Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2658

Introduced
2/3/26  

Caption

Enacting the safe and transparent arrest act to require all law enforcement agencies operating in Kansas to adopt a written policy regarding the use of facial coverings and prohibit law enforcement officers from wearing a facial covering that conceals or obscures their facial identity in the performance of their duties except as expressly authorized by law.

Impact

The implications of HB 2658 are multifaceted. On one hand, supporters assert that the bill fosters transparency and accountability, allowing the public to be aware of who is executing law enforcement duties. This is particularly crucial in situations where actions may be contested or scrutinized. By ensuring officers do not conceal their identities, the bill aims to enhance trust between law enforcement and the community they serve. However, there is concern among some law enforcement agencies that this could limit their operational effectiveness, particularly in high-risk situations where anonymity might be necessary for officers' safety.

Summary

House Bill 2658, also known as the Safe and Transparent Arrest Act, is designed to enhance accountability in law enforcement practices within the state of Kansas. The bill mandates that all law enforcement agencies must adopt a written policy concerning the use of facial coverings by officers during the execution of their duties. The legislation specifically prohibits officers from wearing any facial covering that conceals or obscures their facial identity unless expressly authorized by law. This move aims to increase transparency and public trust in police operations, particularly during arrests, where facial recognition could play a vital role in identifying officers involved in a particular incident.

Contention

While the bill has garnered support for its transparency goals, it is not without its critics. Some law enforcement representatives argue that the prohibition on facial coverings could expose officers to greater risks, especially in volatile environments. They express concerns that this requirement could jeopardize officer safety during operations where anonymity is critical. Additionally, opponents of the bill argue that it does not address deeper issues of police accountability and conduct, proposing that mere identity disclosure is insufficient to solve systemic problems within law enforcement agencies.

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 SB8

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

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 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 HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

KS SB5

Authorizing counties to impose an earnings tax.

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.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.