Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2214

Introduced
2/3/25  
Refer
2/3/25  
Report Pass
2/16/26  
Engrossed
2/19/26  
Refer
2/25/26  

Caption

Enacting the safeguarding American veteran empowerment (SAVE) act to limit compensation for assisting in veterans benefits matters.

Impact

The enactment of HB 2214 would introduce strict regulations surrounding how individuals may be compensated for assisting veterans. Specifically, compensation can only be conditional upon an increase in the awarded benefits and cannot exceed five times the monthly increase in any awarded benefits. Furthermore, the bill prohibits any initial or nonrefundable fees for assisting veterans, which is intended to prevent upfront costs that might deter veterans from seeking help. These regulations could significantly affect veterans readily accessing necessary services from private advisors and advocates.

Summary

House Bill 2214, also known as the Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment (SAVE) Act, is designed to regulate compensation for individuals assisting veterans in matters related to veterans' benefits. The bill explicitly prohibits any person from receiving compensation for referring a veteran to another service provider or for any services related to claims filed within one year of active-duty release unless the veteran signs a waiver. This aims to protect veterans from potential exploitation by ensuring they are aware of and have access to free services offered by government and nonprofit organizations.

Contention

While proponents of HB 2214 argue that it offers vital protections for veterans against potentially predatory practices, critics may contend that it restricts veterans' options for personalized assistance by limiting how and when compensation can be earned by service providers. Concerns may arise around ensuring sufficient and qualified services for veterans as the bill could discourage private sector involvement in assisting with veterans' claims. Moreover, the requirement for full disclosure about the availability of free services emphasizes the need for transparency, but it may also complicate relationships between veterans and those providing services.

Summary-conclusion

In conclusion, House Bill 2214 seeks to enhance the protections for veterans by controlling the circumstances under which compensation for assistance can be provided. By aiming to minimize exploitation in the veterans' claims process, the bill strives to create a more equitable and transparent avenue for veterans to receive essential benefits. However, the balance between preventing fraud and ensuring adequate support options for veterans continues to be a subject of discussion among stakeholders.

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 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 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 SB8

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

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 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 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 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 HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.