KansasHB 20292025–2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Reconciling multiple amendments to certain statutes.

Sponsored By: Adam Smith (Republican), Adam Turk (Republican), Allen Reavis (Republican), Angela Martinez (Democratic), Angela Stiens (Republican), Angelina Roeser (Republican), Avery Anderson (Republican), Barb Wasinger (Republican), Barbara Ballard (Democratic), Bill Rhiley (Republican), Bill Sutton (Republican), Blake Carpenter (Republican), Bob Lewis (Republican), Bradley Barrett (Republican), Brandon Woodard (Democratic), Brett Fairchild (Republican), Brian Bergkamp (Republican), Carl Turner (Republican), Carrie Barth, Charlotte Esau (Republican), Chip VanHouden (Republican), Chris Croft (Republican), Chuck Smith (Republican), Cindy Neighbor (Democratic), Clarke Sanders (Republican), Cyndi Howerton (Republican), Dale Helwig (Republican), Dan Goddard (Republican), Dan Osman (Democratic), Daniel Hawkins (Republican), David Buehler (Republican), Dawn Wolf (Republican), Doug Blex (Republican), Duane Droge (Republican), Emil Bergquist (Republican), Francis Awerkamp (Republican), Fred Gardner (Republican), Gary White (Republican), Heather Meyer (Democratic), Henry Helgerson (Democratic), Jason W. Goetz (Republican), Jerry Stogsdill (Democratic), Jesse Borjon (Republican), Jill Ward (Republican), Jim Minnix (Republican), Jo Ella Hoye (Democratic), Joe Seiwert (Republican), John Resman, KC Ohaebosim (Democratic), Ken Corbet (Republican), Ken Rahjes (Republican), Kenneth Collins (Republican), Kevin Schwertfeger (Republican), Kirk Haskins (Democratic), Kristey Williams (Republican), Kyle Hoffman (Republican), Kyle McNorton (Republican), Kyler Sweely (Republican), Lance W. Neelly (Republican), Laura Williams (Republican), Lauren Bohi (Republican), Leah Howell (Republican), Leo Delperdang (Republican), Lewis "Bill" Bloom (Republican), Lisa M. Moser (Republican), Lon Pishny (Republican), Mari-Lynn Poskin (Democratic), Mark Schreiber (Republican), Marty Long (Republican), Megan Steele (Republican), Melissa Oropeza (Democratic), Mike Amyx (Democratic), Mike King (Republican), Mike Thompson, Nathan Butler (Republican), Nick Hoheisel (Republican), Nikki McDonald (Democratic), Pam Curtis (Democratic), Pat Proctor (Republican), Patrick Penn, Paul Waggoner (Republican), Rebecca Schmoe (Republican), Rick James (Republican), Rick Wilborn (Republican), Robyn R. Essex (Republican), Ron Bryce (Republican), Ronald Ellis (Republican), Rui Xu (Democratic), Sandy Pickert (Republican), Scott Hill, Sean Tarwater (Republican), Sean Willcott (Republican), Shannon Francis (Republican), Shawn Chauncey (Republican), Sherri Brantley (Republican), Silas Miller, Stephanie Sawyer Clayton (Democratic), Steve Huebert (Republican), Steven K. Howe (Republican), Susan Estes (Republican), Susan Humphries (Republican), Sydney Carlin (Democratic), Timothy Johnson (Republican), Tobias Schlingensiepen (Democratic), Tom Kessler (Republican), Tom Sawyer (Democratic), Troy Waymaster (Republican), Virgil Weigel (Democratic), Webster T. Roth (Republican), Will Carpenter (Republican)

Signed by Governor

senate committee on transportationhouse committee on transportation

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

14 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 5 costs, 3 mixed.

More licensing flexibility for foster families

Kansas must let an otherwise qualified foster home keep its license despite a resident's disqualifying offense when these conditions apply. The state placed the resident there while in state custody, and the resident is under 26. The resident must live there or have been adopted by someone living there. The state may also grant or maintain a license when the resident otherwise qualifies but is over 26 or has a later conviction or adjudication after leaving custody. That option requires a finding of no safety concerns.

