Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2646

Introduced
2/3/26  

Caption

Prohibiting certain conduct and improper collection of veterans benefits fees and requiring mandatory counseling concerning the benefits claims process.

Impact

If enacted, HB 2646 would significantly affect state laws concerning the management and collection of veterans benefits. The bill proposes stricter regulations on how fees associated with veterans benefits are collected, thus potentially reducing the risk of fraud and ensuring a more transparent process. Furthermore, by requiring that veterans receive mandatory counseling when navigating the claims process, the bill aims to empower service members with the knowledge needed to successfully obtain the benefits they deserve.

Summary

House Bill 2646 focuses on prohibiting certain misconduct related to the collection of veterans benefits fees and mandates counseling regarding the benefits claims process for veterans. The bill aims to enhance the protection of service members and veterans from improper practices that could exploit their claims for benefits. By regulating how benefits are processed and ensuring that veterans receive appropriate guidance, the bill seeks to create a more supportive environment for those who have served in the military.

Contention

Discussions around HB 2646 may raise concerns over the implementation and practical aspects of the mandatory counseling requirements. Critics could argue about the feasibility of ensuring that every veteran receives counseling, especially in rural areas with limited access to veteran services. Additionally, there may be debate concerning the balance between necessary regulation and potential bureaucratic overreach. The thoroughness of the counseling process could also be scrutinized to ensure that it truly benefits veterans without imposing unnecessary obstacles to their claims.

Notable_points

Key components of the bill include its focus on preventing improper conduct in the collection of veterans benefits fees, which is a critical concern for advocacy groups working to protect veteran rights. The mandatory counseling aspect reflects an understanding of the complexities involved in the benefits claims process, addressing barriers that veterans may face. This bill presents an opportunity to improve the support system for veterans while raising important considerations regarding its execution.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

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 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 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 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 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 SB3

Clarifying the procedures and restrictions on accepting a nomination for an elected office.

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 SB4

Requiring all advance voting ballots be returned by 7:00 p.m. on election day.

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.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.