Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2142

Introduced
1/29/25  

Caption

Requiring each school district adopt an independent review process as part of such district's policies prohibiting and preventing bullying.

Impact

The introduction of HB 2142 is expected to significantly shift the landscape of how school districts manage bullying allegations. By mandating an independent review process, the bill ensures there is an additional layer of oversight, which may increase trust among parents and students regarding the district's commitment to handling bullying. This change aims to create a more transparent atmosphere in schools where students and staff feel secure and safe. However, the bill will require school districts to allocate resources towards training staff for the implementation of these policies effectively.

Summary

House Bill 2142 requires each school district in Kansas to adopt policies that not only prohibit bullying but also establish an independent review process for complaints regarding bullying. This initiative is a response to concerns about how bullying complaints are handled by school authorities. It enables individuals who believe their complaints were inadequately addressed or mismanaged to request an independent review by a neutral party. This process aims to enhance accountability within school districts and ensure that bullying incidents are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly.

Contention

Despite its potential benefits, HB 2142 does face criticism and concerns from various stakeholders. Some legislators argue that the independent review process could lead to overreach or unnecessary scrutiny of school administrators, who are already challenged with managing a wide array of responsibilities. Furthermore, there are apprehensions that the additional layer of review may deter staff from taking decisive action during initial investigations due to fear of being second-guessed. Balancing accountability with the ability to make timely decisions in bullying cases will be a crucial challenge moving forward.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

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 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 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 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 SB3

Clarifying the procedures and restrictions on accepting a nomination for an elected office.

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 SR1703

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

KS SB8

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

KS SB4

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

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