Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2419

Introduced
1/12/26  

Caption

Providing an exception to KORA that authorizes certain retired KPERS members to have identifying information restricted from public access on public websites that identify home addresses or home ownership.

Impact

If passed, HB 2419 would represent a significant change in how personal information is handled under KORA, providing greater privacy protections for retired public employees. This change would mean that identifying information, such as home addresses, would be kept confidential and not publicly accessible through state-run records website. This is particularly important given the rise of identity theft and the potential risks associated with the public disclosure of such sensitive information. The bill supports the notion that public employees who have dedicated their careers to serving the public deserve an additional layer of protection regarding their private lives after retirement.

Summary

House Bill 2419 seeks to amend the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) to provide certain retired members of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) with an exception allowing for their identifying information to be restricted from public access. This legislation is designed specifically to protect the privacy of retired KPERS members by ensuring that their home addresses and home ownership details do not appear on public websites. The bill reflects growing concerns regarding the security and privacy of personal information, particularly for individuals in retirement who may be more vulnerable to harassment or other privacy violations.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB 2419 appears to be generally supportive among advocates for privacy rights and retired public employees. Supporters argue that the bill is a necessary step in recognizing the contributions of retirees and ensuring their safety and privacy post-retirement. However, there may be concerns from transparency advocates who argue that restricting access to public records should be balanced against the public's right to information. The discussions indicate a recognition of privacy rights while also highlighting the tension between public access to information and individual privacy interests.

Contention

Notable points of contention may arise regarding the implications of restricting public access to identifying information. Critics of similar privacy measures often assert that such laws could impede transparency and accountability in government, particularly regarding public officials. However, supporters of HB 2419 may argue that the specific context of retired KPERS members justifies the need for such an exception. The focus would be on ensuring the safety and privacy of individuals who may not be in positions of public power anymore but still deserve protection from unwanted attention or potential threats due to their previous roles.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

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 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 SB5

Authorizing counties to impose an earnings tax.

KS SB3

Clarifying the procedures and restrictions on accepting a nomination for an elected office.

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 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 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.

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