# Kansas HB 2731: Substitute for HB 2731 by Committee on Welfare Reform -Requiring the department of health and environment in coordination with the Kansas department for aging and disability services to seek federal approval to establish continuous medicaid eligibility for certain individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities who are receiving services through a home and community based services waiver, requiring the secretary for children and families and the secretary of health and environment to enter into data-matching agreements with state agencies to verify eligibility for food and medical assistance, directing the department of health and environment to submit certain data to the centers for medicare and medicaid services, prohibiting certain public assistance program waivers or exemptions without legislative approval, prohibiting self-attestation for purposes of determining eligibility for public assistance programs, limiting retroactive enrollment in the medical assistance program, increasing the age limit for able-bodied adults without certain dependents and prohibiting certain exemptions from work requirements under the food assistance program. Kansas HB 2731, Substitute for HB 2731 by Committee on Welfare Reform -Requiring the department of health and environment in coordination with the Kansas department for aging and disability services to seek federal approval to establish continuous medicaid eligibility for certain individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities who are receiving services through a home and community based services waiver, requiring the secretary for children and families and the secretary of health and environment to enter into data-matching agreements with state agencies to verify eligibility for food and medical assistance, directing the department of health and environment to submit certain data to the centers for medicare and medicaid services, prohibiting certain public assistance program waivers or exemptions without legislative approval, prohibiting self-attestation for purposes of determining eligibility for public assistance programs, limiting retroactive enrollment in the medical assistance program, increasing the age limit for able-bodied adults without certain dependents and prohibiting certain exemptions from work requirements under the food assistance program., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Committee on Welfare Reform; status became law, last action 2026-04-10 (Motion to override veto prevailed; Yea 84, Nay 39, Absent 2); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KS-HB2731-2025-2026 - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Kansas HB 2731 - State: Kansas - Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session - Title: Substitute for HB 2731 by Committee on Welfare Reform -Requiring the department of health and environment in coordination with the Kansas department for aging and disability services to seek federal approval to establish continuous medicaid eligibility for certain individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities who are receiving services through a home and community based services waiver, requiring the secretary for children and families and the secretary of health and environment to enter into data-matching agreements with state agencies to verify eligibility for food and medical assistance, directing the department of health and environment to submit certain data to the centers for medicare and medicaid services, prohibiting certain public assistance program waivers or exemptions without legislative approval, prohibiting self-attestation for purposes of determining eligibility for public assistance programs, limiting retroactive enrollment in the medical assistance program, increasing the age limit for able-bodied adults without certain dependents and prohibiting certain exemptions from work requirements under the food assistance program. - Status: became law - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-02-05 - Last action: 2026-04-10, Motion to override veto prevailed; Yea 84, Nay 39, Absent 2 - Sponsor: Committee on Welfare Reform - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: senate committee on government efficiency, house committee on welfare reform - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 12 (686 yes, 286 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 19 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Medicaid coverage protections for disabled Kansans: benefit, high. Kansas must seek federal approval for continuous Medicaid eligibility for people