Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2648

Introduced
2/3/26  

Caption

Enacting the social media and telecommunications fraud accountability act, requiring social media platforms to exercise reasonable care in preventing the dissemination of fraudulent advertisements, prohibiting falsely identifying names or numbers on telephone caller ID systems and the unauthorized use of a bank name in electronic advertisements or solicitations and making violations of the act an unconscionable act or practice under the Kansas consumer protection act.

Impact

The bill introduces specific requirements for social media platforms, including identity verification for advertisers and procedures for reporting suspected fraudulent content. If a user reports a fraudulent advertisement, the platform is obligated to investigate and notify the reporter of the outcome within strict timeframes. Additionally, the legislation establishes that civil penalties can be imposed on violators, making it clear that repeated offenses may lead to significant fines. Such actions reinforce the state’s commitment to consumer safety and accountability in the digital economy.

Summary

House Bill 2648, also known as the Social Media and Telecommunications Fraud Accountability Act, aims to enhance consumer protection regarding fraudulent advertisements disseminated through electronic communications. The bill mandates that social media platforms take reasonable precautions to prevent the spread of misleading advertisements and prohibits the unauthorized use of bank names in such communications. With this legislation, the intent is to provide a robust protective framework for consumers navigating digital advertising spaces, which have increasingly become conduits for fraudulent practices.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HB 2648 include concerns about the practicality and enforceability of the proposed measures. Critics argue that the requirements imposed on social media platforms may lead to increased operational costs, potentially stifling smaller platforms that may struggle to implement these regulations effectively. Moreover, there are worries regarding privacy issues associated with identity verification processes, as the bill may inadvertently raise barriers for legitimate businesses while failing to adequately address the real complexities involved in tackling online fraud.

Additional_information

By classifying violations of the act as unconscionable acts under the Kansas Consumer Protection Act, HB 2648 empowers the state attorney general to enforce compliance and initiate legal action against offenders. The combination of civil penalties and the ability for aggrieved individuals to pursue lawsuits against violators positions the act as a potent tool for increasing accountability in the realm of electronic communications. As such, this bill is poised to reshape the landscape of digital advertising and consumer rights in Kansas.

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 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 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 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 SCR1602

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

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.

Similar Bills

US SB414

ADS for Mental Health Services Act

CA AB796

Social media platforms: advertising: tax.

HI HB1458

Relating To Taxation Of Advertising Revenue By Major Social Media Platforms.

NY S08605

Requires social-media platforms to prevent, detect, and remove fraudulent advertisements and to establish advertiser-vetting obligations; requires reporting to the attorney general.

NY A11066

Requires social-media platforms to prevent, detect, and remove fraudulent advertisements and to establish advertiser-vetting obligations; requires reporting to the attorney general.

HI HB1458

Relating To Taxation Of Advertising Revenue By Major Social Media Platforms.

NY A10561

Enacts the "stopping abuse and fraud enabled by (SAFE) platforms act"; requires a mechanism for users to report fraudulent content; prohibits platforms recommending, promoting, curating, prioritizing, or displaying fraudulent content for delivery to a user if it knows or has reason to know that the content is fraudulent.

NY S09417

Enacts the "stopping abuse and fraud enabled by (SAFE) platforms act"; requires a mechanism for users to report fraudulent content; prohibits platforms recommending, promoting, curating, prioritizing, or displaying fraudulent content for delivery to a user if it knows or has reason to know that the content is fraudulent.