As of Wednesday, April 16, 2025, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has reported 37 cases of measles in the state. Children between the age of 0 and 10 account for 23 of the reported cases. There has been one measles hospitalization but no deaths in the state. Workbook: Infectious Disease Case Dashboard
Bills Signed by the Governor
Substitute (Sub.) for Senate Bill (SB) 67 – Authorizes registered nurse anesthetists to prescribe, procure and administer drugs consistent with the registered nurse anesthetist’s education and qualifications. Signed by the Governor on Tuesday, April 1.
SB 125, the budget bill – Makes and concerns appropriations for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2025, June 30, 2026, and June 30, 2027, for state agencies. Signed by the Governor on Wednesday, April 9, with 39 line-item vetoes, including, in part:
- Sec. 40(d) requiring the Director of Accounts and Reports to transfer $460,593 from the Kansas Endowment for Youth (KEY) Fund to the Tobacco Master Agreement Compliance Fund of the Attorney General for fiscal year (FY) 2025. (Governor stated: “[T]he agency has continuously received this transfer to comply with the Master Tobacco Settlement but does not expend the entirety of the transfer each year. From previous transfers, the agency currently has enough funds to cover these compliance costs for at least two more years. Retaining these funds in the KEY Fund will ensure greater sustainability of funds for the state’s early childhood programs.”)
- Sec. 41 requiring the Director of Accounts and Reports to transfer $460,593 from the KEY Fund to the Tobacco Master Agreement Compliance Fund of the Attorney General for FY 2026.
- Sec. 46(a) related to the appropriation of $3.0 million for FY 2026 for the Pregnancy Compassion Awareness Program (previously known as the Alternatives to Abortion Program). (Governor stated: “I continue to believe that housing the pregnancy crisis center program in the Office of the Treasurer is inappropriate and simply politically motivated.”) Veto overridden on Friday, April 11.
- Sec. 83(a) requiring the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) – Division of Public Health to expend not less than $250,000 in FY 2026 to provide for efforts to control and prevent transmission of tuberculosis or other infectious and contagious diseases as designated by the Secretary of KDHE; requiring KDHE to expend not less than $96,000 to provide for efforts to control and prevent transmission of tuberculosis, including screening, diagnosis and treatment; appropriation of $263,000 for cerebral palsy research; and appropriation of $55,000 for donated dental services. (Governor stated: “These provisos are poorly written and cause confusion regarding the funding for disease control and prevention that KDHE can use. The agency deserves clear and direct guidance from the Legislature.” “The intent [for the cerebral palsy proviso] is unclear and it was not requested by any agency.” “I support expanding access to dental services but there is already funding in the base budget for the types of services included in this proviso.) Veto overridden on Friday, April 11.
- Sec. 84(e) requiring KDHE – Division of Health Care Finance to expend funds in FY 2025 to submit to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) an approval request to no longer apply a 12-month continuous eligibility period for adults. (Governor stated: “These sections will ultimately cost the state taxpayers approximately $3.5 to $4.3 million annually by causing [KDHE] to add additional staff to implement the policy in this proviso. The state will not see the cost savings projected by the Legislature because federal regulation dictates that these caregivers and parents cannot be denied healthcare coverage without individual review.”)
- Sec. 85(o) requiring KDHE – Division of Health Care Finance to expend funds in FY 2026 to submit to CMS an approval request to no longer apply a 12-month continuous eligibility period for adults.
- Sec. 88(a) requiring the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) to expend not less than $140,000 during FY 2025 for aging services grants to provide in-home services to low-income older individuals who would be able to remain in their homes for independence and self-sufficiency. (Governor stated: I have always supported services that promote self-sufficiency and independence for the elderly. . . . However, these provisos will continue to fund a pilot program that was initially funded by one-time federal grants and the state cannot shoulder the burden of ongoing costs created by lapsed federal funding because it is unsustainable.”)
- Sec. 89(a) requiring KDADS to expend not less than $540,000 for aging services grants during FY 2026 to provide in-home services to low-income older individuals who would be able to remain in their homes for independence and self-sufficiency. Veto overridden on Friday, April 11.
