Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2173

Introduced
1/30/25  
Refer
1/30/25  
Refer
2/3/25  
Report Pass
2/14/25  
Refer
2/19/25  

Caption

Authorizing certain offenders to petition for relief from registration requirements under the Kansas offender registration act.

Impact

The bill's introduction opens up important discussions about the balance between public safety and the rights of offenders seeking rehabilitation. Supporters argue that this bill recognizes the possibility of genuine rehabilitation among offenders, allowing those who have made positive changes in their lives to reintegrate more fully into society without the stigma of ongoing registration. It affirms the principle that individuals who have adapted their behaviors and demonstrated accountability should have an opportunity to move forward free from punitive measures once deemed appropriate.

Summary

House Bill 2173 proposes modifications to the Kansas Offender Registration Act, specifically allowing certain offenders to petition for relief from registration requirements after fulfilling specific conditions. Under the provisions of the bill, a drug offender who has registered under the act for a designated minimum period (five or ten years depending on the circumstance) would be eligible to file a petition seeking to be relieved of their registration obligations. This change aims to provide a pathway for offenders who have demonstrated rehabilitation and whose continued registration is deemed unnecessary for public safety.

Conclusion

In summary, HB 2173 represents a significant legislative effort to amend existing laws governing offender registration in Kansas, reflecting evolving attitudes toward criminal justice and rehabilitation. By allowing for petitions for relief, the bill aims to create a more forgiving framework for offenders, although the balance of ensuring public safety while supporting rehabilitation continues to provoke debate.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HB 2173 include concerns from various advocacy groups who argue that easing registration requirements could potentially endanger public safety. Opponents of the bill highlight the complexities involved in assessing an offender's rehabilitation and the risk that some individuals may not genuinely change. Furthermore, questions arise regarding the definitions of adequate rehabilitation and who decides these criteria, including the proposed necessity for risk assessments as part of the petition process.

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 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 HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

KS SB5

Authorizing counties to impose an earnings tax.

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 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 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 SCR1602

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

KS SR1702

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

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.