Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2536

Introduced
1/23/26  
Refer
1/23/26  
Report Pass
2/6/26  
Engrossed
2/18/26  
Refer
2/19/26  
Report Pass
3/16/26  
Enrolled
3/26/26  

Caption

Requiring proposed guardians for certain adults who have a cognitive impairment or are diagnosed with a neurological condition to complete training approved by the secretary for aging and disability services prior to appointment as a guardian.

Impact

The legislative intent of HB 2536 is to strengthen the guardianship process by formalizing training requirements and setting a standard for guardians' qualifications. This bill is expected to impact state laws by introducing a structured approach to the selection of guardians, boosting the quality of care and advocacy for adults with cognitive challenges. The Secretary for Aging and Disability Services will have the authority to approve training programs, ensuring a consistent level of education regarding the unique needs of these individuals across Kansas, potentially improving their overall welfare.

Summary

House Bill 2536 introduces significant changes to the Kansas uniform guardianship, conservatorship, and other protective arrangements act. The bill mandates that proposed guardians for adults diagnosed with cognitive impairments or neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease and dementia, must complete an approved training program before they can be appointed as guardians. This requirement aims to ensure that guardians are adequately prepared to support and communicate effectively with individuals facing these challenges, thereby upholding the dignity and rights of vulnerable adults.

Sentiment

The general sentiment surrounding HB 2536 appears to be positive, particularly among advocates for the elderly and those with cognitive impairments. Supporters of the bill believe that it represents a proactive step towards safeguarding the rights of vulnerable individuals by equipping guardians with the necessary skills and knowledge. However, there may be concerns among some stakeholders regarding the implementation of the training programs and how this could affect the availability of guardians, especially for those in immediate need of assistance.

Contention

Despite the positive reception, some points of contention may arise around the practicality of the mandated training processes, including logistics, availability of programs, and potential delays in appointing guardians due to training requirements. There may also be debates on the qualifications and content of the approved training programs, with stakeholders advocating for standardized, high-quality education to ensure that guardians can meet the needs of those they represent effectively.

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 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 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 HB2002

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

KS SB8

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

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.

KS HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

Similar Bills

CA AB1025

Standby Caretaker Act.

NJ A969

Establishes Office of Professional Corporate Guardians.

CA AB2283

State Public Guardian.

TX SB2342

Relating to the application for appointment of a guardian and to requiring criminal history record information and other information in connection with the guardianship of a ward or the ward's estate.

WV HB4358

Establishing pilot program for Public Guardian Ad Litem Services

WV HB2035

Establishing pilot program for Public Guardian Ad Litem Services

IL HB3811

PRIVATE PROFESSIONAL GUARDIANS

MI HB4634

Probate: guardians and conservators; appointment; modify procedure. Amends secs. 5303, 5304, 5306, 5306a, 5312 & 5416 of 1998 PA 386 (MCL 700.5303 et seq.). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4632'25, HB 4633'25, HB 4635'25