Topeka Buzz: February 2, 2026

The 2026 Kansas Legislature: A session running hot and running out the clock...

Author

Jason Anderson
February 02, 2026 • Estimated Reading Time: 23 minutes

Topeka Buzz 🐝
Monday, February 2, 2026

Table of Contents

Race to the Primary?

Three weeks into the 2026 Kansas legislative session, the numbers tell a story of a Legislature in a hurry. Over 350 bills introduced. One measure already on the Governor's desk. And a turnaround deadline (February 19!) barreling toward lawmakers in less than three weeks.

But the numbers make sense in context, and this year's context is unlike anything Topeka has seen in a generation:

  • A term-limited Democratic governor who can't run again

  • A Republican supermajority that just got bigger

  • The House Speaker, Senate President, and Senate Minority Leader running for other offices

  • An election year with all 125 House seats and statewide seats on the ballot

  • A primary election in August with a critical constitutional amendment vote on the state supreme court and competitive rosters for Governor from both parties

A fast start, even by Kansas standards

The Legislature introduced 357 bills in its first three weeks—115 in week one, 107 in week two, and 135 in week three. That's roughly 9% above the first three weeks of the 2025 session, which itself was considered brisk.

For broader perspective, Kansas legislatures typically introduce between 600 and 800 bills per full session. The 2025 session ended with 707 introductions and 129 bills signed into law—an 18% passage rate that legislative leaders called one of the most productive sessions in recent memory. If 2026 maintains its current pace, total introductions could approach the upper end of that historical range.

The 2025-26 biennium is on track to approach a record number of new bills introduced

What the supermajority is building

Look past the individual bills, and the agenda comes into focus through three priorities that leadership has stated plainly: tax relief, deregulation, and fiscal restraint.

Senate President Masterson has made property taxes the centerpiece of his legislative agenda—and, not coincidentally, his gubernatorial campaign. (Note: before becoming a legislator, Masterson was a Realtor.) He has been blunt about the disconnect with Governor Kelly, noting after her State of the State address that she failed to mention property taxes at all. "Everywhere I've gone, property taxes are the number one thing, by far," he told reporters.

Speaker Hawkins has framed the House agenda as a "people-first" platform built around affordability. His specific targets include deregulating single-family home construction, modifying tort law to lower insurance costs, and addressing utility rates. (Note: Hawkins is an insurance agent.) He's also proposed roughly $200 million in budget cuts—telling an ALEC conference last August that Medicaid in particular had "lots of opportunity" for savings.

Kelly's priorities, as outlined in her final State of the State, center on passing a balanced budget, standing up the new Office of Early Childhood by July 1, and finalizing a statewide water strategy. Notably, her speech leaned heavily on bipartisan accomplishments and legacy-building rather than new policy fights—the posture of a governor running out her clock.

The ideological pattern across the 414 active bills reinforces what leadership has been saying. Business and commerce leads all policy areas with 108 bills, followed by elections and government (101) and healthcare (80). Taxation accounts for 69 bills. Within those categories, business regulation (61 bills), government operations (54), and consumer protection (43) dominate—all areas where the Republican caucus is focused on reducing government footprint and lowering costs.

An exceptional share of bills are focusing on elections and business deregulation

What's largely absent from the Republican leadership agenda is equally revealing. Medicaid expansion, despite polling showing 72% of Kansans support it, has no pathway. The financial case has weakened further since the federal enhanced matching incentive for new expansion states expired in January. On abortion, HB 2010 proposes a near-total prohibition.

Property taxes: the issue that unites everyone (in theory)

If there's one issue where voter frustration has genuinely reached both parties, it's property taxes. Between 2021 and 2024, Kansas assessed property valuations jumped 32% while per capita income rose only 19.5%. The Fort Hays State Docking Institute found roughly a third of Kansans consider property taxes a moderate or serious threat to staying in their homes.

The frustration is real. The consensus on a solution is not.

The highest-profile proposal is SCR 1616, a constitutional amendment that would cap annual increases in assessed property values at 3%. Masterson backs it, as do at least 16 Republican senators. The Senate tax committee endorsed it on January 22. If it passes both chambers with two-thirds majorities, Kansas voters would decide the question at an August 4 ballot election.

