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Category Archives: Kansas
KS Bill Expands Opportunities For Rural Attorneys
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Legislative Update by KS Senator Caryn Tyson
April 3, 2026
2026 Session There were 237 bills introduced in the Senate and 507 in the House. Most of the bills didn’t get a hearing because there just wasn’t time. Since this session was compressed, even more than previous years, it was intense. Over 150 bills were sent to the Governor in the last week of session. So far, thirty-four of those were signed into law, three vetoed, and one became law without the Governor’s signature.
Nursing Instructors will only be required to have one degree higher than the students they are teaching. “Additional or more advanced credentials for faculty shall not be required by the board.” There is a shortage of healthcare providers, but how will lowering the requirements to be a teacher help? SB 344 passed 38 to 2. I voted no. The Governor let it become law without her signature.
Vetoed Bills so far this year include SB 244, requiring multi use showers, bathrooms, and other such facilities in public buildings be designated for use by only one sex; SB 368, enacting income tax deductions for participants of health care ministries; and HB 2635, an act to protect the ability of private pregnancy centers to provide life-affirming care. All three vetoes were overridden to become law. I voted for each override.
Moving or Disposing of Human Remains with the intent to conceal a death or crime is now explicitly a criminal offense as HB 2331 was signed into law. The original bill addressed unclaimed remains, allowing coroners to authorize burial after three years. I was able to offer an amendment on the Senate floor to also make it a crime to move or dispose of a body with the intent to conceal a death or crime. After Senators learned of the tragedy in Linn County, they unanimously supported adding this provision. The bill then went to conference committee, and following negotiations, it passed both chambers before being signed into law.
Vehicle Tags purchased at the County Treasurers office can be cumbersome and time-consuming in some counties. Most Treasurers have said they do not receive enough of this money to cover their costs, although there are billions collected that goes to fund other aspects of local government. CCR 325 creates a temporary group tasked with studying problems and recommending an updatedsystem. The task force report will be due January 2028. Meantime, a fee that is normally $5, will be allowed for the locals to increase to $10 for the next three years, until a new system can be implemented. These funds must be used only for vehicle-related staffing, equipment, and operations. County treasurers will also report back to the legislature on the increase in fees and how the money is being used. It passed the Senate 33 to 7. I voted yes as this has been a major issue in some counties and the process could be simplified for all Kansans. CCR 325 was sent to the Governor.
Chief’s Stadium in Kansas continues to move forward. There doesn’t appear to be any way to stop it. Especially after CCR 2466 establishes the Kansas Sports Facilities Authority, an 11-member board to oversee the development and operation of the new stadium for the Kansas City Chiefs. Most of the members are appointed by the Governor, Senate President, Speaker, Majority and Minority leaders. It doesn’t give me comfort that the appointees may not have experience in building a multi-billion-dollar facility. I didn’t vote for the STAR bond bill in 2024 that started this effort and I did not vote to continue it. If these STAR bonds projects were so helpful, why does Wyandotte have some of the highest property taxes? Maybe because these developments usually do not pay property taxes and sales tax goes to pay off the bonds for the project – can you say NASCAR? It will be the same for the Chiefs stadium.
All legislation can be found at www.KSLegislature.gov.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Caryn
Skilled Nursing Workforce Shortage Bill Becomes Law
Governor Kelly Allows Senate Bill 334 to Become Law Without Signature
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly has allowed Senate Bill 334 to become law without her signature.
The following statement is from Governor Kelly regarding Senate Bill 334:
“I understand the urgent need to address the workforce shortage in skilled nursing and to have a sufficient number of educators to prepare future nurses. However, I have concerns that the lowered educational requirements for educators in Senate Bill 334 would result in a decreased level of rigorous academic training that would leave prospective nurses unprepared to deliver the standard of care Kansans trust nursing professionals to provide. Nurses are on the frontlines of caring for Kansans in medical situations ranging from simple preventive care to emergency trauma response, and we should honor the responsibility of these roles by ensuring they receive the highest quality education possible.
“For these reasons, I am letting Senate Bill 334 become law without my signature.”
Distracted Drivers Bipartisan Bill Is Signed
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KS Total March Taxes Collected Are Below The Estimate
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KS Labor Report January 2026
Labor Report
January 2026
TOPEKA –The Kansas Department of Labor has released the January 2026 Kansas Labor Report. The full report can be accessed here: January 2026 Kansas Labor Report.
The February 2026 Kansas Labor Report will be released on Friday, April 17.
