Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2237

Introduced
2/4/25  
Refer
2/4/25  
Report Pass
3/13/25  
Engrossed
3/20/25  
Refer
3/21/25  
Report Pass
3/10/26  
Enrolled
3/26/26  

Caption

Authorizing hiring, recruitment and retention bonuses in state agencies' employee award and recognition program, increasing the limitation on such award or bonus to $10,000, eliminating the secretary of administration's authority to adopt rules and regulations and requiring such secretary to submit an annual report to certain legislative committees concerning such awards and bonuses.

Impact

By raising the maximum award limit, HB2237 aims to incentivize performance and acknowledge employee contributions. The increased funding allows agencies to offer more attractive compensation packages that could directly impact employee morale and effectiveness. Moreover, the elimination of the Secretary of Administration's authority to adopt rules and regulations means that state agencies will have more autonomy in implementing their award programs, although this could lead to inconsistencies across different agencies if not managed properly. Additionally, the proposed structure encourages agencies to adopt employee suggestion programs aimed at identifying cost savings and efficiencies, likely resulting in more innovation at the state level.

Summary

House Bill 2237 proposes significant changes to the employee award and recognition program within state agencies. Primarily, the bill authorizes hiring, recruitment, and retention bonuses for state employees, with the maximum allowable bonus increased to $10,000. This legislation reflects a growing need to attract and retain talent in state agencies amidst competitive labor markets. The bill also amends existing laws to streamline the approval process for these bonuses and requires that the Secretary of Administration submit annual reports concerning these awards to certain legislative committees, enhancing transparency and oversight in state expenditures related to employee compensation.

Sentiment

General sentiment around HB2237 appears to be positive, particularly among supporters who see the bill as a proactive measure to improve employee satisfaction and performance within state agencies. Advocates argue that enhancing compensation strategies is essential for maintaining a competitive workforce. However, there are concerns among some legislators regarding the potential for misuse of funds or for creating disparities in how rewards are distributed among agencies, which has led to some critiques of the bill's oversight mechanisms.

Contention

Notably, the bill's removal of previously existing regulations could lead to debates over accountability and equitable distribution of bonuses. Critics worry that without sufficient oversight, the program could be exploited, resulting in inequities where some employees may receive excessive bonuses while others may not be adequately recognized. While the intent is to foster an encouraging work environment, the implications of implementing rewards without strict guidelines could become a point of contention in future legislative discussions.

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 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 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 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 SB5

Authorizing counties to impose an earnings tax.

KS HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

KS SCR1601

Informing the Governor that the two houses of the Legislature are organized and ready to receive communications.

KS HB2002

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

KS SB8

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

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