Special Edition – Turnaround of the 2026 Session

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Special Edition - Turnaround of the 2026 Session

Following Turnaround Day on Thursday, Feb. 19, more than 80 health-related bills remained alive for legislators to consider when they resumed their work on Tuesday, Feb. 24, including bills related to child welfare, oversight of Rural Health Transformation Program funds, scope of work and workforce availability, regulation of controlled substances, behavioral health services for youth, public assistance programs data sharing, and cell phone and social media protection standards. (Bill summaries are from the Kansas Legislature's website.)

This special edition of Health at the Capitol looks at selected health-related bills that remain in play for the second half of the 2026 session - including bills that passed one Chamber or those that were sponsored by, referred to or acted upon by an exempt committee (House and Senate Federal and State Affairs, Senate Ways and Means, Senate Assessment and Taxation, House Appropriations, House Taxation, and House Calendar and Printing).

Health at the Capitol is a weekly summary providing highlights of the Kansas legislative session, with a specific focus on health policy related issues. Sign up here to receive these summaries and more, and also follow KHI on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram . Previous editions of Health at the Capitol can be found on our ARCHIVE PAGE.

House Bills

Senate Substitute (Sub.) for House Bill (HB) 2004 would require, upon written request from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Department for Children and Families to respond fully and timely to such request by executing a memorandum of understanding or any other written data-sharing instrument as necessary to obtain, exchange or transmit any information required. The bill also would require, upon written request from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to respond fully and timely to such request by executing a memorandum of understanding or other data-sharing instrument as necessary to obtain, exchange or transmit any information required. The bill would require both Secretaries to comply without conditions or limitations with any written data request from the respective federal agencies and release such requested data within 30 days of receipt of such written data request. (Note: The House concurred with amendments approved by the Senate on Feb. 26 and the bill is headed to the Governor for signature.)

HB 2223, as amended, would amend the optometry law regarding scope of practice. (Note: The House concurred with amendments approved by the Senate on Feb. 26 and the bill is headed to the Governor for signature.)

Sub. for HB 2250 would include administering an emergency opioid antagonist as a protected act immune from criminal prosecution if the person rendered aid reasonably appeared to need medical assistance or requested medical assistance from law enforcement or emergency medical services as a result of the use of a controlled substance. The bill would also define "emergency opioid antagonist" and permit the administration of an emergency opioid antagonist up to 10 years past the product's expiration date.

HB 2320, as amended, would amend law regarding best interest determinations, public school enrollment, and the creation of transportation plans for children in the custody of the Secretary of DCF (foster students). The bill also would change transfer of records requirements between public schools for children in the custody of the Secretary of DCF, Secretary of the Department of Corrections, or Commissioner of Juvenile Justice.

HB 2329, as amended, would direct the Secretary of the Department of Corrections to contract for beds for juvenile alternative sentences to out-of-home placements, direct the funding for such placements to come from the Evidence-Based Programs Account (EBPA), and remove expired sunsets regarding such out-of-home placements. The bill also would authorize the Secretary to enter into a memorandum of agreement to provide money from the EBPA to additional types of facilities with a program purpose of behavioral health crisis intervention for juveniles.

HB 2352, as amended, would require duly ordained ministers to report child abuse or neglect unless reporting would violate the penitential communication privilege.

HB 2364 would prohibit a health insurer, defined as the Medicaid program, the State Children's Health Insurance Program, and the State Employee Health Benefits Plan, and any managed care organization for any such program or plan, from denying coverage for a non-opioid medication in favor of an opioid medication for the treatment of acute pain when prescribed by a prescriber, as defined by the bill.

HB 2374, as amended, would create a specialty practice student loan program administered by the University of Kansas (KU) School of Medicine. The school would be authorized to enter into medical student loan agreements with undergraduate students who intend to pursue practice in an approved specialty and commit to satisfy obligations to engage in the full-time practice of medicine and surgery in a service commitment area. The Chancellor of KU would have the authority to administer the medical specialty student loan program, including discretion to allocate which specialties are eligible for the loan based on workforce needs.

HB 2412 would increase the penalties for the crimes of endangering a child and aggravated endangering a child when such child is less than six years of age.

Sub. for HB 2434, would make and concern supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2026 and appropriations for fiscal years 2027 and 2028 for various state agencies.

HB 2445 would enact the Health Care Sharing Ministries Tax Deduction Act that would allow taxpayers to subtract the amount of contributions to a health care sharing ministry from income for Kansas income tax purposes beginning in tax year 2027.

