Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2205

Introduced
2/3/25  

Caption

Prohibiting lobbying for or by foreign adversaries; authorizing the attorney general to file civil lawsuits; providing for civil penalties for violations thereof.

Impact

If enacted, HB 2205 could significantly reshape state laws concerning lobbying and ethics by introducing explicit restrictions against foreign influence in governmental affairs. The bill grants the Attorney General the authority to pursue civil actions against individuals or entities that violate its provisions, establishing a system of accountability for lobbying practices linked to foreign adversaries. Violation of this law invokes substantial civil penalties, escalating with repeated offenses—up to $150,000 for multiple violations—ensuring that the consequences are strong deterrents against such lobbying activities.

Summary

House Bill 2205 is a legislative proposal aimed at prohibiting lobbying activities conducted on behalf of foreign adversaries. It specifically bans individuals from engaging in lobbying efforts for foreign governments classified as adversaries by the state, such as China, Russia, Iran, and others. The bill defines 'foreign adversaries' broadly, encompassing not only governments but also their officials, corporations, and any entities operated under their control. This comprehensive definition is designed to mitigate the influence of foreign interests on local governance and policy-making.

Contention

The introduction of HB 2205 may stir considerable debate over governmental ethics and foreign influence. Proponents argue that it is a necessary measure to protect the integrity of state governance, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding policy-making from external influences that could undermine national interests. Conversely, critics may raise concerns regarding the vagueness of the terms used in the bill, potentially leading to overreach and hindering legitimate lobbying efforts that do not pose a threat to state interests. The balance between national security and the rights of individuals and organizations to engage in lobbying will likely be a focal point of contention.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

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 SB6

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

KS HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

KS SB8

Exempting the sale of firearms, firearms accessories, ammunition, firearm safes and firearm safety devices from the retatilers' sales 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 SB5

Authorizing counties to impose an earnings tax.

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 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 SR1701

Providing for the organization of the Senate for the 2024 special session of the Legislature.

Similar Bills

TX HB119

Relating to the registration as a lobbyist of persons who engage in certain lobbying activities on behalf of a foreign adversary and to prohibitions on the receipt of compensation related to those lobbying activities; providing a civil penalty.

IL SB2365

FOREIGN ADVERSARY DIVESTMENT

TX SB2514

Relating to establishing the hostile foreign adversaries unit at the Department of Public Safety and training, prohibitions, and reporting requirements designed to combat foreign influence and foreign adversary operations; creating a criminal offense.

US SB172

Stopping Adversarial Tariff Evasion Act

AZ SB1308

foreign adversary fraud office; appropriation

AZ HB2542

State contracts; foreign adversary; prohibition

AZ SB1100

patient rights; health care services

TX SB1845

Relating to the registration as a lobbyist of persons who engage in certain lobbying activities on behalf of a foreign adversary and to prohibitions on the receipt of compensation related to those lobbying activities; providing a civil penalty.