Topeka Buzz: January 16, 2026

Election reforms dominate yesterday's legislative action, with bills to shift local elections to even years, move voting deadlines earlier, and lower the bar for Article V convention votes.

Author

Jason Anderson
January 16, 2026 • Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

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Topeka Buzz 🐝
Friday, January 16, 2026

Table of Contents

Top Stories of the Day

🐝🐝 HB 2452: Move local elections to even-numbered years

Local city, school, community college and many special district elections would shift from odd years to even years starting in 2028, with August primaries and November general elections. Some 2027 terms are extended to January 2029 and local terms must be 2 or 4 years.

🐝🐝 SCR 1617: Require simple majority for Article V votes

If approved by voters, Kansas would let its Legislature ratify U.S. constitutional amendments or ask Congress for an Article V convention with a simple majority in each chamber instead of the current two-thirds rule.

🐝🐝 HB 2453: Moves Kansas voting deadlines earlier

This bill shifts several voting deadlines earlier: mail ballot requests must be filed 14 days before election day, in-person advance voting ends at noon the Sunday before, and voter registration closes 23 days before most elections.

New Bills Introduced

Budget & Appropriations

  • 🐝🐝🐝 SB 337: Approves Kansas FY2027 spending and fund transfers

  • 🐝🐝🐝 HB 2455: Appropriates wide-ranging state FY2026–27 funding

Business & Commerce

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2461: Bans public adjusters from settling home insurance claims

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

Civil Rights

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2465: Protects professionals' off-duty religious speech

  • 🐝 HB 2460: Allows legislators to hide home info on public websites

Education

  • 🐝🐝 SB 341: Standardize pay and materials for dual enrollment

  • 🐝🐝 SB 339: Requires 30-minute recess for K–5 on long school days

  • 🐝 SB 340: Bar Promise scholarships from funding corequisite courses

  • 🐝 SB 338: Includes home schools in private school definition

Elections & Government

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2449: Remove voters who get out-of-state driver's licenses

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2447: Sets March presidential preference primary every 4 years

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2451: Stops officials from using public assets for ballot advocacy

  • 🐝🐝 SB 336: Creates statewide March presidential primary

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

Energy & Environment

  • 🐝🐝 SB 333: Bans adding fluoride to public water supplies

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2462: Requires rules allowing potable reuse of treated wastewater

Healthcare

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2463: Creates Rural Health Transformation Fund, Council Oversight

  • 🐝🐝 SB 334: Sets nursing instructor degree minimums for program approval

Housing

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2454: Landlords must accept partial rent and count income

Infrastructure

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2467: Ban using old traffic noncompliance after 5 years

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2459: Requires helmets for minors on e-scooters and e-bikes

Public Safety

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2448: Require citizenship status on driver's licenses

Taxation

  • 🐝🐝🐝 HB 2457: Cap seniors' homestead taxes; narrow nonprofit exemptions

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2458: Require voter or elected approval for property taxes

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2456: Allows cities/counties to set 0% local food sales tax

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

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

  • 🐝 HB 2464: Extend aerospace tax credit sunset to 2036

Floor Votes

  • HB 2204: PASS (85 Yes, 35 No, 5 Absent). Prohibits Kansas state and local governments from enforcing or implementing any rule, fee, tax, policy, or mandate from the World Health Organization, United Nations, or World Economic Forum. May limit use of international guidance in public health and other programs.

  • HB 2332: PASS (120 Yes, 0 No, 5 Absent). Establishes the Kansas House official seal, gives the Speaker custody, lets members use it on official or personal communications (but not campaigns), and bans use that implies an official House position.

Committee Actions

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Bills Referred (1)

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

Assessment and Taxation

Bills Referred (3)

  • SB 319: Creates property tax rebates when sales show overvaluation

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

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

Commerce, Labor and Economic Development

Bills Re-referred (1)

  • HB 2011: Cuts statewide school levy, raises home tax exemption

Federal and State Affairs

Bills Referred (2)

  • HB 2442: Require liquor makers to use 3-factor tax apportionment

  • SB 318: Require turn signals for moves and exits in roundabouts

Financial Institutions and Insurance

Bills Referred (3)

  • SB 316: Creates nonprofit for statewide consumer financial education

  • SB 330: Standardizes electronic prior authorization for healthcare

  • SB 331: Repeals Saturday/holiday rule for negotiable payments

Judiciary

Bills Referred (2)

  • SB 323: Clarifies 'earnings' to include paid compensation

  • SB 325: Ban on license-plate covers and obstructing frames

Public Health and Welfare

Bills Referred (3)

  • SB 322: Limits who can access Kansas PDMP data

  • SB 327: Allow committee to hold Jan and Apr meetings outside session

  • SB 328: Allows pharmacists to provide epinephrine to schools

Transportation

Bills Referred (3)

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

  • SB 324: Ban hand-held phone use in school & work zones

  • SB 326: Allow DUI test failures if officer had reasonable grounds

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