HB 2456 would allow local governments the option to exempt food and food ingredients from local sales taxes beginning on July 1, 2026.

HB 2463 would establish the Rural Health Transformation Fund in the state treasury to be administered by the State Finance Council. The bill would require an act of appropriation by the Legislature to expend any federal funds received by the state through the Rural Health Transformation Program. The bill would include several requirements for use of the funds, including details on the grant application process for distribution of the funds. Any reports required to be submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) would be required to be reviewed and approved by the State Finance Council prior to submission to CMS. (Note: The hearing for this bill that was scheduled in the House Committee on Appropriations on Jan. 29 was cancelled and replaced with a hearing on HB 2555 noted below.)

HB 2478 would require an applicant for an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) or registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) license to be fingerprinted for state and national criminal history record checks.

HB 2489, as amended, would create new law requiring school districts to develop fentanyl abuse education programs and maintain a stock supply of naloxone.

HB 2491, as amended, would require every state agency that is designated as a voter registration agency pursuant to the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and that provides public assistance benefits to quarterly report to the Secretary of State the first and last name; middle initial, if any; residence address; date of birth; alien registration number; last four digits of the Social Security number, if any; and driver's license number or nondriver's identification card number, if any, of each noncitizen recipient of such public assistance benefits.

HB 2509, as amended, would amend the Health Care Provider Insurance Availability Act to add advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to the list of health care providers participating in the Health Care Stabilization Fund and add a member who is an APRN to the Board of Governors of the Fund.

HB 2520, as amended, would amend the Adult Care Home Licensure Act to allow a maximum of 16 individual residents, increased from 12, in Home Plus facilities.

HB 2524, as amended, would amend law concerning DCF's licensing of family foster home applicants and licensees. The bill would allow DCF to allow for the continuation of a license of a family foster home when:

• The applicant or licensee otherwise qualifies for such licensure; and
• A person who resides in such home:
  • Has been convicted or adjudicated of an offense as described in continuing law;
  • Was a child with such conviction or adjudication in custody and placed in such home by the Secretary for DCF;
  • Is less than 26 years of age; and
  • Maintains residence in such home or has been legally adopted by a person who resides in such home.

The Secretary could grant a license or allow the continuation of a license if there are no safety concerns, as determined by the Secretary, and if a person residing in such home otherwise meets the above-listed requirements, but is older than 26 years of age or has an additional conviction or adjudication after release from the custody of the Secretary.

The bill would allow an applicant or licensee of a family foster home to appeal to the Secretary for review if licensure has not been granted. If this arises, the Secretary's decision upon review of the appeal would be final.

HB 2528, as amended, would amend statutes regarding the Board of Nursing, including voiding disciplinary actions based upon a violation of certain statutes, providing a grace period for nursing license renewal and a process for late renewal, and amending the definition of "unprofessional conduct" under the Kansas Nurse Practice Act.

HB 2533, as amended, would enact the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact.

HB 2534, as amended, would enact the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact.

HB 2536 would prohibit a court from appointing a person as a guardian for an adult diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, dementia or a similar neurological condition until the person to be appointed files an affidavit with the court verifying completion of an approved training program. The bill would authorize the court to waive the training if it is in the best interest of the adult diagnosed with the condition, and any such waiver would be entered into the record of proceedings.

HB 2537, as amended, would create "Caleb's Law," which would amend the definition of the crime of sexual extortion to include additional conduct; create the crimes of aggravated sexual extortion causing great bodily harm and aggravated sexual extortion causing death; and require the Attorney General to prepare and provide certain educational materials and information concerning sexual extortion.

HB 2555, as amended, would require certain information regarding the Rural Health Transformation Program to be submitted to the State Finance Council and provided to the House Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, and the Legislative Budget Committee.

HB 2557 would enact the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children (ICPC) and would repeal the current ICPC.

HB 2587, as amended, would authorize a licensed private psychiatric hospital to maintain a stock supply of emergency medication kits for pharmaceutical emergencies.

HB 2589, as amended, would amend provisions and requirements relating to the reporting of instances of child abuse and neglect to prohibit anonymous reporting.

HB 2601, as amended, would establish a Child Abuse and Neglect Registry (Registry) maintained by the Secretary of DCF and require administrative hearings, including the opportunity for appeal, before placing an individual on the Registry. The bill would also limit use of information on the Registry and permit the Secretary to maintain other registries or records to meet federal requirements.

