All Roll Calls
Yes: 406 • No: 0
KansasSB 4082025–2026 Regular SessionSenate
Excluding a child engaging in age-appropriate independent activities from the definition of a child in need of care in the revised Kansas code for care of children, requiring the secretary for children and families to enter into a memorandum of understanding with military organizations and create a referral process for children in need of care cases involving children of military personnel to provide families with services that a military family advocacy program offers, authorizing a challenge to a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity as soon as practicable after discovery of fraud, duress or mistake of fact and specifying that certain genetic testing results shall constitute a change of circumstances that warrants a court finding of material mistake of fact.
Sponsored By: Committee on Judiciary
Signed by Governor
house committee on judiciarysenate committee on judiciary
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
More freedom for kids’ independent activities
Kansas excludes children under 18 from being considered in need of care solely for parent-approved, age-appropriate independent activities. Activities must fit the child’s age, maturity, and mental abilities. Lack of supervision cannot amount to gross negligence that endangers the child’s health or safety. Examples include traveling to school, playing outside, or staying home for a reasonable time. Children may also remain briefly in a vehicle that is not dangerously hot or cold. Parents and guardians also do not endanger children solely by allowing covered activities. That protection does not cover knowingly or recklessly ignoring obvious danger, considering the child’s age, maturity, and physical or mental abilities.
Paternity challenges expand with support limits
Kansas must review paternity acknowledgment forms and update them as needed to explain rights, responsibilities, and challenge rules. A signer may revoke an acknowledgment within 60 days after completion or before a qualifying proceeding, whichever comes first. The proceeding must concern the child, and the signer must be a party. Someone who signed before age 18 may challenge until age 19. Later challenges must allege fraud, duress, or a material mistake of fact and be filed as soon as practicable after discovery. Genetic tests with a verifiable chain of custody establish changed circumstances warranting a finding of material mistake when they exclude the signer or identify another man as the father, subject to rebuttal. The challenger bears the burden of proof, and the court must first consider the child’s best interests. Support duties generally continue during the case, and the challenge amendments apply retroactively. After revocation, courts may award actual damages with a written finding that exceptional circumstances justify them. Child support paid before the revocation order cannot be recovered.
Military families get child-welfare service referrals
When practicable, Kansas child-welfare staff must check a parent’s or guardian’s military status during preliminary inquiries. When the Department for Children and Families investigates a child with a military parent or guardian, it must refer the family for military family advocacy services. The department must make agreements with Fort Riley, Fort Leavenworth including Munson Army Health Center, McConnell Air Force Base, and the Kansas National Guard. These agreements must cover identification, service referrals, notifications about prosecutor referrals, and confidentiality under state and federal law. The department keeps its authority to take needed protective action.
Secure placement for children has safeguards
Courts may order children to remain in placement if they are unlikely to be available for future court proceedings. This applies only after a child-in-need-of-care finding under K.S.A. 38-2202(d)(1)(F), (G), (H), (I), (J), or (L). The child and the child’s court-appointed legal representative must attend when that order is entered and receive oral and written notice of the consequences. Taking custody for an alleged violation without good cause requires probable cause. Preliminary and evidentiary hearings must occur within 24 and 72 hours after custody, respectively. After a finding or admission of a violation, secure placement is allowed only when other options are exhausted or inappropriate. It may last up to 60 days, with two extensions of up to 60 days each. This section does not authorize placement in an adult jail or lockup. The Department for Children and Families may pay for secure placement and services only after receiving a valid court order authorizing secure care. This payment rule does not require families to pay.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Committee on Judiciary
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/23/2026
Yea: 39 Nay: 0
Yes: 39 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/23/2026
Yea: 124 Nay: 0
Yes: 124 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/23/2026
Yea: 40 Nay: 0
Yes: 40 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/26/2026
Concurred with amendments in conference
Yes: 39 • No: 0
House vote • 3/18/2026
Emergency Final Action - Passed as amended
Yes: 124 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/18/2026
Final Action - Passed
Yes: 40 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Enrolled and presented to Governor on Friday, April 3, 2026
4/9/2026SenateApproved by Governor on Thursday, April 9, 2026
4/9/2026SenateConcurred with amendments in conference; Yea 39, Nay 0, Absent 1
3/26/2026SenateNonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Sen. Kellie Warren, Sen. Kenny Titus and Sen. Ethan Corson
3/23/2026SenateMotion to accede adopted; Rep. Susan Humphries, Rep. Laura Williams and Rep. Dan Osman appointed as conferees
3/23/2026HouseCommittee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
3/18/2026HouseCommittee of the Whole - Be passed as amended
3/18/2026HouseMotion to advance to Emergency Final Action adopted
3/18/2026HouseEmergency Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea 124, Nay 0, Absent 1
3/18/2026HouseCommittee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by House Committee on Judiciary
3/17/2026HouseHearing: Monday, March 2, 2026, 3:30 PM — Room 582-N
3/2/2026HouseFinal Action - Passed; Yea 40, Nay 0
2/18/2026SenateReceived and Introduced
2/18/2026HouseReferred to House Committee on Judiciary
2/18/2026HouseCommittee of the Whole - Be passed
2/17/2026SenateCommittee Report recommending bill be passed by Senate Committee on Judiciary
2/12/2026SenateHearing: Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 10:30 AM — Room 346-S
2/11/2026SenateReferred to Senate Committee on Judiciary
1/29/2026SenateIntroduced
1/28/2026Senate
Bill Text
As Amended by House Committee on Judiciary
As Introduced
Enrolled
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