(March 5, 2026) – The Senate is slated to debate Senate Bill 363 today. The bill requires the Kansas 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; requires state agencies that administer public assistance programs to submit a certain report to certain legislative committees; requires the secretary of the Kansas Department for Children and Family Services and the secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to enter into data-matching agreements with state agencies to verify eligibility for Food and Medical Assistance Programs; directs KDHE to submit certain data to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; prohibits certain public assistance program waivers or exemptions without legislative approval; prohibits self-attestation for purposes of determining eligibility for public assistance programs; requires redeterminations of eligibility for Medical Assistance on a quarterly basis and provides exceptions for certain individuals; limits retroactive enrollment in the Medical Assistance Program; requires immediate termination of eligibility for Medical Assistance upon confirmation of death of the enrollee; increases the age limit for able-bodied adults without certain dependents; prohibits certain exemptions from work requirements under the Food Assistance Program.
The debate saw two amendments brought by Sen. Bill Clifford (R-Garden City). The first was to eliminate the provisions that would require quarterly redeterminations. The amendment failed 17-19. The second was to prevent state agencies from granting optional exemptions, geographic waivers and work requirement waivers. That amendment failed on a voice vote.
The Senate is also slated to debate the following:
Senate Bill 394 concerns elections; relates to signature verification requirements for advance voting ballot envelopes.
House Bill 2332 establishes a seal for the House of Representatives and a seal for the Senate; provides for the custody and use thereof.
Senate Bill 382 adds certain third parties who contract with school districts to the definition of special teacher; authorizes special education state aid reimbursement for certain teachers who provide services pursuant to a contract; provides for the administration and proctoring of statewide assessments to a virtual school student by such student's virtual school.
Senate Bill 452 concerns law enforcement; creates the crime of unlawful approach of a first responder and provides penalties therefor; requires traffic laws that apply to local and state law enforcement to apply to federal law enforcement; includes federal law enforcement in the definitions used in the crime of interference with law enforcement; includes buildings owned by the United States in the crime of interference with the conduct of public business in public buildings; includes enforcement of federal laws and executive orders in the exceptions from liability in the Tort Claims Act.
Senate Bill 361 relates to school districts; authorizes foreign exchange students who reside with a host family to enroll in and attend the host family's resident school district; excludes any such students from the school district's open-seat lottery process; amends K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 723123 and repeals the existing section.
S Sub Sub 2299 concerns education; relates to school districts and accredited nonpublic schools; provides that certain statutory references to accredited nonpublic schools mean nonpublic schools accredited by the Kansas Board of Education; requires that schools accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency have the same rights as nonpublic schools accredited by the state board; prohibits students from using personal electronic communication devices during the school day and provides certain exceptions; prohibits school employees from communicating with students through social media platforms for official school purposes and provides certain exceptions.
The Senate also took final votes on the following bills, which will now go to the House:
Senate Bill 439 enacts the Utility Railroad Crossing Act; relates to utility facilities crossing or parallel to railroads; requires a process for utilities to construct, maintain, operate or alter utility facilities crossing or parallel to a railroad right-of-way; requires notice and certain information regarding the proposed utility facility or changes to such facility be provided to railroads; permits railroads to request certain items for the construction, maintenance, operation or alteration of utility facilities in such railroad's right-of-way; provides for objections to utility facilities and resolution of such objections through the Kansas Corporation Commission. The bill passed 33-5.
Senate Bill 497 adds kratom to Schedule I of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act and makes conforming amendments to the definition of fentanyl-related controlled substance in the Criminal Code. The bill passed 33-5.