Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2018

Introduced
1/16/25  
Refer
1/16/25  
Report Pass
2/6/25  
Engrossed
2/17/25  
Refer
2/18/25  
Report Pass
3/17/26  
Enrolled
4/9/26  

Caption

Senate Substitute for HB 2018 by Committee on Federal and State Affairs - Creating the crime of interference with the conduct of a religious assembly, providing criminal penalties therefor and providing for a civil cause of action for damages.

Impact

The enactment of HB 2018 is anticipated to strengthen legal provisions related to religious freedoms in the state. By criminalizing acts that disrupt the conduct of religious assemblies, the bill aims to deter potential interference and ensure that congregants can worship freely. The provisions for civil action allow individuals who suffer from such interference to seek compensatory damages, further empowering victims and potentially leading to increased legal recourse against violators. This aligns with the state's commitment to uphold constitutional rights associated with freedom of religion.

Summary

House Bill 2018 introduces a new crime of 'interference with the conduct of a religious assembly.' This legislation responds to increasing concerns about protecting individuals' rights to practice their religion without disruption or intimidation. The bill defines specific acts that constitute interference, including the use of force, threats, or obstruction against persons engaging in lawful religious activities, and establishes punishments for those offenses. Offenders may face varying degrees of felonies or misdemeanors based on the severity of their actions, which is a notable shift in Kansas law aimed at reinforcing protections for religious practices.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB 2018 appears to be generally supportive among those advocating for religious freedoms, including many religious organizations. Proponents argue that the bill is a necessary step to safeguard individuals' rights, pointing to recent incidents where religious gatherings have been disrupted. However, critics express concerns about the potential for overreach, arguing that the bill might inadvertently infringe on free speech rights or be misused against legitimate dissent or protest activities close to places of worship. Thus, the discussion reflects a delicate balance between safeguarding religious expressions and maintaining robust free speech protections.

Contention

Key points of contention arise around the definitions provided in the bill and the broader implications of criminalizing behavior around religious assemblies. Opponents of the bill question whether the penalties are proportional and express fears that it could lead to a chilling effect on free expression, especially in pluralistic settings where a range of beliefs may intersect. The potential for excessive law enforcement actions against individuals protesting or demonstrating near places of worship also raises questions about the unintended consequences of such legislation. As these discussions unfold, the tension between protecting religious practices and ensuring free expression continues to be a focal point of debate.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

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 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 SR1701

Providing for the organization of the Senate for the 2024 special session of the Legislature.

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 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 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 HR6001

Providing for the organization of the House of Representatives for the 2024 special session of the Legislature.

KS HR6002

Providing for assignment of seats in the House of Representatives for the 2024 special session of the Legislature.

KS HCR5002

Providing for the adjournment sine die of the 2024 special session of the Legislature.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.