Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2134

Introduced
1/28/25  
Refer
1/28/25  
Report Pass
2/18/25  
Engrossed
2/25/25  
Refer
2/26/25  
Report Pass
3/7/25  
Enrolled
4/10/25  

Caption

Amending the Kansas open records act by limiting certain charges for furnishing records and employee time required to make records available and exempting certain records from disclosure and amending the Kansas open meetings act by providing for the membership calculation of subordinate groups and requiring public bodies or agencies that live stream meetings to ensure that the public is able to observe.

Impact

The implications of HB 2134 on state laws include a provision that prohibits excessive charges for electronic copies of public records, ensuring that access to governmental information is facilitated without prohibitive costs. It also mandates that county or district attorneys report violations of open records laws to the Attorney General annually in October rather than January, which could result in swifter governmental action in addressing potential violations.

Summary

House Bill 2134 is centered around reforming the Kansas Open Records Act and Open Meetings Act. The bill proposes to amend regulations concerning public access to governmental records, aiming to limit certain charges for the furnishing of records and the time required by employees to make these records accessible. One of the key stipulations of the bill is the exemption of records compiled during formally closed investigations with no found violations, and those containing obscene material, from disclosure. This is intended to balance public access with the need to protect sensitive information during investigations.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB 2134 has been generally positive, as advocates laud the bill for promoting transparency and reducing financial barriers to accessing public records. However, there are concerns from some legislators about the potential for overreach in the exemptions granted, particularly regarding closed investigations. Critics argue that while the intention is to enhance accessibility, it shouldn’t come at the risk of compromising necessary confidentiality in sensitive matters.

Contention

A point of contention among lawmakers involves the exemptions related to open records, especially the possibility that closing off access to certain records may hinder the public's right to know. Legislators worry that exempting records from disclosure could lead to reduced accountability of public officials. The balance between ensuring transparency and protecting the integrity of certain investigations remains a topic of heated discussion throughout the legislation process for HB 2134.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

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 HB2002

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

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 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 SR1702

A resolution honoring the life, career and trailblazing achievements of Kansas icon Ed Dwight.

KS SCR1602

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

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.