Career credentials count toward technical degrees

Kansas postsecondary schools must adopt policies counting qualifying career-readiness credentials as transferable credit toward technical degrees. Qualifying credentials include platinum, gold, or silver ACT WorkKeys credentials and similar awards from similar assessments. Credit must follow recommendations in the American Council on Education National Guide. The law does not set a credit total or dollar savings.

Exchange students can skip enrollment lotteries

Kansas districts may enroll foreign exchange students as residents of the district where their host family lives. This includes students who will move in with a host family. Students admitted this way do not enter the open-seat lottery. The district still decides whether to allow enrollment.

Parents get protection for children's independence

Parents and guardians do not endanger a child solely by allowing, or not stopping, independent activities covered by Kansas law. This protection does not apply when they knowingly or recklessly ignore an obvious danger. The child's age, maturity, and physical or mental abilities matter when assessing that danger.

Nursing students get faster transcript access

Kansas-approved professional and practical nursing schools must release transcripts electronically within five business days after receiving a request. This deadline covers current and former students who need transcripts for licensure or testing.

Courts must consider monitoring domestic abusers

Magistrates must consider electronic monitoring with victim alerts before releasing people charged with covered offenses. These include domestic violence, domestic battery, aggravated domestic battery, stalking, and violating a protective order. The law requires consideration, not monitoring in every case.

Drivers face possible extra reinstatement charges

From July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030, the Kansas Supreme Court may add a traffic-citation reinstatement charge. The extra charge cannot exceed $22 per reinstatement fee. It funds nonjudicial personnel costs and is not automatically required by the law.

More health professionals need liability insurance

Beginning January 1, 2028, advanced practice registered nurses must meet professional liability insurance requirements. The same rule covers optometrists credentialed for specified procedures. These include chalazion incision and curettage, skin-lesion removal and biopsy, laser capsulotomy, and laser trabeculoplasty. For both groups, the requirement does not apply when the initial healthcare stabilization fund participation surcharge exceeds 15%. The law does not state premium costs.

Harsher sentences for transnational repression crimes

Sentences increase when intent to commit transnational repression is proven beyond a reasonable doubt for an offense, attempt, or conspiracy. Crimes at severity levels 2 through 10 receive a sentence one level higher. Level 1 crimes carry life imprisonment with no parole eligibility before 25 years. A longer minimum applies when criminal history makes prison presumptive and the sentencing range exceeds 300 months. In those cases, the mandatory minimum equals the sentencing-range sentence.

Tougher felony sentences for covered offenders

Offenders with criminal-history scores A through E face presumptive prison for felonies committed during custody or supervision for prior nondrug felonies. Covered supervision includes probation, community corrections, suspended sentences, parole, and postrelease supervision. For offenses during that supervision, the new prison term must follow imprisonment in the prior case. A nonperson felony sentence rises one severity level if the firearm used had a sound suppressor or was a shotgun with a forend and barrel shorter than 18 inches. That weapon feature must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt; the enhancement is not a departure and cannot be appealed.

Education board members must remain local

School board candidates must be qualified voters living in the applicable member or at-large district when nominated or elected. Members must keep both qualifications throughout their terms, including when appointed. Community college trustee candidates and appointees must meet the same voter and district-residency requirements at nomination, election, or appointment. Losing either qualification creates an immediate vacancy in the candidacy or office.

More criminal records shared for screening

Beginning January 1, 2027, Kansas investigators must share adult conviction and non-conviction records with specified appointing authorities for covered appointees. Those authorities may use the records only for purposes allowed by Kansas law. The State Board of Healing Arts also receives these records for covered applicants and licensees. Those records must relate to the covered application or investigation.

Nursing schools face standards with limits

The Kansas nursing board must set rules for judging whether out-of-state nursing schools meet Kansas approval standards for licensing applicants. Faculty at approved Kansas nursing schools must hold a nursing degree at least one level above the degree their program awards. Their degree must come from a state- or nationally accredited school approved by the board. The board may exempt schools facing hiring hardship and cannot require additional or more advanced faculty credentials.

