Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2485

Introduced
1/21/26  
Refer
1/21/26  
Report Pass
2/6/26  
Engrossed
2/18/26  
Refer
2/19/26  
Report Pass
3/17/26  
Enrolled
4/9/26  

Caption

Authorizing the chief executive officer of the board of regents to negotiate and settle repayment obligations arising under financial aid programs administered by the board, providing requirements for agreements between postsecondary educational institutions and school districts for postsecondary courses taught in secondary schools, directing the governor to approve short-term workforce training programs for Pell grant eligibility, modifying requirements under the every child can read act and prohibiting Kansas promise scholarship awards for remedial hours.

Impact

If enacted, HB 2485 would have significant implications on state educational policies, particularly in setting forth formal requirements for literacy education and the development of individual student literacy plans for high-risk students. It funds initiatives for the professional development of educators in evidence-based practices and mandates the monitoring and reporting of literacy outcomes to provide accountability at both school and district levels. Additionally, the bill prohibits the use of certain discredited reading methodologies, promoting a standardized approach to teaching literacy based on the science of reading.

Summary

House Bill 2485 aims to revamp education funding and requirements in Kansas, focusing on enhancing literacy education and aligning higher education with workforce needs. This bill allows postsecondary educational institutions to collaborate with school districts in providing courses, and establishes specific guidelines for the implementation of Kansas Promise Scholarships. The bill emphasizes the need for individual student literacy plans, particularly targeting students at risk of not achieving proficiency by third grade, aiming to support diverse learners effectively.

Sentiment

Overall, the sentiment around HB 2485 appears to be positive among supporters who view these reforms as essential for improving educational outcomes in Kansas. Proponents, including many educators and literacy advocates, believe that the bill’s focus on solid literacy fundamentals will lead to better prepared students and more comprehensively address literacy challenges across the state. However, there are concerns from critics who feel that aspects of the bill may overreach and undermine local educational authority by imposing state mandates on teaching methods and curricular decisions.

Contention

The bill raises notable points of contention regarding its funding and requirement structure for both K-12 and postsecondary institutions. Critics argue that the financial implications of sustaining wide-ranging reforms could pose challenges amid existing budget constraints. Additionally, the stringent guidelines around the Kansas Promise Scholarship, including conditional funding based on compliance with repayment obligations, have sparked discussions about accessibility and equity, particularly for lower-income families seeking education.

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 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 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 HB2002

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

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 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 SCR1602

Approving the creation of a port authority in Wyandotte County Kansas.

KS SB6

Providing a sales tax exemption for sales of electricity to residential premises by municipally owned or operated utilities.

KS SCR1601

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

KS SB8

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

Similar Bills

TX HB5261

Relating to designating the Windham School District to provide postsecondary education to inmates of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

CA AB240

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CA AB2768

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IL SB0404

EDUCATION-TECH

NJ A1780

Makes supplemental appropriation of $3.5 million for Community College Opportunity Grant-Adult Postsecondary Career and Technical Education.

CA AB1985

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CA AB2422

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MN HF4232

Postsecondary institutions required to notify a pupil's school of the pupil's grades, and number of college credits granted each school year for postsecondary course enrollment limited.