All Roll Calls
Yes: 718 • No: 10
KansasHB 23472025–2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Changing the culpability required for certain types of theft and increasing the criminal penalty for theft to a felony when the property is a motor vehicle of the value of at least $500, creating the crime of unlawful use of a laser pointer and providing criminal penalties therefor, modifying criminal use of a financial card to include certain conduct involving gift cards, increasing the criminal penalties for buying sexual relations, removing provisions regarding city ordinances prohibiting buying sexual relations, requiring certain offenders to complete an educational or treatment program regarding commercial sexual exploitation and requiring the attorney general to approve such programs in consultation with the office of judicial administration.
Sponsored By: Committee on Judiciary
Signed by Governor
senate committee on judiciaryhouse committee on judiciary
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 5 costs, 2 mixed.
Sex buyers face felonies and higher fines
Buying sexual relations from someone age 18 or older is a severity level 9 person felony, including a first offense. Previously, a first offense was a class A person misdemeanor. Each conviction also requires a $2,000–$5,000 fine, raising the minimum from $1,200 while leaving the maximum unchanged. Half of collected fines goes to the Human Trafficking Victim Assistance Fund; the rest follows existing distribution rules.
Sex buyers face required exploitation programs
People convicted of buying sexual relations must enter and complete an education or treatment program about commercial sexual exploitation. Diversion agreements for this charge must also require completion of a suitable program. For convictions or diversion agreements on or after July 1, 2027, the program must have Attorney General approval. Diversion is barred after a prior diversion for an equivalent city offense that occurred before July 1, 2026. The law does not state program costs or who pays.
Courts face new exploitation program rules
The Kansas Attorney General must set commercial-sexual-exploitation program rules by January 1, 2027, consulting the Office of Judicial Administration. The Attorney General must approve at least one program by July 1, 2027. Courts may order suitable programs for human trafficking convictions before July 1, 2027; approval is required for convictions from that date. Approval is also required for programs ordered for convictions under K.S.A. 21-6422 on or after that date. Courts still decide whether to order programs for these convictions.
Laser misuse brings new criminal penalties
Knowingly aiming laser-pointer light at an officer performing official duties is a class A person misdemeanor. Knowingly aiming it at an aircraft in flight or its flight path is a severity level 9 person felony. Aircraft exceptions cover specified authorized research or flight tests, official Defense or Homeland Security activities, and emergency laser distress signals. These charges do not prevent additional assault or battery charges.
Theft rules widen liability and felonies
Theft involving control of stolen property or services now covers people who know or have reason to know they were stolen. The prior rule required knowledge; the intent to permanently deprive the owner remains required. Stealing a motor vehicle worth at least $500 but less than $1,500 is a severity level 10 nonperson felony.
Local sex-buying rules lose state requirements
The law removes special court reporting and state fine-transfer requirements tied to city offenses for buying sexual relations. It also removes the required fine and express authority to require exploitation programs in those city diversion agreements. The law removes express permission for cities and counties to ban the same conduct and set penalties. These changes do not establish that local governments lack other authority to regulate the conduct.
Gift card fraud faces criminal penalties
The law extends financial-card fraud protections to gift cards and their redemption information. With intent to defraud and obtain money, goods, property, or services, acquiring or keeping either without required consent is covered. Altering or tampering with gift cards with that intent is also covered. Based on value obtained within seven days, under $1,000 is a class A nonperson misdemeanor. A total of $1,000 to under $25,000 is a level 9 nonperson felony; $25,000 or more is level 7.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Committee on Judiciary
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/23/2026
Yea: 122 Nay: 1
Yes: 122 • No: 1
House vote • 4/23/2026
Yea: 39 Nay: 0
Yes: 39 • No: 0
House vote • 4/23/2026
Yea: 119 Nay: 4
Yes: 119 • No: 4
House vote • 4/23/2026
Yea: 39 Nay: 0
Yes: 39 • No: 0
House vote • 4/23/2026
Yea: 40 Nay: 0
Yes: 40 • No: 0
House vote • 1/28/2026
Conference Committee Report was adopted
Yes: 119 • No: 4
Senate vote • 1/27/2026
Conference Committee Report was adopted
Yes: 39 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/27/2025
Conference Committee Report was adopted
Yes: 40 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/12/2025
Final Action - Passed as amended
Yes: 39 • No: 0
House vote • 2/20/2025
Emergency Final Action - Passed as amended
Yes: 122 • No: 1
Actions Timeline
Law effective July 1, 2026
2/6/2026HouseApproved by Governor on Thursday, February 5, 2026
2/5/2026HouseEnrolled and presented to Governor on Monday, February 2, 2026
2/2/2026HouseReengrossed on Thursday, January 29, 2026
1/29/2026HouseConference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 119, Nay 4, Absent 2
1/28/2026HouseConference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 39, Nay 0, Absent 1
1/27/2026SenateConference committee report now available
1/26/2026SenateConference Committee Report not adopted; Rep. Susan Humphries, Rep. Laura Williams and Rep. Dan Osman appointed as second conferees
1/12/2026HouseMotion to accede adopted; Sen. Kellie Warren, Sen. Kenny Titus and Sen. Ethan Corson appointed as second conferees
1/12/2026SenateConference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 40, Nay 0
3/27/2025SenateConference committee report now available
3/27/2025SenateNonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Rep. Susan Humphries, Rep. Laura Williams and Rep. Dan Osman
3/17/2025HouseMotion to accede adopted; Sen. Kellie Warren, Sen. Kenny Titus and Sen. Ethan Corson appointed as conferees
3/17/2025SenateFinal Action - Passed as amended; Yea 39, Nay 0, Absent 1
3/12/2025SenateCommittee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
3/11/2025SenateCommittee of the Whole - Be passed as amended
3/11/2025SenateCommittee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Senate Committee on Judiciary
3/5/2025SenateHearing: Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 10:30 AM — Room 346-S
3/4/2025SenateReferred to Senate Committee on Judiciary
2/26/2025SenateEngrossed on Monday, February 24, 2025
2/26/2025HouseReceived and Introduced
2/25/2025SenateCommittee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
2/20/2025HouseCommittee of the Whole - Be passed as amended
2/20/2025HouseMotion to advance to Emergency Final Action adopted
2/20/2025HouseEmergency Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea 122, Nay 1, Absent 2
2/20/2025House
Bill Text
As Amended by House Committee on Judiciary
As Amended by Senate Committee on Judiciary
As Introduced
Enrolled
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