Capitol Comments Articles
Senate Finishes Turnaround Late Wednesday

Kansas Senate Chamber (Feb. 20, 2026) – The Senate took break a day earlier than the House, finishing their turnaround work before 10 p.m. Wednesday final votes included the following:

Senate Bill 410 provides that earned wage access service registrants are subject to the Kansas Financial Institutions Information Security Act. Passed 40-0.

Senate Bill 422 reorganizes provisions applicable to foreign insurance companies seeking authorization to do business in Kansas; authorizes the suspension or revocation of a nonresident agent's license without notice or an opportunity for a hearing after notifiying the commissioner of insurance that the nonresident agent no longer holds a home state license; and requires agents and public adjusters to respond to inquiries from the commissioner. Passed as amended, 40-0.

Senate Bill 436 increases the cost threshold at which a county must use the public bidding process to award a construction contract. Did not pass, 12-26.

Senate Bill 407 authorizes the adoption of certain rules and regulations related to hazardous waste monitoring and permit application fees by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Passed as amended, 38-2.

Senate Bill 463 prohibits certain persons from recovering damages in certain civil actions and creates requirements for actions involving negligent security. Passed as amended, 30-10.

Senate Bill 398 requires a proponent to demonstrate that it is more likely than not that certain specialized knowledge will help the trier of fact to understand evidence before certain qualified witnesses may testify. Passed, 40-0.

Senate Bill 451 requires campaign finance treasurer reports to include the products and services provided by vendors paid for by an advertising agency, public relations firm or political consultant from a campaign account expenditure. Passed as amended, 40-0.

Senate Bill 462 prohibits certain public nuisance claims, requires the attorney general to bring nuisance actions that are not wholly contained in one political subdivision, requires special injury for certain public nuisance actions and provides an accrual period for the statute of limitations in public nuisance actions. Passed as amended, 29-11.

Senate Bill 362 requires the office of each state officer to keep and maintain records of all travel locations and expenses of the state officer that were paid or reimbursed by the state during each fiscal year, and to provide such records upon request by a member of the public. Passed, 40-0.

Senate Bill 450 authorizes the Secretary of Administration to grant a monetary award to a state employee who reports activity that constitutes fraud, waste or abuse of funds in any program administered by a state agency. Passed as amended, 33-6.

Senate Bill 375 enacts the Proxy Advisor Transparency Act, which requires proxy advisors to make certain disclosures when recommending an action against company management, authorizes the attorney general to investigate and take enforcement actions against violators, and establishes a private right of action for a declaratory judgment or injunctive relief. Passed as amended, 31-9.

Senate Bill 480 revives repealed statutes related to the estates of absentees. Passed as amended, 40-0.

Senate Bill 303 provides countywide retailers' sales tax authority for Labette County for the purpose of providing financial support to fire departments located in the county. Passed as amended, 40-0.

Senate Bill 271 updates the income eligibility requirements for the Kansas Children's Health Insurance Program. Passed as amended, 40-0.

Senate Bill 431 establishes the remote practice of pharmacy, requiring certain conditions for such practice and limits activities performed under such practice. Passed, 40-0.

Senate Bill 412 imposes the duty to notify nonparties to a conservatorship of any court order commanding performance or safekeeping of the conservatee's estate assets. Passed as amended, 40-0.

Senate Bill 374 requires further consideration of evaluation and treatment during the course of competency proceedings for defendants charged with the most serious offenses. Passed as amended, 40-0.

Senate Bill 334 facilitates nursing workforce development by providing education levels for instructors at nursing schools as a requirement for state approval. Passed 38-2.

Senate Bill 430 permits licensed physical therapists to perform certain capillary blood tests. Passed as amended, 40-0.

Senate Bill 232 modifies investment standards of moneys of the Board of Trustees of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System certified by the state treasurer as equivalent to the aggregate net amount received for unclaimed property to authorize investment in certain foreign governments. Passed as amended, 36-4.

Senate Bill 360 enacts the Kansas Consumer Prescription Protection and Accountability Act and provides for the regulation and registration of pharmacy benefits managers. Passed as amended, 32-8.

Senate Bill 481 permits a municipal judge to initiate a psychiatric or psychological examination to determine competence and sets forth relevant procedures. Passed as amended, 40-0.

Senate Bill 321 designates the junction of I-35, U.S. Highway 69 and 18th Street Expressway in Johnson County as the Representative Robert M. Tomlinson Memorial Interchange. Passed as amended, 40-0.

Senate Bill 487 requires the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to implement a statewide offender registration system for agencies that register offenders under the Offender Registration Act. Passed as amended, 40-0.

Senate Bill 55 prohibits the assignment of benefits under certain property and casualty insurance contracts and defines such assignment of benefits as an unfair method of competition andas an unfair or deceptive act or practice. Passed as amended, 40-0.