But the path is treacherous. A similar amendment—HCR 5011, with a 4% cap—fell one vote short in the Senate last March when five Republicans joined Democrats to oppose it. The Kansas Farm Bureau is against the cap, warning it would shift tax burden to agricultural land. School board associations cite Legislative Research Department projections showing $1 billion in lost school revenue over five years. And some of the bill's own supporters acknowledge its limitations: Senator Stephen Owens noted during 2025 debate that the amendment would not actually lower property taxes, only slow their growth.

SCR 1616 isn't the only approach in play. SCR 1619 would reduce the residential assessment rate from 11.5% to 9%. HB 2457 would freeze property taxes for homeowners 65 and older. HB 2011 would cut the statewide school levy rate. And HB 2575 takes the most radical approach of all: eliminating motor vehicle registration fees, sales tax on transfers, and vehicle property tax entirely.

The variety of proposals reflects both the depth of voter frustration and the difficulty of the underlying problem. Property taxes in Kansas are set locally by counties, cities, and school districts, making state-level solutions inherently complicated. Capping valuations doesn't cap mill levies. Freezing one category shifts burden to another. Every approach creates winners and losers, and in an election year, the losers will be loud.

Bill Hearings in Committee This Week

Monday, February 2

Financial Institutions and Pensions (House): 9:00 AM • 582-N

  • HB 2590 🐝: Authorizes Kansas community property trusts

  • HB 2574 🐝🐝: Extend cybersecurity oversight and tie it to budgets

Financial Institutions and Insurance (Senate): 9:30 AM • 546-S

  • SB 409 🐝🐝: Eliminates patient cost-sharing for certain breast imaging

Federal and State Affairs (Senate): 10:30 AM • 144-S

  • SB 176 🐝🐝: Ban vaping, marijuana, and smoking on gaming floors

  • SB 394 🐝🐝: End mail advance voting if signature rules are invalidated

Commerce, Labor and Economic Development (House): 1:30 PM • 346-S

  • HB 2466 🐝🐝: Extend angel investor tax credit to 2031

  • HB 2481 🐝: Expands lodging tax rules to include 1-bedroom rentals

Transportation (House): 1:30 PM • 582-N

  • HB 2542 🐝: Designate portion of U.S. 56 as Bill Tucker Memorial

Corrections and Juvenile Justice (House): 1:30 PM • 546-S

  • HB 2527 🐝🐝: Bars work and education release for registrants

Health and Human Services (House): 1:30 PM • 112-N

  • HB 2364 🐝🐝: Protect nonopioid pain drug coverage

  • HB 2506 🐝: Creates addiction counselor apprentice license

  • HB 2509 🐝: Adds APRNs to healthcare provider insurance law

Insurance (House): 3:30 PM • 218-N

  • HB 2247 🐝🐝: Limits dental insurer audits; protects prior authorizations

  • HB 2551 🐝🐝: Licensing and transparency rules for pharmacy PSAOs

Judiciary (House): 3:30 PM • 582-N

  • HB 2535 🐝: Allows trap-neuter-return of feral cats without abandonment charges

  • HB 2518 🐝🐝: Increases penalties for privacy breaches against minors

  • HB 2519 🐝: Continues limited public-records exemptions

Tuesday, February 3

Transportation (Senate): 8:30 AM • 546-S

  • SB 403 🐝: Kansas allows pheasant and quail specialty license plates

Commerce, Labor and Economic Development (House): 8:30 AM • 546-S

  • SB 403 🐝: Kansas allows pheasant and quail specialty license plates

Agriculture and Natural Resources (Senate): 8:30 AM • 144-S

  • SB 364 🐝: Creates discounted senior hunting & fishing combo license

Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications (House): 9:00 AM • 582-N

  • HB 2586 🐝🐝: Includes certain broadband revenues in city franchise fees

Federal and State Affairs (House): 9:00 AM • 346-S

  • HB 2567 🐝🐝: Requires producers to fund battery recycling program

Appropriations (House): 9:00 AM • 112-N

  • HB 2513 🐝: State pays named property claims from general fund

Veterans and Military (House): 9:00 AM • 281-N

  • HB 2214 🐝🐝: Limits fees and sets rules for paid veterans benefits helpers

Government Efficiency (Senate): 9:30 AM • 144-S

  • SB 428 🐝🐝: Requires Kansas agencies to share program data with federal agencies

