Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2505

Introduced
1/21/26  
Refer
1/21/26  
Report Pass
2/16/26  
Engrossed
2/24/26  
Refer
2/25/26  
Refer
2/25/26  

Caption

Providing an exception for Kansas department of wildlife and parks records regarding the location of any species that is threatened, endangered or in need of conservation from the disclosure requirements of the Kansas open records act.

Impact

If enacted, HB2505 will significantly influence how wildlife conservation information is handled within Kansas. The bill seeks to safeguard the locations of at-risk species from public disclosure, which could potentially deter poaching and habitat destruction. By restricting access to this sensitive information, the bill aims to create a more secure environment for species that are under threat. The implications of such a move will be part of broader wildlife management strategies, as it seeks to prioritize conservation while managing public interest.

Summary

House Bill 2505 proposes an important amendment to existing Kansas legislation regarding the open records law, specifically affecting the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. The bill aims to provide exceptions to the disclosure requirements for records that detail the locations of any species classified as threatened, endangered, or in need of conservation. This initiative underscores the state’s commitment to protecting vulnerable species while balancing the public's right to access information.

Contention

While the motivation behind HB2505 is primarily conservation-focused, discussions surrounding the bill may evoke concerns about transparency and accountability in wildlife management. Proponents argue that the protection of endangered species outweighs the need for public access to such records. However, opponents may claim that reduced transparency could hinder conservation efforts, as stakeholders, including researchers and conservationists, rely on open data to monitor and support at-risk species effectively. This dichotomy could spark ongoing debates about the appropriate balance between species protection and the public's right to information.

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 SCR1602

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

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 SR1702

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

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 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 SCR1603

Proposing to amend section 1 of article 11 of the constitution of the state of Kansas to limit property tax valuation increases for residential property.

KS SB6

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

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.

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