with documented permanent intellectual or developmental disabilities. They must receive services through a home and community-based services waiver. Protections cannot start before federal approval; after approval, the… - Optional benefits-card photos provide voter identification: benefit, low. Kansas must add a recipient's photo to a benefits card when the recipient agrees. For a minor or incapacitated recipient, a parent or legal guardian can place their own photo on the card. A benefits card bearing a photo is valid public assistance identification for voting. - Cooperation failures can stop family benefits: cost, high. Failure to cooperate with cash-assistance work programs can stop an individual's food assistance for three months, six months, one year, or 10 years. That penalty does not automatically disqualify the whole household. Child-support noncooperation without good cause stops an individual's food assist… - Fraud findings can end adult cash benefits: cost, high. A qualifying fraud finding or theft conviction in cash assistance or childcare permanently disqualifies every adult in the household from cash assistance. A state-approved payee must manage affected children's cash or food benefits, and household adults cannot access the cash benefit. Refusing to c… - Grocery benefit limits for mixed-status families: cost, high. Food assistance is limited to U.S. citizens and noncitizens with qualifying status under federal agriculture rules. A noncitizen unable or unwilling to provide qualifying documents is excluded from the household size used to determine eligibility. That person's gross non-exempt income and assets st… - Three-month grocery benefit limit covers more adults: cost, high. Covered able-bodied adults ages 18–64 face a three-month food assistance limit within each 36-month period. It applies when their household has no dependent under 14. They must work at least 20 hours weekly or meet an approved work-program requirement to avoid the limit. Kansas bars agencies from s… - Work and income rules for childcare help: cost, high. For childcare subsidies outside cash assistance cases, included adults generally must work at least 20 hours weekly. Kansas also counts a live-in partner's income when deciding eligibility. Work exemptions cover documented incapacity, specified post-cash-assistance employment cases, and certain min… - Work rules put grocery benefits at risk: cost, high. Food assistance recipients without an exemption must register for work, join assigned job programs, and accept suitable job offers. They cannot voluntarily quit a job of at least 30 hours a week. Penalties last three months for a first violation, six months for a second, and one year for later viol… - Benefit checks track wages and winnings: cost, medium. Kansas agencies must match state records for people applying for or receiving food or medical assistance. Checks occur at least monthly for vital records, possible residency changes, corrections records, and lottery or gambling winnings of $3,000 or more. Employment and wage checks occur quarterly.… - Families transfer support rights to Kansas: cost, medium. Applying for or receiving cash, food, or childcare assistance automatically transfers covered past, current, and future support rights to Kansas. No separate signature is needed; the state can handle support payments, and the transfer lasts until fully ended. Applicants and recipients must cooperat… - Shorter backdated Medicaid coverage for applicants: cost, medium. For applications made on or after January 1, 2027, backdated Medicaid enrollment is limited to two months before the application month. Applicants may have to pay medical bills from earlier months, even for otherwise eligible care. - Stricter checks before families receive benefits: cost, medium. Kansas generally cannot accept unverified self-reports before enrollment in cash, food, medical, or childcare assistance, unless federal law requires acceptance. Covered facts include income, residency, age, household makeup, caretaker-relative status, and other coverage. Agencies cannot seek permi… - Kansas bars paid grocery benefit ads: cost, low. Kansas agencies cannot use state or federal money for television, radio, or billboard ads promoting food assistance or enrollment. They also cannot enter agreements with foreign governments to promote food assistance. These restrictions govern outreach spending, not benefit amounts or eligibility. - Lawmakers control benefit waivers and expansion: cost, low. Kansas cannot expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act without approval through a state