Assessment and Taxation (Senate): 9:30 AM • 548-S

  • SB 329 🐝🐝: Counties must submit single-property appraisals at BOTA

  • SB 332 🐝: Exclude buyer's premiums from auction sale price

Local Government, Transparency and Ethics (Senate): 9:30 AM • 142-S

  • SB 124 🐝🐝: Tightens city annexation limits, expands lawsuits

Financial Institutions and Insurance (Senate): 9:30 AM • 546-S

  • SB 232 🐝🐝: Allows limited KPERS investments in foreign sovereign debt

Federal and State Affairs (Senate): 10:30 AM • 144-S

  • SB 261 🐝🐝: Allows some felons to get alcohol licenses after 10 years

Judiciary (Senate): 10:30 AM • 346-S

  • SB 414 🐝: Authorizes up to $2M for youth crisis services

  • SB 427 🐝: Allows Senate leaders to review KBI and tax records

Health and Human Services (House): 1:30 PM • 112-N

  • HB 2478 🐝: Adds APRNs and CRNAs to nursing background checks

  • HB 2520 🐝: Raise Home Plus resident limit to 16

Commerce (Senate): 1:30 PM • 159-S

  • SB 369 🐝🐝: Cap late fees; require tenant cost and screening disclosures

  • SB 418 🐝🐝: Streamlines housing approvals with 15-day by-right permits

Education (Senate): 1:30 PM • 144-S

  • SB 304 🐝🐝: Uses birth records to mail savings-account info

  • SB 361 🐝: Host family exchange students enroll as district residents

Child Welfare and Foster Care (House): 1:30 PM • 152-S

  • HB 2557 🐝🐝: Adopts updated interstate compact for child placements

Transportation (House): 1:30 PM • 582-N

  • HB 2522 🐝: Allow expanded flashing lights on highway work vehicles

Education (House): 1:30 PM • 218-N

  • SB 403 🐝: Kansas allows pheasant and quail specialty license plates

  • HB 2428 🐝🐝: Bars required DEI/CRT courses in Kansas colleges

Agriculture and Natural Resources (House): 3:30 PM • 112-N

  • HB 2547 🐝🐝: Requires upland game bird stamp and funds bird releases

Elections (House): 3:30 PM • 218-N

  • HB 2453 🐝🐝: Moves Kansas voting deadlines earlier

  • HB 2503 🐝🐝: Repeals Kansas mail-ballot election law

Wednesday, February 4

Agriculture and Natural Resources (Senate): 8:30 AM • 144-S

  • SB 317 🐝🐝: Requires 25‑year water supply for water grants

Transportation (Senate): 8:30 AM • 546-S

  • SB 321 🐝: Names I-35/US-69 & 18th St interchange for Rep. Tomlinson

Commerce, Labor and Economic Development (House): 8:30 AM • 546-S

  • SB 321 🐝: Names I-35/US-69 & 18th St interchange for Rep. Tomlinson

Local Government (House): 9:00 AM • 281-N

  • HB 2410 🐝🐝: Allows library tax districts to exit regional systems

  • HB 2495 🐝🐝: Counties may regulate activities on major rivers

  • HB 2539 🐝: Eudora library board members must be elected

Federal and State Affairs (House): 9:00 AM • 346-S

  • HB 2505 🐝: Limits public access to protected species' location records

  • HB 2507 🐝: Removes signature rule; raises waterfowl stamp fee cap

  • HB 2511 🐝: Let wildlife agency use farm income across state parks

Financial Institutions and Pensions (House): 9:00 AM • 582-N

  • HB 2411 🐝🐝: Allows retired teachers to return after 45 days

  • HB 2591 🐝🐝: Banks may report and pause suspected financial abuse

Assessment and Taxation (Senate): 9:30 AM • 548-S

  • SB 320 🐝🐝: Exempts pre-2006 business machinery from property tax

  • SB 378 🐝🐝: One-time $250 vehicle property tax credit (FY2027)

