All Roll Calls
Yes: 319 • No: 0
KansasHB 26012025–2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Establishing a registry for child abuse and neglect to be maintained by the secretary for children and families, providing for registration and expungement processes that include administrative hearings and opportunities for subsequent appeals, requiring reports of abuse or neglect to include information regarding a custody dispute concerning the child who is the subject of the report and directing the secretary to submit a report to the legislature on such information.
Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable
Signed by Governor
judiciarychild welfare and foster care
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 4 mixed.
Registry bars child care jobs
If you are listed on the registry and did not finish an approved corrective plan, or your record is not expunged, you cannot run, work at, or volunteer at a child care or day care. You must have had a chance to be interviewed, get notice of the decision, and appeal under the Kansas Judicial Review Act. These due-process steps must occur before you are barred.
Child abuse registry with hearings and expungement
The law creates a child abuse and neglect registry run by the Secretary for Children and Families. Agencies use it for placement and licensing checks. Before a name goes on the list, the person gets notice and a hearing before an independent officer. The officer must find clear and convincing evidence, and the person can appeal to district court within 30 days. Courts must order listing after a conviction for a crime against a child or a judicial finding of abuse or neglect. You can ask for removal after three years; the Secretary also reviews records after 20 years. Registry records are confidential with narrow exceptions in law. Starting July 1, 2027, old rules are void and the Secretary adopts new rules to run this system.
Registry checks for adoption and custody
Before recommending a SOUL legal permanency custodian, the Secretary must visit the home, check the Kansas registry, and review certain criminal convictions. The Secretary includes these findings in the court report. Adoption assessors must also check the petitioner against the Kansas registry (and other states when needed) and put results in the court report. The adoption assessment must be done within one year before filing. If no assessor is available, the court can direct the Department for Children and Families to do it.
Custody dispute info and annual report
Every child abuse or neglect report must state any known custody dispute and include details about that dispute. By January 11, 2027, and then each year on the first day of session, the Secretary must report to the Legislature on reports that noted a custody dispute. The report lists how many were anonymous, investigated, led to a family needs assessment, were substantiated or not, and led to out-of-home placements.
New duties for reporters and prosecutors
People who report suspected child abuse or neglect must share relevant protected health information and fully cooperate with the investigation and court process. When a county or district attorney files a petition for a child-related crime or abuse/neglect, the attorney must send case details to the Secretary for Children and Families. This helps the department investigate and consider registry placement.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
There is no primary sponsor on record.
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/23/2026
Yea: 124 Nay: 0
Yes: 124 • No: 0
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 • 4/23/2026
Yea: 116 Nay: 0
Yes: 116 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Reengrossed on Wednesday, April 1, 2026
4/9/2026HouseEnrolled and presented to Governor on Friday, April 3, 2026
4/9/2026HouseApproved by Governor on Thursday, April 9, 2026
4/9/2026HouseConference Committee Report was adopted; Yea: 124 Nay: 0
3/27/2026HouseConference committee report now available
3/26/2026SenateConference Committee Report was adopted; Yea: 39 Nay: 0
3/26/2026SenateConference committee report now available
3/26/2026HouseConference committee report now available
3/26/2026SenateNonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Representative Howerton , Representative Johnson and Representative Ousley as conferees
3/23/2026HouseFinal Action - Passed as amended; Yea: 40 Nay: 0
3/19/2026SenateCommittee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
3/18/2026SenateCommittee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Senator Warren
3/18/2026SenateCommittee of the Whole - Amendment by Senator Warren was adopted
3/18/2026SenateCommittee of the Whole - Be passed as further amended
3/18/2026SenateCommittee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Committee on Judiciary
3/16/2026SenateHearing: Thursday, March 12, 2026, 10:30 AM Room 346-S
3/12/2026SenateReferred to Committee on Judiciary
2/26/2026SenateReceived and Introduced
2/25/2026SenateCommittee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
2/19/2026HouseCommittee of the Whole - Be passed as amended
2/19/2026HouseEmergency Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea: 116 Nay: 0
2/19/2026HouseCommittee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Committee on Child Welfare and Foster Care
2/18/2026HouseHearing continuation: Monday, February 16, 2026, 1:30 PM Room 152-S
2/16/2026HouseHearing: Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 1:30 PM Room 152-S
2/11/2026HouseIntroduced
1/29/2026House
Bill Text
As Amended by House Committee
As Amended by Senate Committee
As Amended by Senate Committee of the Whole
As introduced
Enrolled
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