Sen. Tim Shallenburger

Maddy summarySB 351 requires all Kansas correctional facilities and jails to allow inmates and prisoners to make telephone calls at no cost to them. The bill amends Kansas statutes (12-4213, 19-1919, and 75-5210) to explicitly prohibit charging inmates for calls or forcing them to use collect accounts or prepaid services. It directly affects individuals incarcerated in Kansas state prisons, county jails, and municipal holding facilities. The key provision mandates free access to phone calls while allowing facilities to set reasonable limits on call duration and frequency. This policy change applies to all inmates in Kansas custody under state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to limit how much the assessed value of residential real property and mobile homes can increase each year in Kansas. The amendment would cap annual increases for these property types at 1.5% of their value, starting from January 1, 2027. This change directly affects homeowners and mobile home owners by restricting how their property tax bases can grow over time. The bill requires a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers and would be submitted to voters for approval before taking effect.

Maddy summarySB 302 requires Kansas public and nonpublic K-12 schools to ban student use of personal electronic devices (like phones, tablets, or smartwatches) during instructional time, with exceptions for students with individualized education plans (IEPs) or medical needs approved by a physician. It also prohibits school staff from using social media platforms (such as Instagram or TikTok) to directly message students for official school business, allowing only public, one-way communications on approved platforms. Schools must adopt written policies by 2026 and certify compliance by September 1, 2026, covering enforcement procedures and student device storage requirements. The law applies to all on-campus instructional time but excludes virtual schools.

Maddy summarySB 362 requires Kansas state officers - including the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, and insurance commissioner - to maintain detailed records of all state-paid or reimbursed travel locations and expenses for each fiscal year. These records must be made available to the public upon request, overriding any existing laws that might restrict disclosure of such information. The bill directly affects state officers' offices by mandating transparent record-keeping and public access to travel spending data. It focuses on concrete policy changes: standardized documentation and immediate public access, without altering travel policies or budgets.

Maddy summarySB 304, the "Born to Invest Act," requires Kansas' Office of Vital Statistics to share specific birth records (child's name, parent/guardian address, birth date) for children born on or after January 1, 2025, with the State Treasurer. This data enables the Treasurer to send informational materials about three federal savings programs: 529 college savings plans, ABLE accounts for disabilities, and "Trump accounts" (a reference to a specific federal savings program). The bill mandates that data be transmitted securely to the Treasurer within 90 days of a birth certificate issuance (or by September 1, 2026, for children born before July 1, 2026) and directs the Treasurer to distribute materials via mail and online resources. The policy aims to proactively inform families about available savings options for children, without creating new accounts or changing eligibility.

Maddy summarySB 12 requires every member of a city's governing body (like a city council) whose district includes land to be acquired for a recreational project to vote in favor of using eminent domain. This applies specifically to land taken for parks, nature areas, libraries, entertainment venues, or other public recreational facilities. The bill changes existing law to prevent cities from unilaterally approving such land acquisitions without unanimous approval from all affected district representatives. It does not apply to non-recreational projects or to county-level eminent domain decisions.

Maddy summarySB 40 requires elected officials in Kansas to close their campaign finance accounts within 90 days after the next election where they are not re-elected or choose not to run again. This applies to all state and local officeholders who do not seek re-election or lose their bid. The bill mandates that campaign treasurers handle any leftover funds according to existing state law and file a formal termination report. It does not change campaign contribution rules but ensures unused campaign funds are properly disbursed and reported.