  • SB 332 🐝: Exclude buyer's premiums from auction sale price

Financial Institutions and Insurance (Senate): 9:30 AM • 546-S

  • SB 330 🐝🐝: Standardizes electronic prior authorization for healthcare

Judiciary (Senate): 10:30 AM • 346-S

  • SB 358 🐝🐝: Hold certain felony convicts without bond until sentencing

  • SB 374 🐝🐝: Require more evaluation and treatment in competency cases

Federal and State Affairs (Senate): 10:30 AM • 144-S

  • SB 356 🐝: Shields dealers from suits for returning stored guns

Health and Human Services (House): 1:30 PM • 112-N

  • HB 2533 🐝🐝: Allows OTs to practice in other states via compact

  • HB 2534 🐝🐝: Allows respiratory therapists to practice across states

Commerce (Senate): 1:30 PM • 159-S

  • SB 335 🐝🐝: Requires mutual waiver of consequential damages

Education (House): 1:30 PM • 218-N

  • SB 321 🐝: Names I-35/US-69 & 18th St interchange for Rep. Tomlinson

  • HB 2488 🐝: KU School of Medicine must use letter or 4‑tier grades

Child Welfare and Foster Care (House): 1:30 PM • 152-S

  • HB 2589 🐝🐝: Bars anonymous DCF abuse reports; law enforcement may accept

Education (Senate): 1:30 PM • 144-S

  • SB 421 🐝🐝: Protects student religious & political speech

  • SB 419 🐝🐝: Creates statewide free-speech rules for public colleges

Judiciary (House): 3:30 PM • 582-N

  • HB 2480 🐝🐝: Limits mandatory reports by social workers on legal teams

K-12 Education Budget (House): 3:30 PM • 546-S

  • HB 2482 🐝🐝: State may use any provider for college and career exams

Taxation (House): 3:30 PM • 346-S

  • HB 2469 🐝🐝: Expand rail maintenance credit to more state taxes

Insurance (House): 3:30 PM • 218-N

  • HB 2550 🐝🐝: Hospitals must report 340B drug costs and payments

Thursday, February 5

Public Health and Welfare (Senate): 8:30 AM • 142-S

  • SB 271 🐝🐝: Updates income limits for Kansas children's CHIP

Federal and State Affairs (House): 9:00 AM • 346-S

  • HB 2504 🐝🐝: Blocks local limits on landlord screening and vouchers

Assessment and Taxation (Senate): 9:30 AM • 548-S

  • SB 368 🐝🐝: Allows Kansas tax subtraction for health-sharing fees

Financial Institutions and Insurance (Senate): 9:30 AM • 546-S

  • SB 55 🐝🐝: Bans post-loss contractor assignment of insurance benefits

Judiciary (Senate): 10:30 AM • 346-S

  • SB 398 🐝🐝: Tightens court gatekeeping for expert testimony

  • SB 413 🐝🐝: Bans lawyers from suggesting dollar amounts for pain and suffering

  • HB 2274 🐝: Expand military access to faster occupational licenses

Transportation and Public Safety Budget (House): 12:00 PM • 144-S

  • HB 2274 🐝: Expand military access to faster occupational licenses

Commerce, Labor and Economic Development (House): 1:30 PM • 346-S

  • HB 2580 🐝: Creates Kansas International Trade Commission

  • HB 2588 🐝🐝: Creates statewide electrician licensing system

Education (House): 1:30 PM • 218-N

  • HB 2489 🐝🐝: Schools must teach fentanyl prevention and keep naloxone

  • HB 2510 🐝🐝: School boards must allocate dues to each member

Utilities (Senate): 1:30 PM • 548-S

  • SB 380 🐝🐝: Limits utility cost recovery for public EV fast chargers

Health and Human Services (House): 1:30 PM • 112-N

  • HB 2274 🐝: Expand military access to faster occupational licenses

  • HB 2528 🐝🐝: Voids old nursing records, limits board authority

Transportation (House): 1:30 PM • 582-N

  • HB 2578 🐝: Allows antique farm vehicles to register and carry decal

  • HB 2585 🐝: Creates Delta Waterfowl specialty license plate

  • HB 2579 🐝: Designates part of K-49 as Pvt. Michael E. Gerber Memorial

Elections (House): 3:30 PM • 218-N

  • HB 2450 🐝: Keeps campaign accounts open if funds or debts exceed $1,000

  • HB 2491 🐝🐝: State agencies must report noncitizen benefit recipients

Judiciary (House): 3:30 PM • 582-N

  • HB 2537 🐝🐝: Increases penalties for sexual extortion of minors

  • HB 2594 🐝🐝: Expands blackmail law to cover AI-made sexual images

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