- 89(aa) lapsing $4.0 million appropriated for FY 2026 for KDADS from the state general fund in the certified community behavioral health clinic (CCBHC) planning grants account. (Governor stated: “2024 SB 28 allocated funding for different types of entities to transform into [CCBHCs] over the course of four years. The lapse in funding outlined in this section reverses the progress that the KDADS has made in executing the intent of last year’s appropriation.”) Veto overridden on Friday, April 11.
- Sec. 90 prohibiting KDADS from expending monies appropriated from the state general fund or any special revenue fund for FY 2027 to utilize contract agency nursing staff at Larned State Hospital. (“Governor stated: “The patients and surrounding community at [LSH] will be the ones directly impacted by the elimination of funding for contract agency nursing staff. This maneuver will further strain the existing healthcare workforce, leading to a lack of capacity to care for these patients.”)
- Sec. 92(a) requiring the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) to expend not less than $375,000 in FY 2026 to provide for additional deaf and hard of hearing services. (Governor stated: “I have significant concerns over the current limited geographic scope of interpreter services in Kansas. . . . I encourage all relevant stakeholders to reconsider this proposal next year with a plan to widen its capabilities across the state.”) Veto overridden on Friday, April 11.
- Sec. 96(s) requiring the Kansas State Department of Education in FY 2026 to expend not less than $250,000 to provide grants to school districts for instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator use through the health education curriculum in kindergarten or any of the grades one through 12 or similar nonpublic school curriculum and to expend not less than $1.0 million to provide grants to school districts for the purchase of automated external defibrillators and necessary maintenance equipment. (Governor stated: “I urge all districts to consider using the existing funds from their general funds or Capital Outlay Funds to purchase these devices. . . I am extremely troubled by the Legislature’s attempt to fund this priority through the appropriation from the BASE state aid per pupil increases required by the Supreme Court of Kansas’ rulings in the Gannon case.” )
- Sec. 116(a) appropriating $750,000 for Wichita State University for FY 2026 for a dentistry feasibility study. (Governor stated: “Prior to the 2026 session stakeholders from higher education and the dentistry profession should come together to discuss the feasibility of developing a dental school in Kansas.)
- Sec. 121(a) requiring the Department of Corrections in FY 2026 to expend $1.0 million to provide for services to families at the O’Connell Children’s Shelter in Lawrence.. (Governor stated: “While I support providing services to Kansas youth who need assistance the funding in this section of the proviso is allocated toward one specific entity. The direct allocation of these funds circumvents the established grant process and the rigorous agency review that allows any qualified and interested entity to apply, ensuring that services provided are the best quality at the best price.”) Veto overridden on Friday, April 11.
- Sec. 153, 156 and 158, requiring the Director of the Budget, in consultation with the Director of Legislative Research in FYs 2025, 2026 and 2027, to identify moneys in the state general fund account or special revenue fund that are moneys to the state for aid for coronavirus relief that are unexpended or have been returned to the state treasury as unspent funds and transfer such funds to the State Finance Council American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant fund. (Governor stated: “These provisions create extra red tape and bureaucracy over the allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Additionally, the federal requirements around the use of these funds are complex, and the state is limited in how they can be spent. The state would be best served if those funding decisions were guided by the experts in the Kansas Office of Recovery.”)
House Sub. for SB 126
- Updates the current newborn screening program to establish the Advance Universal Newborn Screening Program.
- Increases the minimum statutory state financial assistance to local health departments from $7,000 per year to $12,000 per year.
- Increases the hospital provider annual assessment on services rate to an amount no greater than 6.0 percent of each hospital’s net inpatient and outpatient operating revenue as determined by the Healthcare Access Improvement Panel.
- Exempts from the assessment critical access and licensed rural emergency hospitals that have revenues below the threshold determined by the Healthcare Access Improvement Panel.
SB 126 was signed by the Governor on Tuesday, April 8.
Sub. for SB 193 – Amends the Statewide Opioid Antagonist Protocol, established by 2017 House Bill (HB) 2217, by exempting law enforcement agencies from the Protocol’s requirements to utilize a physician medical director or licensed pharmacist unless the agency was electing to use an emergency opioid antagonist dispensed or furnished pursuant to the Protocol. Signed by the Governor on Tuesday, April 8.
