Kansas House Bill HB2299

Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/5/25
• Refer: 2/5/25
• Report Pass: 2/18/25
• Refer: 2/20/25
• Refer: 2/25/25
• Refer: 2/27/25
• Report Pass: 3/18/25
• Engrossed: 3/19/25
• Refer: 3/20/25
• Report Pass: 3/4/26
• Enrolled: 3/13/26
• Passed: 3/20/26

Caption

Senate Substitute for Substitute for HB2299 by Committee on Education - Providing that certain statutory references to accredited nonpublic schools mean nonpublic schools accredited by the state board of education, requiring that schools accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency shall have the same rights as schools accredited by the state board, requiring school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to prohibit the use of personal electronic communication devices during the school day and prohibiting employees of a school district from using social media to communicate with students for official school purposes.

Summary

HB 2299 would add a new state policy prohibiting public educational institutions that receive and expend tax dollars from engaging in practices or policies that discriminate on the basis of religion or that promote or tolerate antisemitism. It creates a complaint process allowing an aggrieved person, or a parent/guardian for a minor, to file with the attorney general, who may investigate, issue subpoenas and interrogatories, take testimony, and seek court enforcement for noncompliance. If the attorney general finds a violation by a preponderance of the evidence, the bill authorizes civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation, payable to the state general fund, with judicial review available under the Kansas judicial review act. The bill also clarifies that coursework devoted to the study of world religions or cultures is not prohibited. It defines antisemitism by reference to the IHRA working definition and applies the new rules to public elementary and secondary schools, community colleges, Washburn University, Washburn Institute of Technology, technical colleges, and state educational institutions. The bill also amends the Kansas Act Against Discrimination to add language stating that public institutions receiving tax dollars may not adopt antisemitic policies or policies that promote antisemitism, and that no person may be required to participate in programming or training that promotes or degrades any one religion. It expands the Kansas Human Rights Commission’s authority to refer complaints to the attorney general and gives the attorney general independent authority to investigate discrimination complaints and seek damages of up to $10,000 per violation in district court. More broadly, HB 2299 revises K.S.A. 44-1001, 44-1004, 44-1005, and 44-1009 to incorporate these new protections and enforcement mechanisms into the state’s anti-discrimination framework. It would therefore affect public educational institutions, the attorney general, the Kansas Human Rights Commission, and individuals alleging religious discrimination or antisemitic conduct in educational settings or under the Kansas Act Against Discrimination. The voting history suggests the measure was generally supported but not without opposition: it passed the House and Senate with substantial majorities, though several members voted no at each stage. The overall sentiment appears favorable toward addressing antisemitism and religious discrimination in public education, while the main contention likely centered on the scope of state oversight, the attorney general’s expanded enforcement powers, and concerns about how the bill might affect curriculum, training, or institutional autonomy.

Impact

The bill would create a new statutory prohibition on antisemitic or religion-based discriminatory practices by public educational institutions and would expand enforcement authority for the attorney general and the Kansas Human Rights Commission. It would also amend the Kansas Act Against Discrimination to add religion-focused policy language, authorize civil penalties and damages up to $10,000 per violation, and revise complaint, investigation, and referral procedures under K.S.A. 44-1001, 44-1004, 44-1005, and 44-1009.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have received generally positive support in the Legislature, as reflected by strong passage margins in both chambers. At the same time, the recorded no votes indicate some reservations, likely about the breadth of the new restrictions and the enforcement role given to the attorney general and the human rights commission. Overall, the sentiment in the available record is supportive of anti-discrimination protections, especially regarding antisemitism, but not unanimous.

Contention

The main points of contention are likely the bill’s definition of antisemitism, its application to public educational institutions, and the attorney general’s expanded investigative and penalty authority. Supporters would view the measure as a needed response to antisemitic conduct and religious discrimination in taxpayer-funded schools and colleges, while critics may worry it could chill academic speech, curriculum choices, diversity training, or institutional discretion. The carve-out for world religions and culture coursework appears intended to address some of those concerns.