As 2025 approaches, Kansas residents should prepare for a series of new laws taking effect on January 1. These legislative changes impact a variety of areas, from driving privileges to legislative compensation, financial services, and taxation.
Understanding these laws will help individuals and businesses stay informed and compliant. Here’s an in-depth look at the upcoming changes.
Senate Bill 27: Streamlining Statutory Amendments
Senate Bill 27 addresses instances where multiple amendments were made to the same statutes during recent legislative sessions. The law ensures clarity by repealing redundant provisions and consolidating non-contradictory amendments into a single statute. This adjustment impacts nine statutory provisions, making Kansas laws more concise and user-friendly.
Senate Bill 491: Standardizing Criminal History Record Checks
This bill standardizes the language and procedures for criminal history and fingerprinting requirements. It specifies what information can be shared with agencies for employment and identity verification while ensuring the confidentiality of criminal records.
Penalties for unauthorized disclosures are clearly defined, improving the integrity of background checks across six key provisions.
Senate Bill 500: Expanded Driving Privileges
Senate Bill 500 provides much-needed relief to individuals with restricted driving privileges due to misdemeanor traffic offenses, such as failure to comply with a traffic citation. The law now permits these individuals to drive for essential activities, including:
- Transporting children to and from school.
- Grocery shopping.
- Attending religious services.
This change balances the need for public safety with the practical needs of residents.
Senate Substitute for House Bill 2247: Overhauling Mortgage Regulations
This bill relocates mortgage-related provisions from the Kansas Uniform Consumer Credit Code (UCCC) to the Kansas Mortgage Business Act (KMBA). With 154 provisions, it enhances the regulatory framework for mortgage businesses, ensuring streamlined processes and improved oversight.
House Bill 2560: Modernizing Financial Services
House Bill 2560 replaces the Kansas Money Transmitter Act with the Kansas Money Transmission Act and introduces the Kansas Earned Wage Access Services Act. This legislation modernizes financial service regulations, protecting consumers while ensuring compliance with updated industry standards.
House Bill 2790: Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs) Oversight
This bill transfers regulatory authority over Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs) from the Commissioner of Insurance to the Secretary of State. It also clarifies that welfare benefit plans offered by PEOs are to be treated as single-employer welfare plans, streamlining regulatory oversight.
House Substitute for Senate Bill 229: Legislative Compensation Commission
This law establishes a nine-member Legislative Compensation Commission to study and recommend adjustments to legislators’ salaries, benefits, and retirement plans. The goal is to ensure fair compensation for Kansas lawmakers while promoting transparency and accountability.
Elimination of State Food Sales Tax
Kansans will benefit from the elimination of the state sales tax on food, effective January 1, 2025. This marks the final step in a phased reduction of the tax, which was 6.5% in 2022. This move aims to reduce the financial burden on residents and make essential groceries more affordable.
| Bill Number | Key Provisions |
|---|---|
| Senate Bill 27 | Reconciles and streamlines statutory amendments. |
| Senate Bill 491 | Standardizes criminal history checks and ensures confidentiality. |
| Senate Bill 500 | Expands restricted driving privileges for essential activities. |
| Senate Substitute for House Bill 2247 | Relocates mortgage provisions to the KMBA and enhances regulatory oversight. |
| House Bill 2560 | Updates money transmission and wage access regulations. |
| House Bill 2790 | Transfers PEO oversight to the Secretary of State and clarifies welfare plan statuses. |
| House Substitute for Senate Bill 229 | Establishes a Legislative Compensation Commission to review lawmakers’ pay and benefits. |
| State Food Tax | Completely eliminates state sales tax on food. |
The new laws taking effect in Kansas on January 1, 2025, reflect significant efforts to modernize regulations, provide relief to residents, and improve legislative transparency.
From expanded driving privileges and updated financial regulations to the elimination of the food sales tax, these changes will have a meaningful impact on Kansans’ daily lives.
Staying informed and understanding these laws is crucial for individuals and businesses to remain compliant and benefit from these legislative updates.
What is Senate Bill 500 about?
Senate Bill 500 allows individuals with restricted driving privileges due to misdemeanor traffic offenses to drive for essential activities like school transport, grocery shopping, and attending religious services.
How does the elimination of the food sales tax benefit Kansans?
The elimination of the food sales tax reduces the financial burden on residents, making groceries more affordable for everyone.
What changes does House Bill 2560 bring to financial services?
House Bill 2560 introduces the Kansas Money Transmission Act and Kansas Earned Wage Access Services Act, modernizing regulations and ensuring consumer protection.
