Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2002

Filed/Introduced
8/8/26  
Introduced
1/13/25  

Caption

Requiring the department of health and environment to audit hospital compliance with the lay caregiver act and report the results of such audit to the legislature.

Impact

The introduction of HB 2002 represents a significant shift in hospital discharge protocols within Kansas. By requiring hospitals to formalize caregiver roles, the bill aims to improve the continuity of care post-discharge, ultimately benefiting patient health outcomes. Hospitals will also be required to educate caregivers about their aftercare responsibilities, which could reduce readmission rates and ensure a stronger community support system for patients transitioning from hospital care.

Summary

House Bill 2002, also known as the Kansas Lay Caregiver Act, establishes requirements for hospitals concerning the designation of caregivers for patients upon their admission and prior to discharge. Under this act, hospitals will be mandated to provide patients or their legal guardians the chance to designate a caregiver, with the aim of ensuring a smoother discharge process and improved aftercare. The act emphasizes that it is not obligatory for a patient to name a caregiver, thus respecting their autonomy in making such decisions.

Sentiment

The sentiment around HB 2002 appears largely supportive, with advocates arguing that it enhances patient safety and empowerment by involving caregivers in the discharge process. Proponents include health professionals and patient advocacy groups who believe that clearer communication and support for caregivers can significantly aid in home health management. However, there are concerns about the implementation and potential burdens this could place on hospitals in terms of resources and compliance.

Contention

One potential point of contention surrounding HB 2002 is the balance between the responsibilities placed on hospitals and the rights of patients. Critics may argue that while the intent behind the bill is beneficial, it could inadvertently impose additional administrative burdens on healthcare facilities, particularly smaller ones with fewer resources. The requirement for hospitals to comply with these regulations may lead to discussions about funding, training, and appropriate staffing to meet the needs of both patients and their designated caregivers.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS HB2002

Expanding medical assistance eligibility and enacting the cutting healthcare costs for all Kansans act.

KS HB2001

Authorizing the secretary of commerce to enter into agreements with major professional sports franchises to establish STAR bond projects for a major professional sports complex, providing for additional revenue sources, expanding the powers and discretion of the secretary and making other changes to the STAR bonds financing act to facilitate such projects, limiting the secretary’s authority to approve such projects to one year unless extended by the legislative coordinating council, authorizing the Kansas development finance authority to issue STAR bonds for such projects, transferring funds under certain circumstances from the state gaming revenues fund to the attracting professional sports to Kansas fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and, if approved by the legislative coordinating council, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.

KS SB8

Exempting the sale of firearms, firearms accessories, ammunition, firearm safes and firearm safety devices from the retatilers' sales tax.

KS SB7

Authorizing federally licensed firearm dealers, in addition to county sheriffs, to receive applications for concealed carry licenses and forward such applications to the attorney general, prohibiting sheriffs from assessing any fee related to application services and allowing dealers to assess a fee related to application services not to exceed $20.

KS SB1

Modifying income tax rates for individuals, exempting all social security benefits from Kansas income tax, increasing the Kansas standard deduction and the Kansas personal exemption, increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses, decreasing the privilege tax normal tax, excluding internal revenue code section 1031 exchange transactions as indicators of fair market value for property tax valuation purposes, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund and abolishing the local ad valorem tax reduction fund and the county and city revenue sharing fund.

KS SB6

Providing a sales tax exemption for sales of electricity to residential premises by municipally owned or operated utilities.

KS SB2

Eliminating the income limit to qualify for the subtraction modification exempting social security benefits, increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses, establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing for an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals, citing the increased property tax homestead refund claim section as the homeowners' property tax freeze program, decreasing the normal privilege tax rate, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, decreasing the rate of ad valorem tax imposed by a school district; providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund, reducing the state rate of tax on sales of food and food ingredients and modifying the percent credited to the state highway fund from revenue collected.

KS HB2003

Establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing for an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals, modifying the definition of household income and increasing the appraised value threshold for eligibility of seniors and disabled veterans related to increased property tax claims and citing the section as the homeowners' property tax freeze program, providing property tax exemptions for certain personal property including watercraft, marine equipment, off-road vehicles, motorized bicycles and certain trailers, excluding internal revenue code section 1031 exchange transactions as indicators of fair market value, providing for certain exclusions from the prohibition of paying taxes under protest after a valuation notice appeal and providing four prior years' values on the annual valuation notice.

KS SCR1601

Informing the Governor that the two houses of the Legislature are organized and ready to receive communications.

KS SB4

Requiring all advance voting ballots be returned by 7:00 p.m. on election day.

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