Student support plans tie aid to progress

Beginning in school year 2026–2027, every Kansas district must set four-year improvement goals for at-risk student groups. Plans must include at least one fourth-grade group and one kindergarten-through-eighth-grade group, with at least 11 students each. Districts unable to form qualifying groups must consult the state; plans require two to four approved supports, progress reviews, and spending reports. The process continues until 75% of students meet proficiency in both English language arts and math. Beginning in 2030–2031, missing a four-year goal and an extra evaluation year changes at-risk and high-density at-risk aid calculations. If one group fails, the calculation uses final-evaluation-year base aid plus half its difference from current base aid; if both fail, it uses prior base aid.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 616 • No: 4

House vote • 4/23/2026

Yea: 111 Nay: 0

Yes: 111 • No: 0

House vote • 4/23/2026

Yea: 121 Nay: 0

Yes: 121 • No: 0

House vote • 4/23/2026

Yea: 39 Nay: 0

Yes: 39 • No: 0

House vote • 4/23/2026

Yea: 37 Nay: 2

Yes: 37 • No: 2

House vote • 4/10/2026

Conference Committee Report was adopted

Yes: 121 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/10/2026

Conference Committee Report was adopted

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/12/2025

Final Action - Passed as amended

Yes: 37 • No: 2

House vote • 2/7/2025

Emergency Final Action - Passed as amended

Yes: 111 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

Approved by Governor on Monday, April 27, 2026
4/27/2026House
Conference committee report now available
4/10/2026Senate
Motion to suspend Joint Rule 4 (k) to allow consideration adopted
4/10/2026Senate
Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 39, Nay 0, Absent 1
4/10/2026Senate
Motion to suspend Joint Rule 4 (k) to allow consideration adopted
4/10/2026House
Motion to suspend rule 1502 adopted
4/10/2026House
Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 121, Nay 0, Absent 4
4/10/2026House
Enrolled and presented to Governor on Friday, April 17, 2026
4/10/2026House
Rep. Troy Waymaster, Rep. Kristey Williams, and Rep. Barbara Ballard are appointed to replace Rep. Shannon Francis, Rep. Robyn R. Essex, and Rep. Henry Helgerson on the Conference Committee
4/9/2026House
Sen. Rick Billinger and Sen. Pat Pettey are appointed to replace Sen. Mike Petersen and Sen. Ethan Corson on the Conference Committee
3/5/2026Senate
Motion to accede adopted; Sen. Mike Petersen, Sen. Rick Kloos and Sen. Ethan Corson appointed as conferees
3/17/2025Senate
Nonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Rep. Shannon Francis, Rep. Robyn R. Essex and Rep. Henry Helgerson
3/14/2025House
Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea 37, Nay 2, Absent 1
3/12/2025Senate
Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
3/11/2025Senate
Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended
3/11/2025Senate
Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Senate Committee on Transportation
3/4/2025Senate
Hearing: Thursday, February 27, 2025, 8:30 AM — Room 546-S
2/27/2025Senate
Referred to Senate Committee on Transportation
2/11/2025Senate
Engrossed on Friday, February 7, 2025
2/10/2025House
Received and Introduced
2/10/2025Senate
Committee of the Whole - Passed over and retain a place on the calendar
2/7/2025House
Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
2/7/2025House
Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Rep. Ford Carr
2/7/2025House
Rep. Nick Hoheisel raised a question of germaneness. The amendment was ruled not germane
2/7/2025House
Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended
2/7/2025House

Bill Text

As Amended by House Committee
PDF
As Amended by Senate Committee on Transportation
PDF
As Introduced
PDF
Enrolled
PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation

Reconciling multiple amendments to certain statutes.

How does this bill affect your finances?

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

Medium Impact

More licensing flexibility for foster families

Career credentials count toward technical degrees

Exchange students can skip enrollment lotteries

Low Impact

Parents get protection for children's independence

Nursing students get faster transcript access

Courts must consider monitoring domestic abusers

Drivers face possible extra reinstatement charges

More health professionals need liability insurance

Harsher sentences for transnational repression crimes

Tougher felony sentences for covered offenders

Education board members must remain local

More criminal records shared for screening

Nursing schools face standards with limits

Student support plans tie aid to progress

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

Cosponsors

Roll Call Votes

Actions Timeline

Bill Text

Related Bills