(Feb. 5, 2026) – Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on two bills to reform Kansas's tort climate.
The committee held a hearing on Senate Bill 413, which prohibits counsel from suggesting an amount of damages for noneconomic loss in civil actions.
Conferees appearing before the committee included:
Proponents:
- Eric Stafford with the Kansas Chamber
- Jennifer Artman with the American Tort Reform Association
- Dan Peters with the University of Kansas Health System
- Rachelle Colombo with the Kansas Medical Society
- Tucker Polling with the KAMMCO
- Dan Murray with the National Federation of Independent Business
- Elizabeth Smoller with the Kansas Association of Insurance Agents
- Pamela Bracher Kansas Motor Carrier Association and American Trucking Association
Opponent:
- Jeff Wilson, an attorney, joined via Web Ex.
The committee held over a scheduled hearing on Senate Bill 398, which requires a proponent to show 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. The hearing will be taken up later this afternoon following full Senate action.