Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2131

Introduced
1/28/25  
Refer
1/28/25  
Refer
2/17/25  
Refer
2/19/25  
Report Pass
3/7/25  
Engrossed
3/21/25  

Caption

Requiring prosecutors to disclose their intent to introduce testimony from a jailhouse witness and to forward related information to the Kansas bureau of investigation.

Impact

The implementation of HB 2131 is set to have considerable ramifications on criminal procedure in Kansas. By establishing these disclosure requirements, the bill intends to prevent wrongful convictions that may arise from the reliance on potentially unreliable jailhouse witness testimony. The creation of a centralized record-keeping system for the testimonies and the benefits associated with them will also assist in monitoring trends and instances of abuse related to such testimonies, thereby supporting accountability for prosecuting attorneys.

Summary

House Bill 2131, known as the Pete Coones Memorial Act, aims to enhance the transparency of the use of jailhouse witness testimony in criminal prosecutions by requiring prosecuting attorneys to disclose their intent to introduce such testimony. This legislation mandates that prosecutors provide pertinent information to the defense, including the jailhouse witness's criminal history, any benefits received by the witness for their testimony, and details regarding the statements made by the suspect or defendant. The bill represents an effort to safeguard the integrity of criminal proceedings by ensuring that potential biases related to jailhouse testimonies are disclosed to the defense.

Contention

Despite the intended benefits of the bill, discussions around HB 2131 may evoke contention among legal professionals. Critics might argue that the requirements could impose additional burdens on prosecuting attorneys and lead to delays in criminal proceedings. On the other hand, supporters assert that these measures are necessary to uphold justice and protect the rights of defendants, ultimately calling for a more sound judicial process. The conversation surrounding HB 2131 highlights an ongoing debate about the balance between efficient prosecution and the protection of defendants' rights in the criminal justice system.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

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 HB2002

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

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 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 SCR1602

Approving the creation of a port authority in Wyandotte County Kansas.

KS SCR1604

Proposing to amend section 1 of article 11 of the constitution of the state of Kansas to limit property tax valuation increases for real property and personal property mobile homes.

KS SB4

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

KS SCR1603

Proposing to amend section 1 of article 11 of the constitution of the state of Kansas to limit property tax valuation increases for residential property.

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 SB8

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

Similar Bills

KS SB116

Requiring prosecutors to disclose their intent to introduce testimony from a jailhouse witness and to forward related information to the Kansas bureau of investigation.

OK HB1563

Criminal procedure; authorizing the issuance of subpoena duces tecum to businesses and commercial entities; codification; effective date.

OK HB1563

Criminal procedure; authorizing the issuance of subpoena duces tecum to businesses and commercial entities; codification; effective date.

OK HB2991

Criminal procedure; increasing certain time limitations; effective date.

OK HB3742

Criminal procedure; Due Process Protection Act of 2026; preliminary examinations and proceedings; disclosure; effective date.

OK HB1973

Criminal procedure; clarifying and including additional evidentiary disclosure requirements for prosecutors; effective date.

OK HB1973

Criminal procedure; clarifying and including additional evidentiary disclosure requirements for prosecutors; effective date.