verified paper ballots for all elections after 2024, and prohibiting electronic poll books without handwritten signatures. The bill also specifies that audits must be performed publicly by bipartisan election boards, reviewing contested races as defined by election year type.
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SB 310 establishes a $200 annual limit on cryptocurrency contributions to Kansas candidates per election cycle. It requires all digital currency donations to be processed through U.S.-based payment systems that verify donor identities and report personal details (name, address, occupation) within 24 hours. The bill mandates that cryptocurrency contributions must be converted to U.S. dollars within three business days and deposited into campaign accounts, prohibiting campaigns from holding digital currency as assets. This applies to all candidates and committees receiving digital currency donations under Kansas election law.
SB 405 makes it illegal for developers to knowingly train artificial intelligence systems to: encourage suicide or violence, provide emotional support or act as a healthcare professional, simulate human relationships, or promote social isolation. The bill directly affects AI developers and companies creating systems that interact with users, excluding standard customer service chatbots, video game features, and basic voice assistants. Violators face civil lawsuits allowing victims to seek $150,000 in liquidated damages (or actual damages for emotional harm), attorney fees, or court-ordered injunctions to stop the AI's operation. It also permits courts to impose fines up to $50,000 per violation. The law focuses on preventing AI from engaging in harmful behaviors that mimic human interaction or exploit vulnerable users.
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 154 requires Kansas school districts to create policies banning students from using personal electronic devices (like phones or tablets) during school hours, except for special education plans, teacher-approved educational use, or health/emergency reasons. It also mandates that schools prohibit students from accessing social media platforms on school-owned computers or devices. The bill directs school boards to establish clear disciplinary consequences for violations and defines "social media" as platforms where users share content with others. These policies directly affect all K-12 students and school staff in Kansas public schools.
HB 2259 requires Kansas public school districts to adopt policies banning students' personal phones and tablets during instructional hours, with exceptions for special education plans, teacher-approved educational use, or health emergencies. It also mandates the state education board to create an annual social media awareness period, developing age-appropriate materials teaching students about social media risks (like misinformation and mental health impacts), safe usage (privacy, identifying predators), and benefits (career building, connecting with others). The policy directly affects all public school students and districts, as well as nonpublic schools through shared state materials. This bill implements concrete changes to school device policies and integrates social media education into curricula, without specifying enforcement details or outcomes.
HB 2186 requires Kansas school districts to adopt policies banning student use of personal electronic devices (like phones or tablets) during all school hours, including class time and passing periods, with limited exceptions for students with IEPs/504 plans, teacher-approved educational use, or health/emergency needs. It also mandates policies prohibiting students from accessing social media platforms on school-issued computers or devices. The bill directly affects all public school students and requires school boards to establish clear disciplinary consequences for violations. Key mechanisms include defining "privately owned devices" and "social media platforms" to ensure consistent implementation. The law takes effect upon publication in the statute book.
