Veterans

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2471: Designating a portion of I-35 as the deputy Sam Smith memorial highway and redesignating a current portion of the 35th infantry division memorial highway for I-35.

This bill (HB 2471) renames two sections of Kansas' Interstate 35 highway. It designates the I-35 segment from the northern junction with US Highway 59 to Eisenhower Road as the "Deputy Sam Smith Memorial Highway" and redirects the existing "35th Infantry Division Memorial Highway" designation to cover the I-35 route from the Kansas-Missouri border to the Kansas-Oklahoma border. The bill amends Kansas law to update the official highway names and requires the state transportation secretary to install appropriate signage. As a naming bill, it has no policy impact beyond changing official highway designations.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransHonors veterans via highway naming (Deputy Sam Smith & 35th Infantry Division), aligning with recognition indicator for support stance.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2566: Enacting the every body can move act to mandate the coverage and payment for prosthetic and orthotic devices in health insurance policies.

HB 2566, the "Every Body Can Move Act," mandates that all health insurance policies sold in Kansas must cover prosthetic and orthotic devices at the same level required by federal law (42 U.S.C. § 1395k et seq.). It directly affects insured individuals needing these devices and insurers offering health coverage in Kansas, requiring coverage for devices that meet medical needs for daily activities, physical functions (like running or swimming), and bathing. Key provisions include covering all necessary materials, user instruction, and replacements under specific conditions (e.g., physiological changes or repair costs exceeding 60% of replacement), while prohibiting denial of coverage based on disability. The law takes effect January 11, 2027, and ensures access to at least two in-network providers for these devices.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for prosthetic/orthotic devices, expanding access to essential medical equipment for daily activities and physical functions.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransMandates prosthetic/orthotic coverage for all insured, directly benefiting veterans needing such devices for healthcare access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Tags People with Disabilities

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signed · Kansas · House Apr 11, 2025

HB 2231: Providing an additional personal exemption for head of household tax filers and increasing the personal exemption for certain disabled veterans for purposes of income tax, modifying the definition of household income related to increased property tax homestead refund claims, providing for the apportionment of business income by the single sales factor and the apportionment of financial institution income by the receipts factor, providing for the apportionment pursuant to the three-factor test of a manufacturer who sells alcoholic liquor, requiring the use of single sales factor pursuant to the multistate tax compact, establishing deductions from income when using the single sales factor and receipts factor, providing for the decrease in corporate income tax rates, determining when sales other than tangible personal property are made in the state, excluding sales of a unitary business group of electric and natural gas public utilities, providing property tax exemptions for certain personal property including watercraft, marine equipment, off-road vehicles, motorized bicycles and certain trailers.

HB 2231 increases tax relief for specific Kansas taxpayers and modifies business tax rules. It adds a $2,320 personal exemption for heads of household filers (affecting individual taxpayers filing as head of household) and maintains a $2,250 exemption for disabled veterans certified at 100% disability by the VA. The bill also updates the definition of household income for property tax homestead refunds and changes how businesses calculate Kansas tax on out-of-state sales, requiring single sales factor apportionment for most businesses and receipts factor for financial institutions. These changes apply to tax years 2024 and later.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases tax relief via $2,320 personal exemption for heads of household and maintains disabled veteran exemptions, lowers corporate tax rates, aligning with support indicators for tax relief.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill maintains $2,250 personal exemption for disabled veterans certified at 100% VA disability, providing direct tax relief as a veteran benefit.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes

passed both · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2025

HB 2263: Designating a future interchange on K-10 highway as the Kris Norton memorial interchange, a portion of K-5 highway as the Rep Marvin S Robinson memorial highway, a portion of United States highway 160 as the CPL Monte Wayne Forrest memorial highway, a portion of United States highway 77 as the POW MIA memorial highway and bridge No. 82-14-6.88 (026) in Clay county as the POW MIA memorial bridge, and redesignating a current portion of the Harry Darby memorial highway for interstate highway 635.

