Sen. Cindy Holscher

Maddy summarySB 469 requires all Kansas law enforcement agencies to adopt and publicly post written policies by July 1, 2026, governing when officers may wear facial coverings that conceal their identity during duty. The law prohibits officers from wearing such coverings during routine activities (except in specific, limited circumstances like authorized undercover work, tactical safety needs, or medical use), and mandates that policies must prioritize transparency and public trust. Violations carry a class A misdemeanor penalty, and officers violating the law lose immunity from civil lawsuits, facing liability for damages (minimum $10,000) if they commit misconduct while concealing their identity. The bill directly affects all Kansas law enforcement officers and agencies, including federal officers operating within the state, and defines "facial covering" to exclude clear shields, medical masks, and safety gear.

Maddy summarySB 467 requires health insurers and utilization review organizations using artificial intelligence (AI) for medical necessity decisions to ensure those tools base determinations on individual patient data (medical history, clinical circumstances) rather than group datasets. Crucially, the bill mandates that *only* licensed physicians or healthcare professionals - never AI systems - can make final decisions about whether medical care is necessary. Insurers must also create and disclose written policies explaining their review processes and ensure AI tools do not deny, delay, or modify care based on medical necessity. This directly affects insurers using AI for utilization review and healthcare providers seeking authorization for patient treatments.

Maddy summarySB 468 repeals a Kansas law (K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 12-16,222) that prohibited cities and counties from creating guaranteed income programs. This bill directly affects Kansas municipalities by removing a legal barrier to launching local programs that provide regular, unconditional cash payments to residents. The key mechanism is the repeal of the specific statute, allowing cities and counties to establish such programs without legal restriction. The change takes effect upon publication in the official statute book.

Maddy summarySB 484 reclassifies marijuana and tetrahydrocannabinols (THC) from Schedule I to Schedule III under Kansas' Uniform Controlled Substances Act. This change directly affects Kansas residents who possess marijuana, altering the legal penalties for possession. Under the bill, simple possession would become a Class B nonperson misdemeanor (previously a felony for some cases), with penalties escalating based on prior convictions. The bill amends Kansas statutes K.S.A. 21-5706 and 65-4105 to reflect this reclassification and adjust corresponding penalties.

Maddy summarySB 486 creates a new legal right for individuals harmed by government officials (like police or jailers) who violate their constitutional or federal rights. It allows victims to sue for damages if they were threatened, harmed physically, had property damaged, or suffered emotional distress due to the official's actions. The law explicitly blocks common defenses like "I thought it was legal" or "I didn’t know the law," and permits punitive damages if the violation was motivated by bias against race, gender, religion, or other protected traits. The Kansas Attorney General can also sue on behalf of victims to seek compensation and legal remedies.

Maddy summarySB 483 requires Kansas legislators in leadership positions (such as Senate President or House Speaker) and their spouses to publicly disclose all salaries paid by public funds. This includes the position title, the public entity paying the salary, and the annual amount, which must be published on the legislative website and included in their "statements of substantial interest." The bill updates existing ethics rules to mandate this disclosure annually by January 15, with audits focusing on leadership members' accuracy. It does not apply to all legislators, only those in defined leadership roles and their spouses.

Maddy summarySB 485 requires landlords to count all lawful income (including government assistance, gifts, or pensions) when screening tenants, not just wages. It automatically seals eviction court records after filing and expunges them from public records after two years if the judgment is paid, with exceptions for ongoing cases or safety concerns. The bill also mandates mediation in eviction cases unless a court determines it wouldn’t help, and violations are treated as deceptive practices under Kansas consumer law. These changes directly affect tenants applying for housing and landlords managing rental agreements under Kansas’ Residential Landlord Tenant Act.

Maddy summarySB 471 would raise Kansas' minimum wage to $16 per hour for workers already covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), such as most hourly employees in retail, hospitality, and service industries. It amends Kansas law to set this new $16 hourly rate as the minimum for employers and employees subject to federal wage rules, replacing the current $7.25 rate. The bill specifically targets workers who fall under federal FLSA protections, ensuring Kansas' minimum wage aligns with and exceeds the federal standard for these employees. It repeals the existing state minimum wage provisions and takes effect upon publication in the statute book.