law. Beginning July 1, 2026, agencies also need legislative approval for optional public assistance exemptions, geographic waivers, and work-rule waivers. These limits restrict agency authority rather than… - Medicaid checks target duplicate and deceased enrollment: cost, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, Kansas must send Medicaid enrollment data to federal officials monthly to identify and remove multistate enrollment. Address information must come from listed reliable sources or another federally approved source. Kansas must also check every enrollee against a death mast… - Drug convictions limit cash and groceries: mixed, high. A first qualifying felony drug conviction dated July 1, 2013, or later bars cash assistance for five years; later convictions permanently bar it. Covered crimes include making, growing, distributing, possessing, or using controlled substances or similar drugs. Qualifying felony drug offenses from J… - Drug tests put cash benefits at risk: mixed, high. Kansas can drug-test cash assistance applicants and recipients when reasonable suspicion of unlawful drug use exists. Positive tests require approved treatment and job-skills programs; failure to participate bars aid until both are completed. A recipient's second positive ends aid for 12 months or… - Medicaid asset limits and trust protections: mixed, high. Medicaid applicants must live in Kansas, meet citizenship or lawful-admission rules, and stay within state income and asset limits. Inheritances count as assets, and refusing an inheritance counts as an asset transfer. For eligibility decisions from July 1, 2004, certain restricted joint-ownership… - Student parents get limited childcare help: mixed, high. Parents pursuing a college degree or certificate can qualify for childcare help while working at least 15 paid hours weekly. Their occupation must have at least an average federal job outlook, unless the secretary approves a lower-outlook plan. A verified job offer available after completion also p… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Committee on Welfare Reform ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-23 | House | Yea: 28 Nay: 11 | pass | 28 | 11 | | | 2026-04-23 | House | Yea: 80 Nay: 43 | pass | 80 | 43 | | | 2026-04-23 | House | Yea: 85 Nay: 37 | pass | 85 | 37 | | | 2026-04-23 | House | Yea: 37 Nay: 3 | pass | 37 | 3 | | | 2026-04-23 | House | Yea: 29 Nay: 10 | pass | 29 | 10 | | | 2026-04-23 | House | Yea: 84 Nay: 39 | pass | 84 | 39 | | | 2026-04-10 | Senate | Motion to override veto prevailed | pass | 29 | 10 | | | 2026-04-10 | House | Motion to override veto prevailed | pass | 84 | 39 | | | 2026-03-27 | House | Conference Committee Report was adopted | pass | 80 | 43 | | | 2026-03-27 | Senate | Conference Committee Report was adopted | pass | 28 | 11 | | | 2026-03-19 | Senate | Final Action - Passed as amended | pass | 37 | 3 | | | 2026-02-19 | House | Final Action - Substitute passed | pass | 85 | 37 | | ## Actions (29) - 2026-04-10: Motion to override veto prevailed; Yea 84, Nay 39, Absent 2 (House) - 2026-04-10: Motion to override veto prevailed; Yea 29, Nay 10, Absent 1 (Senate) - 2026-04-09: Enrolled and presented to Governor on Monday, March 30, 2026 (House) - 2026-04-09: Engrossed on Saturday, March 28, 2026 (House) - 2026-04-09: Vetoed by Governor; Returned to House on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 (House) - 2026-03-27: Conference committee report now available (Senate) - 2026-03-27: Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 28, Nay 11, Absent 1 (Senate) - 2026-03-27: Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 80, Nay 43, Absent 2 (House) - 2026-03-25: Conference Committee Report agree to disagree adopted; Sen. Renee Erickson, Sen. Michael Murphy and Sen. Cindy Holscher appointed as second conferees (Senate) - 2026-03-25: Conference Committee Report agree to disagree adopted; Rep. Francis Awerkamp, Rep. Dale Helwig and Rep. Suzanne Wikle appointed as second conferees (House) - 2026-03-24: Motion to accede adopted; Sen. Renee Erickson, Sen. Michael Murphy and Sen. Cindy Holscher appointed as conferees (Senate) - 2026-03-24: Rep. Blake Carpenter and Rep. Suzanne Wikle are appointed to replace Rep. Francis Awerkamp and Rep. Jarrod Ousley on the Conference Committee (House) - 2026-03-24: Rep. Francis Awerkamp is appointed to replace Rep. Blake Carpenter on the Conference Committee (House) - 2026-03-23: Nonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Rep. Francis Awerkamp, Rep. Dale Helwig and Rep. Jarrod Ousley (House) - 2026-03-19: Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea 