Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2181

Introduced
1/30/25  
Refer
1/30/25  

Caption

Enacting the uniform family law arbitration act.

Impact

The implementation of HB 2181 could have significant implications for family law practices in Kansas. By providing a structured method for arbitration, the law aims to streamline the resolution of disputes related to child custody, visitation, and financial support. It promotes expeditious processing of disputes, allowing families to resolve issues outside the traditional court system, which can be lengthy and emotionally taxing. However, the requirement for judicial confirmation of arbitration awards adds a layer of protection for parties involved, particularly in child-related disputes where the court's oversight is vital for safeguarding children's best interests.

Summary

House Bill 2181, known as the Uniform Family Law Arbitration Act, establishes a framework for resolving family law disputes through arbitration. The bill defines arbitration agreements, the roles of arbitrators, and the scope of disputes eligible for arbitration. It specifies that certain family law matters, such as divorce decrees, parental rights termination, and guardianship, cannot be resolved through arbitration. This limitation is crucial as it ensures that the most significant aspects of family law remain under judicial oversight, honoring the complexities inherently involved in such issues.

Contention

Discussion surrounding HB 2181 may evoke differing opinions among stakeholders. Advocates for the bill argue that it will reduce court congestion and empower families to manage their disputes in a more private, less adversarial environment. In contrast, opponents might express concerns about the potential for unequal power dynamics during arbitration, particularly against the backdrop of domestic violence and child welfare issues. The bill includes provisions meant to protect parties and children by allowing for temporary awards and referrals to court when safety is a concern, but some might feel these safeguards are insufficient.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS HB2002

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

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 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 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 SB8

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

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 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 SB6

Providing a sales tax exemption for sales of electricity to residential premises by municipally owned or operated utilities.

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 SB5

Authorizing counties to impose an earnings tax.

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