Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2423

Introduced
1/12/26  

Caption

Allowing hunters who are federally licensed drone operators to use drones to locate wounded or recently deceased deer.

Impact

The bill will specifically impact the regulations surrounding hunting practices in the state. By allowing the use of drones for locating deer, it may significantly change how hunters approach tracking game. Existing state laws regarding the use of technology in hunting will need to be revised to incorporate rules on drone usage, ensuring proper guidelines are in place to prevent potential misuse or ethical concerns that could arise from drone-assisted hunting.

Summary

House Bill 2423 aims to permit hunters who possess a federal drone operator license to utilize drones for the purpose of locating wounded or deceased deer. This legislative proposal seeks to enhance the efficiency of wildlife management practices and minimize waste when deer are injured and not immediately retrieved. Proponents of the bill argue that the use of drones can significantly improve the recovery process during hunting seasons, thereby promoting ethical hunting practices and reducing suffering for injured wildlife.

Sentiment

Sentiment around HB 2423 appears generally supportive among hunting communities and wildlife conservation advocates who see the advantages of using modern technology to manage wildlife effectively. However, there might be some reservations from traditionalist hunters or wildlife activists who view the use of drones as potentially intrusive or contrary to the spirit of fair chase hunting. This dichotomy is evident in discussions about the appropriateness of drone usage in hunting contexts.

Contention

A notable point of contention surrounding HB 2423 relates to the ethical implications of using drones in hunting. Critics argue that reliance on drones could lead to an unfair advantage, fundamentally changing the dynamics of hunting. There is concern that drone usage might encourage less responsible hunting behavior, as hunters may feel detached from the traditional experience of tracking deer manually. Balancing technological advancement with ethical hunting practices remains a critical consideration for lawmakers as discussions continue.

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 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 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 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 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 SB8

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

KS SB5

Authorizing counties to impose an earnings tax.

KS HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.