37, Nay 3 (Senate) - 2026-03-18: Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Sen. Adam Thomas (Senate) - 2026-03-18: Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Sen. Adam Thomas was adopted (Senate) - 2026-03-18: Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Committee Report recommending bill be passed by Senate Committee on Government Efficiency (Senate) - 2026-03-03: Hearing: Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 9:30 AM — Room 144-S (Senate) - 2026-02-25: Referred to Senate Committee on Government Efficiency (Senate) - 2026-02-24: Received and Introduced (Senate) - 2026-02-19: Final Action - Substitute passed; Yea 85, Nay 37, Absent 3 (House) - 2026-02-18: Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted recommending substitute bill be passed (House) - 2026-02-18: Committee of the Whole - Substitute bill be passed (House) - 2026-02-16: Committee Report recommending substitute bill be passed by House Committee on Welfare Reform (House) - 2026-02-10: Hearing: Tuesday, February 10, 2026, 1:30 PM — Room 152-S (House) - 2026-02-05: Introduced (House) - 2026-02-05: Referred to House Committee on Welfare Reform (House) ## Bill text - As Introduced: [PDF](https://www.kslegislature.gov/b2025_26/bills/download/?apn=b2025_26/year2/ready_for_publication/hb_2731/hb2731_00_0000.pdf) - Enrolled: [PDF](https://www.kslegislature.gov/b2025_26/bills/download/?apn=b2025_26/year2/ready_for_publication/hb_2731/hb2731_enrolled.pdf) - Sub: [PDF](https://www.kslegislature.gov/b2025_26/bills/download/?apn=b2025_26/year2/ready_for_publication/hb_2731/hb2731_01_0000.pdf) - {As Amended by Senate Committee of the Whole}: [PDF](https://www.kslegislature.gov/b2025_26/bills/download/?apn=b2025_26/year2/ready_for_publication/hb2731_02_0000.pdf) ## Related bills - SB 430: Adding mitragynine to schedule I of the uniform controlled substances act and reconciling multiple amendments to certain statutes in the Kansas criminal code. (signed) - SB 82: Providing tax credits for expenditures for lockable gun and ammunition storage and the retail sale of higher ethanol blends of fuel, discontinuing the tax cred… (signed) - SB 300: Providing for the apportionment of business income by manufacturers of alcoholic liquor depending on whether the taxpayer is a qualifying Kansas investor or a… (signed) - HB 2029: Reconciling multiple amendments to certain statutes. (signed) - HB 2018: Senate Substitute for HB 2018 by Committee on Federal and State Affairs - Creating the crime of interference with the conduct of a religious assembly, providin… (became law) - HB 2036: Providing a Kansas income tax subtraction modification for certain amounts received as compensation for members of the armed forces. (failed) ## Sources - [As Introduced (PDF)](https://www.kslegislature.gov/b2025_26/bills/download/?apn=b2025_26/year2/ready_for_publication/hb_2731/hb2731_00_0000.pdf) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://www.kslegislature.gov/b2025_26/bills/download/?apn=b2025_26/year2/ready_for_publication/hb_2731/hb2731_enrolled.pdf) - [Sub (PDF)](https://www.kslegislature.gov/b2025_26/bills/download/?apn=b2025_26/year2/ready_for_publication/hb_2731/hb2731_01_0000.pdf) - [{As Amended by Senate Committee of the Whole} (PDF)](https://www.kslegislature.gov/b2025_26/bills/download/?apn=b2025_26/year2/ready_for_publication/hb2731_02_0000.pdf) ## Related - [SB 430: Adding mitragynine to schedule I of the uniform controlled substances act and r…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KS-SB430-2025-2026) - [SB 82: Providing tax credits for expenditures for lockable gun and ammunition storage…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KS-SB82-2025-2026) - [SB 300: Providing for the apportionment of business income by manufacturers of alcoholi…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KS-SB300-2025-2026) - [HB 2029: Reconciling multiple amendments to certain statutes.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KS-HB2029-2025-2026) - [HB 2018: Senate Substitute for HB 2018 by Committee on Federal and State Affairs - Creat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KS-HB2018-2025-2026) - [HB 2036: Providing a Kansas income tax subtraction modification for certain amounts rece…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KS-HB2036-2025-2026) - [Kansas bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/kansas/bills) - [Kansas state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/kansas) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KS-HB2731-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-17).