HB 2039 – Amends statutes relating to home health agencies to clarify the definition of “home health agency” for the purposes of credentialing; amends law regarding emergency medical services (EMS) and EMS providers to clarify authorized activities of paramedics, advanced emergency medical technicians (advanced EMTs), emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and emergency medical responders; and amends the Health Care Provider Insurance Availability Act to add certain maternity centers to the definition of “health care provider.” Signed by the Governor on Tuesday, April 8.
HB 2050 – Amends the Insurance Code of the State of Kansas relating to the powers, duties and responsibilities of the Commissioner of Insurance and renames the Kansas Insurance Department as the Kansas Department of Insurance. The bill also removes the requirement for the Senate to confirm the Department of Insurance Assistant Commissioner. Signed by the Governor on Tuesday, April 8.
HB 2069 – Enacts four multistate licensure compacts: the School Psychologist Compact, the Dietitian Compact, the Cosmetologist Licensure Compact, and the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact. Signed by the Governor on Tuesday, April 8.
HB 2075 – Amends law concerning when law enforcement may take a child under 18 into custody for suspected abuse or neglect (police protective custody); adds a procedure for law enforcement to report suspected abuse or neglect to the Secretary for DCF for the purposes of initiating an investigation; and amends law concerning the frequency of, and requirements for, permanency hearings under the Revised Code for the Care of Children. Signed by the Governor on Tuesday, April 8.
Senate Sub. for HB 2172 – Creates a 16-member Water Program Task Force and a five-member Water Planning Work Group to study and make recommendations to the Legislature on water policy and funding.
The bill requires the Task Force to:
- Evaluate major risks to the quality and quantity of the state’s water supply, including any impact on current and future economic growth and population stability.
- Determine steps the state must take to define and achieve a future supply of water for Kansans.
- Evaluate current funding for water in the state and determine whether such funding is sufficient to address the water issues included in the State Water Plan, including the state’s current and future water infrastructure needs.
- Submit a preliminary report on or before Jan. 31, 2026, and a final report on or before Jan. 31, 2027, to certain legislative committees and the Governor.
Senate Sub. for HB 2172 was signed by the Governor on Monday, April 7.
HB 2221 – Creates a new fund within KDADS for alcohol and drug abuse treatment, transfers funds and liabilities to the fund, and abolishes a corresponding Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) fund. Under current law, a portion of certain fines related to the crime of driving under the influence are paid to the KDOC fund. Signed by the Governor on Tuesday, April 1.
HB 2249 – Adds provisions that would become part of and supplemental to the Rural Emergency Hospital Act. The bill authorizes the Secretary for KDADS, upon application by a rural emergency hospital (REH) and compliance with certain requirements, to grant a physical environment waiver for existing nursing facilities to an REH to provide skilled nursing facility care. The bill also establishes the South Central Regional Mental Health Hospital, creates a fee fund, updates the catchment areas for the state hospitals, renames “Parsons State Hospital and Training Center” to “Parsons State Hospital,” and makes technical and conforming amendments. Signed by the Governor on Tuesday, April 8.
HB 2307 – Transfers the authority over the prenatally and postnatally diagnosed conditions awareness programs from KDHE to the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities, creates the Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Programs Fund, and directs a one-time $25,000 transfer from the state general fund to the new fund on July 1, 2025. Signed by the Governor on Thursday, April 3.
Bills Vetoed by the Governor
SB 14 – Establishes a system of continuing appropriation by which existing appropriations would carry forward into the subsequent fiscal year unless the Legislature adjusts them. Continuing appropriations is defined as appropriations provided for in the previous fiscal year. The Secretary of Administration, in consultation with the Director of the Budget and the Director of Legislative Research, would have the authority to make temporary allocations (borrow) between appropriated funds and special revenue funds when the balance of a fund is determined to be insufficient to meet its obligations. Such borrowing would require approval of the State Finance Council. Vetoed by the Governor on Wednesday, March 26. In her veto message, Gov. Kelly stated that “every single Legislature has managed to pass a budget that became law” and that she was confident that the Legislature would continue that tradition. Motions to override her veto were passed by the Senate on a vote of 31-9 and the House on a vote of 85-39 on Thursday, April 10.
Sub. for SB 29 – Removes the authority of the county or joint board of health or local health officer to prohibit public gatherings when necessary for the control of infectious or contagious disease. Vetoed by the Governor on Thursday, April 3. In her veto message, Gov. Kelly stated that she would not “sign legislation that hampers public health professionals’ ability to take reasonable, measured steps to limit the spread of dangerous infections and protect the health of the communities they are entrusted to serve.” Motions to override her veto were approved by the Senate on a vote of 31-9 and the House on a vote of 86-38 on Thursday, April 10.