HB 2609, as amended, would create the Supported Decision-Making Agreements Act allowing adults, or "principals," to enter into supported decision-making agreements to receive decision-making assistance with the adult's affairs from one or more other adults, or "supporters."

HB 2635 would create the Pregnancy Center Autonomy and Rights of Expression Act. It would make several findings related to pregnancy centers and the services provided at such centers, and it would prohibit regulations, policies, procedures or other measures that would prohibit a pregnancy center from taking certain actions, or requiring that a pregnancy center takes specific actions.

HB 2639, as amended, would change the name of juvenile crisis intervention centers to juvenile stabilization centers throughout the Revised Kansas Code for the Care of Children (CINC Code) and the Revised Kansas Juvenile Justice Code (Juvenile Code) and would modify the intake criteria for, and the treatment and services provided by, such centers. The bill also would transfer money from the Evidence-Based Programs Account in the State General Fund to DCF to provide juvenile stabilization services.

HB 2676, as amended, would enact the Pharmacist Practice Authority Act to expand the scope of practice for pharmacists, allowing for the initiation of therapy including medication and durable medical equipment under certain circumstances and requiring pharmacists who independently initiate therapy to maintain professional liability insurance.

HB 2678 would enact the Kansas Medical Cannabis Act to authorize the cultivation, processing, distribution, sale and use of medical cannabis and medical cannabis products.

HB 2679 would enact the Adult Use Cannabis Regulation Act to regulate the cultivation, manufacturing, possession and sale of cannabis in this state.

HB 2702, as amended, would amend the Kansas Healing Arts Act regarding practice protocols to provide for collaboration between a physician assistant or associate (PA) and a physician and to amend the Physician Assistant Licensure Act. The bill also would authorize the use of a criminal history record check and the collections of fingerprints for an applicant for PA licensure by the State Board of Healing Arts.

HB 2703 would create the Kansas Health Insurance Affordability Transparency Act. The bill would require the Kansas Department of Insurance, upon request of a legislator, to prepare a report concerning the financial impact to covered individuals that would result from the passage of certain health insurance legislation.

HB 2727 would allow plaintiffs to elect to limit recovery in claims brought for violations of the informed consent provisions of the Woman's Right-to-Know-Act and would not allow parties to the suit to request the convening of the medical malpractice screening panel.

HB 2729 would amend informed consent provisions of the Woman's-Right-to-Know Act concerning required information and required notice signs for both abortion procedures and medication abortion.

Sub for HB 2731 would require the Secretary of DCF and the Office of the Inspector General to exchange documents related to cash assistance, child care assistance and food assistance fraud investigations.

HB 2738, as amended, would direct the Secretary for DCF to request a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to exclude candy and soft drinks from the definition of eligible foods for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. (Note: During the 2025 session, the Legislature directed DCF to submit a waiver request in a proviso included in the state budget.)

HB 2740 would amend law regarding the compounding of drugs to adopt the compounding standards for sterile, nonsterile and radiopharmaceutical preparations established by the U.S. Pharmacopeia and its referenced companion documents in effect on July 1, 2027.

HB 2752 would set standards for patient and caregiver identification cards to ensure legal access to medical cannabis, establishing the Kansas Medical Cannabis Agency within the KDHE and removing cannabis from the Kansas Uniform Controlled Substances Act.

HB 2761, as amended, would establish the Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Licensure Act and establish the powers, duties and functions of the Secretary of the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) in carrying out the Act. The bill would provide for speech-language pathology assistance (SLPA) licensure, define the scope of practice, specify required qualifications and require SLPAs to practice under a supervising speech-language pathologist.

HB 2772 would enact the Kansas Age-Appropriate Design Code Act, which would require businesses to assess and mitigate digital products' risk of compulsive use by minors. It would also establish the Kansas Stopping Likeness Abuse by Nonconsensual Digital Replicas Act, which would create a private right of action for unauthorized digital replication and distribution of individuals' digital likenesses, and the Kansas Saving Human Connection Act, which would ban certain deceptive practices and ensure chatbot interactions are transparent.

HB 2783 would increase the tax on electronic cigarettes and credit the revenue to the Children's Initiative Fund.

Senate Bills

Senate Bill (SB) 263, as amended, would create the Student Safe at School Act to establish standards and requirements for active shooters drills, active shooter simulations, and violence prevention training conducted by elementary and secondary schools.

