Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2487

Introduced
1/21/26  
Refer
1/21/26  
Report Pass
2/6/26  
Engrossed
2/11/26  
Refer
2/12/26  
Report Pass
3/16/26  
Enrolled
3/26/26  

Caption

Defining teacher and paraprofessional for purposes of eligibility for a scholarship under the Kansas education opportunity scholarship program.

Impact

The provisions of HB2487 will significantly amend the current framework for the Kansas Education Opportunity Scholarship Program by clarifying who qualifies as a scholarship recipient. With the inclusion of teachers and paraprofessionals as eligible participants based on their employment and financial need, the bill is seen as a step towards expanding access to postsecondary education. This could potentially lead to increased educational attainment among demographics that are historically underrepresented in higher education, further aligning with the state's educational goals.

Summary

House Bill 2487 introduces amendments to the Kansas Education Opportunity Scholarship Program Act, primarily focusing on expanding the definitions of eligibility to include teachers and paraprofessionals. The bill aims to better facilitate financial assistance for students who are either first-generation scholars or have parents employed in educational roles. By doing so, it encourages educational advancement among groups that may need additional support and resources to pursue postsecondary education.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB2487 appears to be largely positive, especially among educational stakeholders and advocacy groups that support increased access to education for first-generation students. The bill is viewed as a progressive move towards inclusivity and educational equity, aiming to provide necessary financial resources and opportunities for aspiring students. Nonetheless, there may be concerns about funding allocations and whether the adjustments would lead to an effective implementation of the intended support.

Contention

Despite the overall supportive sentiment, challenges may involve the bill's execution and its ability to address the varied educational and financial needs of the targeted groups effectively. Critics may raise questions regarding the priorities of state educational funding and resource allocation in light of these changes. It remains crucial for policymakers to monitor the outcomes linked to HB2487 to ensure it realizes its educational objectives without straining other areas of the educational landscape.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS HB2002

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

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 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 SB8

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

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 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 SR1702

A resolution honoring the life, career and trailblazing achievements of Kansas icon Ed Dwight.

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.

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NJ A2459

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NJ S2265

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NJ A2612

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MI HB4643

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