SB 79 – Directing the Secretary of DCF to request a waiver from federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) rules that would allow the state to prohibit the purchase of candy and soft drinks with food assistance. Vetoed by the Governor on Thursday, April 3. In her veto message, Gov. Kelly stated that while she supported the idea that “Kansans should eat healthier, changes to the SNAP food assistance program should be made at the federal law.” Motion to override her veto was passed by the Senate on Thursday, April 10, on a vote of 29-11, but the House took no vote to reconsider her veto. Veto sustained.
HB 2062 – Amends law regarding child support to require such support be calculated from the date of conception, to require the court to consider the value of a qualified retirement account in determination of child support orders, and to eliminate the exemption of such accounts from claims to collect child support. The bill also would allow a personal exemption for any unborn child for the purposes of income taxation. The term “unborn child” would mean a living individual organism of the species Homo sapiens, in utero, at any stage of gestation from fertilization to birth. Vetoed by the Governor on Wednesday, April 9. In her veto message, Gov. Kelly stated the bill is “a dismissal of the will of the majority of Kansans who voted overwhelmingly in 2022 to keep politicians out of the private medical decisions made between a woman and her doctor.” Motions to override her veto were passed by the House on a vote of 87-38 and by the Senate on a vote of 31-9 on Thursday, April 10.
HB 2217 – Expands the scope of the Inspector General within the Office of the Attorney General to include the audit, investigation and performance review of all state cash, food and health assistance programs. The bill grants the Inspector General the power to subpoena, administer oaths and execute search warrants. Vetoed by the Governor on Thursday, April 3. In her veto message Gov. Kelly stated, “expanding the inspector general’s authority to audit and investigate all state cash, food, and health assistance programs is completely redundant, inefficient, and a waste of taxpayer dollars.” Motions to override her veto were passed by the House on a vote of 87-38 and by the Senate on a vote of 30-10 on Thursday, April 10.
Senate Sub. for HB 2240 – Prohibits state agencies, on and after July 1, 2025, from seeking or implementing any public assistance program waiver or other authorization from the federal government that would expand eligibility for any public assistance program or would increase any cost to the State without legislative approval. The bill also would prohibit making certain changes to services for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) without the express consent or approval of either the Legislature or the Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC). Vetoed by the Governor on Wednesday, April 9. In her veto message Gov. Kelly stated the bill “is an unconstitutional overreach by the Legislature into the executive branch attempting to create an unlawful administration of the state’s Medicaid program with the legislative branch” and is estimated to “require hundreds of hours of taxpayer-funded work and research by legislative staff to implement even the most basic of changes . . . and jeopardizes the very functioning of the underlying programs.” Motions to override her veto were passed by the House on a vote of 88-37 and by the Senate on a vote of 31-9 on Thursday, April 10.
HB 2284 – Requires the Department of Administration (DOA) to adopt written policies regarding the negotiated procurement of contracted Medicaid services provided by managed care organizations. The written policies would be required to have an appeals process, which would be overseen and adjudicated by an appeals committee composed of ten members of the Legislature. Vetoed by the Governor on Thursday, April 3. In her veto message Gov. Kelly stated that the bill “in its original form, contained several helpful provisions that I supported and would have improved transparency and accountability overall. However, as amended, this bill is now unworkable . . . and is a dramatic overreach by the Legislature into the role of the Executive branch, which is charged with administering and executing policy.” Motions to override her veto were passed by the House on a vote of 88-37 and by the Senate on a vote of 30-10 on Thursday, April 10.
HB 2311 – Creates law in the Kansas Revised Code for the Care of Children prohibiting the Secretary of DCF from adopting, implementing or enforcing certain policies with respect to who can be considered for selection as out-of-home or adoptive placement, custody or appointment as permanent or SOUL custodian for a child in need of care that may conflict with sincerely held religious or moral beliefs regarding sexual orientation or gender identity and creates a right of action for violations. Vetoed by the Governor on Thursday, April 3. In her veto message, Gov Kelly stated that “the top priority of [DCF] should be adhering to the ‘best interest of the child’ standard” and that “legislation like this detracts from this standard.” Motions to override her veto were passed by the House on a vote of 87-38 and by the Senate on a vote of 31-9 on Thursday, April 10.