SB 271, as amended, would change the household gross income eligibility requirement for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) from 250 percent of the 2008 federal poverty level to 250 percent of the current federal poverty income guidelines, with coverage subject to appropriation of funds and eligibility requirements. The bill would also require the Secretary of KDHE to adopt rules and regulations to establish a premium by sliding-fee scale that charges per family.

House Sub. for Sub. for SB 281, as amended, would require each public school district and each accredited nonpublic elementary and secondary school to adopt policies and procedures regarding (1) the use of personal electronic communication devices (cell phones) by students during normal hours of the school day, including in the classroom, passing periods, and lunch time, and (2) prohibiting their employees from privately or directly communicating with any student via a social media platform, texting or telephone communication. However, the bill also provides for exceptions to this policy if the device is required for a student's individualized education program or "504 plan." The bill would also provide indemnity for lost or damaged devices and exempt virtual schools.

SB 302 would prohibit students who are attending public elementary and secondary schools, as well as accredited nonpublic schools, from using personal electronic communication devices during instructional time. However, the bill would outline exceptions to this policy if the device is required for a student's individualized education program or "504 plan." The bill would require that all personal electronic communication devices be turned off and securely stored away from the student's possession in an inaccessible location during instructional time.

Sub for SB 315, would make and concern supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2026 and appropriations for fiscal years 2027-2030 for various state agencies.

SB 322 would remove the ability of the State Board of Pharmacy to maintain the list of individuals authorized to access the Prescription Monitoring Program database, K-TRACS, through rules and regulations.

SB 324 would prohibit the use of a mobile telephone while operating a motor vehicle in a school zone when a reduced speed is enforced, or a road construction zone while workers are present. Holding the mobile telephone would constitute prima facie evidence of a violation.

SB 327, as amended, would change the meeting time of the Robert G. (Bob) Bethell Joint Committee on Home and Community Based Services and KanCare Oversight to meet once in each quarter, while retaining the requirement for the meetings to be two consecutive days in the third and fourth quarters.

SB 328 would permit pharmacists to distribute epinephrine delivery systems to schools for emergency medication kits and amend the definition of "medication" to expand the type of epinephrine that a pharmacist is allowed to distribute to a school, from epinephrine auto-injectors to epinephrine delivery systems.

SB 333 would prohibit the use of fluoride additives in public water systems by removing statutory procedures that currently allow for the fluoridation of public water supplies. The bill would add the definition of "water quality additive" to K.S.A. 65-162a in relation to public water supply systems, to mean any chemical, additive or substance that is used in a public water supply system for the purpose of meeting or surpassing primary or secondary drinking water standards; preventing, reducing or removing contaminants; or improving water quality. The bill would specify that the use of any additive in a public water supply system that is not a water quality additive as defined, and amendments thereto, would be prohibited.

SB 334 would provide education levels for instructors at nursing schools as a requirement for state approval. The bill would require, in addition to other requirements in continuing law, that faculty at a school seeking approval from the Kansas State Board of Nursing as a school for professional nurses or as a school for practical nurses possess a nursing degree awarded by a state or nationally accredited school of nursing approved by the Board that is at least one level more advanced than the degree awarded by the program in which they are teaching. The bill would prohibit the Board from requiring additional or more advanced credentials for such faculty. The bill would allow the Board to grant an exemption for this requirement to a school facing hardships in hiring faculty.

SB 339, as amended, would establish minimum requirements for physical activity in public schools and include such time in the calculations of a school's term for purposes of statutory compliance. The bill also would direct the State Board of Education to establish a Kansas State Fitness Test.

SB 350 would enact the Age-Appropriate School Device Act to establish safety standards and requirements for the use of school-issued devices in certain grade levels and authorizing parents to opt students out of certain uses of such devices.

SB 355, as amended, would amend the Kansas Cigarette and Tobacco Products Act to require electronic cigarette manufacturers to be licensed in the state and regulate electronic cigarette products in a fashion similar to that for other nicotine products. The bill also would prohibit the sale of electronic cigarette products marketed and advertised to minors.

SB 360, as amended, would enact the Kansas Consumer Prescription Protection and Accountability Act. The bill would provide for the regulation of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), defining auditing procedures, outlining reporting requirements, and allowing compliance and financial examinations. The bill would require PBMs to charge a health benefit plan the same price for a prescription drug as the PBM pays a pharmacy for the prescription drug, utilize the most recently published monthly National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) as a point of reference, and reimburse pharmacies at an amount not less than the NADAC, plus a professional dispensing fee of $10.50.

