Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2653

Introduced
2/3/26  
Refer
2/3/26  
Report Pass
2/10/26  
Engrossed
2/16/26  
Refer
2/17/26  
Report Pass
3/3/26  
Enrolled
4/9/26  

Caption

Requiring the secretary of corrections to assist inmates with obtaining identification and employment-related documentation prior to release from custody.

Impact

The enactment of HB 2653 is expected to have a significant impact on state laws regarding the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders. Specifically, it shifts some responsibilities to the corrections system to actively assist inmates in preparing for their release, thereby promoting access to necessary documentation that is often a barrier to employment for ex-offenders. By formalizing this assistance, the bill seeks to provide a structured approach to inmate reentry, aligning state corrections policies with broader goals of reducing recidivism and supporting community safety.

Summary

House Bill 2653 focuses on enhancing the reintegration process for inmates upon their release from custody in Kansas. The bill mandates that the Secretary of Corrections assist inmates in obtaining essential documentation, such as birth certificates, social security cards, and driver's licenses, prior to their release. Additionally, it requires the provision of vocational training records, work records, and any educational certifications the inmate may have acquired during their incarceration. This initiative aims to facilitate a smoother transition back into society and help reduce recidivism rates by ensuring that former inmates have the necessary tools to secure employment.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB 2653 appears to be largely positive, with widespread support among legislators recognizing the importance of providing inmates with the tools they need to reintegrate successfully into society. This initiative is seen as a compassionate approach to criminal justice reform, aiming to improve outcomes for former inmates and their communities. However, discussions may have also highlighted concerns regarding the costs associated with implementing these measures and the effectiveness of such programs in actually reducing recidivism.

Contention

While there is strong support for HB 2653, some points of contention may arise concerning the practicality of the bill's implementation. Critics may argue about the resource allocation and whether the necessary infrastructure exists within the corrections system to efficiently provide the required documentation to all eligible inmates in a timely manner. Additionally, potential disagreements can emerge on the extent of the Secretary of Corrections’ role in facilitating these processes and ensuring that all inmates receive adequate support before their release.

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 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 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 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 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 SB4

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

KS SB6

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

KS SB3

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

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