Senate Sub. for HB 2382 – Requires any school district that offers courses or other instruction regarding human growth, human development or human sexuality to include, as part of the course or instruction, a human fetal development presentation. The bill also would allow the State Board of Education to establish the rates of compensation that board members receive for regularly scheduled meetings of the State Board and any other in-state meeting for participation in matters of educational interest to the State of Kansas.
The bill requires the human fetal development presentation to meet the following requirements:
- Be a high-quality, computer-generated animation or high-definition ultrasound.
- Be at least three minutes in length.
- Show the development of the brain, heart and other vital organs in early human fetal development.
The bill further requires that such human fetal development presentations be included in any course or instruction regarding human growth, human development or human sexuality. Vetoed by the Governor on Wednesday, April 9. In her veto message Gov. Kelly stated the bill “undermines the authority of the Kansas State Board of Education and local school boards, who are vested with the duty and responsibility to set and enforce curricula for our schools, no matter the subject.” Motions to override her veto were passed by the Huse on a vote of 84-41 and the Senate by a vote of 31-9 on Thursday, April 10.
Bills Allowed to Become Law Without the Governor’s Signature
SB 250 – Creates the Right to Try for Individualized Treatments Act. The bill authorizes a manufacturer operating in an eligible facility to make available individualized investigative treatments and allows individuals with life-threatening or severely debilitating illnesses to request an individualized investigational drug, biologic product or device from such manufacturers (referred to as “investigational treatment products”). The bill defines terms used in the Act; defines and establishes a procedure for use of a patient’s biospecimen; addresses requirements for informed consent for investigational treatments, manufacturer requirements and liability exemptions; and clarifies insurance and health coverage pursuant to the Act. Allowed to become law on Thursday, April 10.
HB 2027 – Reorganizes subsections within the public assistance statute (K.S.A. 39-709) pertaining to eligibility requirements for the cash assistance program (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or TANF), the food assistance program (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP), and the child care subsidy program. Allowed to become law on Thursday, April 10.
HB 2101 – Prohibits cities and counties from adopting an ordinance or enforcing a resolution that establishes or provides for the operation of a guaranteed income program that uses tax revenue unless the Legislature, by an act, expressly consents to and approves of such program. The bill renders any such prohibited ordinance or resolution adopted prior to July 1, 2025, null and void. The bill defines “guaranteed income” to mean a program that is not expressly required by federal law or regulation and provides individuals with regular periodic cash payments. Allowed to become law on Thursday, April 10.
Conference Committee Action
On Thursday, April 10, the Conference Committee agreed to remove the contents of HB 2045, related to the authority of the Commissioner of Insurance, and inserted the contents of Sub. for HB 2294, as passed by the House, which would establish the Kansas Office of Early Childhood for the purpose of creating greater transparency, safety and efficiency to Kansans with the oversight of all funds, programs and policies related to early childhood care services provided in Kansas. The Office would be under the supervision of the Director, who would be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate, and serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Director would be required to submit to the Legislature an annual request for the Office for appropriations and include the use of moneys subject to the provisions of Kansas law applicable to the Kansas Children’s Cabinet.
The Conference Committee further amended the bill to:
- Clarify that persons were licensed regarding professional development requirements.
- Clarify that only licensed child care centers would be required to meet legal requirements of the local jurisdiction regarding the location of the center.
- Clarify that a pilot program could request state funding subject to appropriations.
- Clarify the role and responsibilities of the Office and the Director.
- Remove the creation of a Deputy Director of Child Care Advocacy.
- Add the role, oversight and responsibilities for a Child Care Ombudsman.
- Clarify that the Office would comply with the responsibilities of the Children’s Cabinet.
- Clarify the consent requirements for interviewing of a child.
The Conference Committee Report was adopted by the Senate on Thursday, April 10, on a vote of 30-10, and adopted by the House on Friday, April 11, on a vote of 99-23. The bill was engrossed on Monday, April 14, and will be presented to the Governor. On Friday, Gov. Kelly stated she “looks forward to signing HB 2045 as we streamline access to high-quality early childhood services and make Kansas the premier place to raise a family.”