SB 363 would require KDHE and DCF to enter into data-matching agreements with state agencies to verify eligibility for food and medical assistance and KDHE to submit certain data to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, prohibiting certain public assistance waivers or exemptions without legislative approval and self-attestation for purposes of determining eligibility for public assistance, limiting retroactive enrollment in medical assistance, immediately terminating eligibility for medical assistance upon confirmation of death of the enrollee, increasing the age limit for able-bodied adults without certain dependents and prohibiting certain exemptions from work requirements under the food assistance program.

SB 368, as amended, would enact the Health Care Sharing Ministries Tax Deduction Act, providing a subtraction modification for taxpayers for qualified health care sharing expenses and amounts of qualified health care share received by taxpayers. The subtraction modification for health care sharing expenses could not exceed $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for a married couple filing a joint return.

SB 372, as amended, would enact the App Store Accountability Act to create law regulating application (app) store providers and app developers with respect to minors. The bill's provisions would be enforced under the Kansas Consumer Protection Act and would create a private cause of action for violations of the bill.

SB 385 would establish "Erin's Law" and require, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, all local boards of education to provide annual training on child sexual abuse, as well as sexual assault awareness and prevention, to all teachers in the school district. The training and instruction may be developed or provided by a child advocacy center, the Erin's Law Foundation, which provides resources at no cost, or other resources deemed appropriate by the local board of education.

SB 387, as amended, would require school districts to annually verify household gross income for students who are eligible for the At-Risk Weighting under the Kansas School Equity and Enhancement Act and whose eligibility is not directly certified. The bill also would require school districts to receive legislative approval prior to utilizing the Community Eligibility Provision under said program.

SB 389 would provide a sales tax exemption for feminine hygiene products, incontinence products and diapers.

SB 390, as amended, would ban certain food additives in schools that participate in a food service program, school lunch program or school breakfast program that serves food as part of a reimbursable meal or a free or reduced-price meal, beginning in school year 2027-2028. The bill would be a part of and supplemental to the Kansas Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

SB 405 would make it unlawful for a person to knowingly train artificial intelligence to encourage or support suicide or murder, provide emotional support, develop an emotional relationship, act as a mental health or health care professional, act as a sentient human, encourage isolation, encourage providing financial information, or simulate a human being. The bill would allow the Attorney General or an individual to bring a civil action against a person for violations of the bill and outlines damages that could be recovered. A court would be authorized to order restraining orders and impose civil fines up to $50,000 per violation.

SB 408 would amend the definition of "child in need of care" in the Revised Kansas Code for Care of Children (CINC Code) to exclude a child engaging in age-appropriate independent activities from such definition. The bill would also amend the crime of endangering a child to specify permitting such age-appropriate independent activities would not constitute the crime.

SB 430, as amended, would permit licensed physical therapists to perform certain capillary blood tests.

SB 431 would amend the Pharmacy Act to include provisions regarding the remote practice of pharmacy.

SB 438 would require eligible boards of education to consider participation in the Community Eligibility Provision, providing a financial hardship exception from such participation and requiring the state Department of Education to assist school districts seeking such participation.

SB 441 would enact the Applied Behavior Analysis Services in School Act. No school district could prohibit a private provider from providing medically necessary behavioral health services during school hours to students. The parent would be required to provide the school district with an evaluation performed and an assessment and treatment plan chosen by the parent that shows that services are necessary during school hours. The parent would have to consent to release information in a manner determined by the school district that would authorize the release of information between the private provider and the school district.

SB 448 would authorize the use of expedited partner therapy to treat sexually transmitted diseases.

SB 484 would move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act.

SB 497 would add 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a derivative of kratom, and mitragynine, the primary psychoactive component of kratom, to Schedule I of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. The bill also would make confirming amendments to the definition of "fentanyl-related controlled substance" in the Kansas Criminal Code.

SB 499 would enact the Kansas Age-Appropriate Design Code Act, which would require businesses to assess and mitigate digital products' risks of compulsive use by minors. It also would establish the Kansas Stopping Likeness Abuse by Nonconsensual Digital Replicas Act, which would create a private right of action for unauthorized digital replication and distribution of individuals' digital likenesses, and the Kansas Saving Human Connection Act, which would ban certain deceptive practices and ensure chatbot interactions are transparent.

SB 508 would increase the cap from the first $8 million to the first $16 million from lottery tickets sold from vending machines to be transferred to fund mental health programs at KDADS (75 percent to the Community Crisis Stabilization Centers Fund and 25 percent to the Clubhouse Model Program Fund).