Child Abuse Prevention Month: April
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Legislative Update by Kansas Senator Caryn Tyson
March 27, 2026
The Property Tax Revenue Limit bill (Senate substitute for HB 2745) was sent to the governor; it puts the breaks on annual property-tax collection increases with a revenue limit (the previous year’s property tax collection plus Midwest Consumer Price Index or 3%, whichever is lower). If a governing body attempts to exceed the limited amount, a voter petition of 10% of registered voters in that taxing subdivision can stop the increase. The Senate added some safeguards: the revenue‑neutral notices you get in the mail must flag if a budget exceeds revenue‑neutral (property tax collected the previous year) levels and if revenue limits are to be exceeded; if revenue limits are exceeded a petition signature area is to be included on the notice; petition signatures may be collected Aug. 10–Sept. 15, and if 10% of registered voters sign, the governing body may not exceed revenue neutral. The House had changed the petition process so that they do not have be notarized. It’s a meaningful step to slow government growth. I hope the governor signs it. It passed the Senate 22–18. I voted yes.
Early in the session, House and Senate leaders agreed to work on two items: an assessment cap (Senate position, 3%, that must be implemented by constitutional amendment) and a revenue cap (House position, allowing voters to stop increases 3% or more by petition). Each measure would offer protection: the assessment cap would protect individual properties, while the revenue limit would help slow government growth. Unfortunately, the assessment cap was rejected by the House – even after the House offered a 10% cap and no rollback on assessment values; the Senate position was 3% or lower with a 2022 baseline year. To move on the measure, I was asked to acquiesce to a 9% cap, with the understanding it could be lowered by statute, and a baseline assessment value year of 2024, which the House accepted – but rejected it on the House floor. There is still a slim chance to pass something in veto session.
Some House members continue to spread misinformation about assessment limits, demonstrating a lack of understanding of the legislation. For example, claims that it “will hurt first-time homebuyers” are inaccurate: the measure transfers the capped assessed value to the new homeowner. A major benefit because the capped assessment value goes with the property, unlike today where some are seeing increases that can tax them out of their home in just a few years.
As Chairman of the Senate Tax Committee, I worked day and night trying to get a limit on property tax increases passed – one that would protect homeowners and save them money. We need to stop these runaway increases. However, as a leader in lowering your taxes, there are members of the legislature trying to blame me for not getting results when they vote against the limits. Go figure.
The Legislature will return April 9th for consideration of bills vetoed by the Governor and possible action on other legislation. Currently, there are 50 bills on the Governor’s desk for consideration and over 80 bills on the way to her desk. All legislation can be found at www.KSLegislature.gov.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Caryn
Republican Scam Alert
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Ken Collins Kansas State Representative-Second District Newsletter
Thoughts From Under the Dome
Ken Collins
Kansas State Representative-Second District
Benny’s Bill was passed unanimously in the Senate as I have previously reported and was bundled in conference committee with three other public safety measures and is now on the way to Governor Kelly’s desk for approval. The package combines several good pieces of legislation and was done in the memory of the late Representative John Resman. The bill includes:
Benny’s Bill (HB2412): Elevate child endangerment charges from a misdemeanor to a felony if the victim is under the age of six.
Electronic Monitoring for Domestic Violence (HB2479)
Blackmail and Deepfake Protections (HB2594): Expands blackmail laws to include threats involving images especially involving minors including cases involving AI.
Position of Authority Law (HB2762): Strengthens law prohibiting sexual relations with students by clarifying adults in positions of authority at schools.
The Pharmacy Benefit Manager bill (SB 360) that I have previously mentioned was recently passed by the House under the new designation of SB 20. This bill puts some much needed regulation on the PBM monopoly that currently exists in this country. The House vote on this measure was 104-17 and it is now headed to the Governor for her signature.
Recently the House voted on and rejected by a vote of 46-75 was House Bill 2527. The purpose of HB 2527 was to restrict registered sex offenders from entering school property. That is a goal that I think that almost everyone would support but the bill did not address some of the possible scenarios that could come about and thus could cause unintended consequences. I voted no and I believe that was why most of my colleagues did as well.
The House and Senate are both adjourned until April 9th when we return for veto session. I would like to remind everyone that I have two legislative update events planned. The first one will be at the Mulberry Senior Citizens Center on Monday April 13th at 6:30 with the other one a week later on April 20th at the Galesburg Community Center. Ad Astra Per Aspera.
Masterson: Senate Will Ring-In Another Override
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