Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2141

Introduced
1/29/25  

Caption

Requiring school districts to offer parents the opportunity to object to educational materials and activities that are not included in approved curriculum or standards or that impair a parent's beliefs, values or principles.

Impact

The impact of HB 2141 extends to establishing a formalized procedure within school districts for handling parental objections to educational content. It challenges existing educational norms by prioritizing parental authority over instructional materials, likely leading to significant changes in how schools curate and present educational resources. The bill's proponents argue that it will foster a more respectful environment for diverse parental values; however, critics express concern that it may lead to censorship of educational content and hinder comprehensive education that includes differing perspectives.

Summary

House Bill 2141 mandates that school districts in Kansas must adopt a policy that allows parents or guardians to object to educational materials and activities that are not part of the approved curriculum or that conflict with their sincerely held beliefs. The bill aims to empower parents to have more control over their children's educational experiences by enabling them to withdraw students from classes or activities without adversely affecting their academic records. If a withdrawal occurs, schools are required to provide an alternative assignment to ensure that the student can still receive credit for the course.

Contention

One of the notable points of contention surrounding HB 2141 is the balance between parental rights and academic freedom. Supporters claim that the legislation is an essential stride toward acknowledging diverse familial values in educational settings, while opponents worry it may enable excessive parental control that disrupts curriculum integrity. The bill opens the door for potential conflicts regarding what materials and activities schools may present, raising questions about how educators can navigate objections without compromising educational quality.

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 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 SCR1601

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

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 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 SR1703

Recognizing November 14, 2024, as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day.

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 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.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.