HB 2263 is a procedural bill that designates specific highway segments and bridges for memorial naming. It renames a future K-10 highway interchange as the "Kris Norton memorial interchange," portions of K-5, US-160, and US-77 highways as "Rep Marvin S. Robinson memorial highway," "CPL Monte Wayne Forrest memorial highway," and "POW MIA memorial highway," respectively, and designates a bridge in Clay County as the "POW MIA memorial bridge." The bill also redesignates a portion of the "Harry Darby memorial highway" to align with Interstate 635. This legislation has no policy or funding implications - it solely modifies official names for commemorative purposes.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill designates POW MIA memorial highway/bridge and honors veterans (CPL Forrest, Rep Robinson) via highway naming, directly recognizing service per topic description.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition

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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

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signed · Kansas · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 2331: Creating the crime of aggravated criminal desecration and providing penalties therefor, authorizing the disposition of the unclaimed remains of deceased persons by district coroners and providing exemptions from liability for such actions, establishing requirements for programs of continuing education for licensed embalmers and funeral directors and authorizing the use of the word "crematory" as part of the business name for businesses owned by the same person who owns a licensed crematory.

HB 2331 allows Kansas district coroners to dispose of unclaimed cremated remains after a 3-year claim period (or longer if required by law) and a 30-day public notice in a local newspaper. If no family claims the remains within that timeframe, coroners may bury them in a cemetery, scatter garden, or transfer veteran remains to the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs. The bill also shields coroners from liability for such actions, except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct. This directly affects coroners' procedures for handling unclaimed remains and provides clarity on disposal options for counties.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly transfers unclaimed veteran remains to Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs, ensuring proper handling and recognition of veterans' service.90% confidence

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2213: Prohibiting certain conduct and improper collection of veterans benefits fees.

HB 2213 prohibits charging fees for helping veterans file or manage claims with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Department of Defense, or Kansas Office of Veterans Services. It bans both direct fees for assistance with veterans' benefit claims and referral fees to others who provide such help. Violators face penalties under Kansas consumer protection law and must follow attorney ethics rules like confidentiality and honesty. The law specifically allows standard attorney fee splits under existing Kansas rules but targets non-attorney fee-chargers exploiting veterans.

Topics ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransProhibits fees for veterans' benefit assistance, preventing exploitation and protecting access to VA/DoD benefits without financial barriers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Benefits Veteran Education

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2214: Enacting the safeguarding American veteran empowerment (SAVE) act to limit compensation for assisting in veterans benefits matters.

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.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates data privacy rules for advocates handling veterans' data, directly supporting data privacy protections within technology policy.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill regulates advocates to prevent excessive fees, requiring transparency and capping compensation to protect veterans from exploitation in benefits claims, aligning with safeguarding protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Data Privacy Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2036: Providing a Kansas income tax subtraction modification for certain amounts received as compensation for members of the armed forces.

HB 2036 modifies Kansas income tax law to allow residents who serve in the armed forces to exclude certain military compensation from their taxable income. Specifically, it adds a subtraction provision for amounts received as compensation for military service, directly affecting Kansas residents serving in the armed forces. The bill amends Kansas tax code to exclude this compensation when calculating "Kansas adjusted gross income," reducing the taxable income for qualifying military members. This change means eligible service members will pay less state income tax on their military pay, without altering federal tax treatment. The provision applies to compensation received for active duty, including pay for training or service-related duties.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates tax exclusion for military compensation, reducing taxable income for service members, providing targeted tax relief per Budget & Taxes indicators.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExcludes military compensation from Kansas taxable income, providing direct financial benefit to veterans through tax reduction.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 106: Permitting homeless veterans to use alternative forms of proof of identity and residency when applying for nondriver identification cards and eliminating fees for homeless veterans to obtain birth certificates for purposes of nondriver identification card applications.

SB 106 allows homeless veterans in Kansas to use alternative documents - such as shelter records or military IDs - to prove identity and residency when applying for nondriver identification cards. It also eliminates the fee for homeless veterans to obtain birth certificates, which are required to complete these applications. The bill directly affects homeless veterans seeking to establish or renew nondriver ID cards, removing two significant barriers to access. These changes amend Kansas statutes governing ID card requirements and birth certificate fees for this specific group.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill removes barriers (ID and fees) for homeless veterans to obtain identification required for housing access and assistance programs, directly addressing homelessness as a housing issue.80% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransRemoves barriers for homeless veterans to obtain ID cards by waiving fees and accepting alternative documents like military IDs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness Veteran Housing

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