Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2686

Introduced
2/4/26  

Caption

Prohibiting certain agents of the United States immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) from being employed as a law enforcement officer in Kansas.

Impact

The proposed law is intended to increase the separation between local law enforcement and federal immigration enforcement. Proponents argue that this measure could foster better community trust in law enforcement, particularly among immigrant communities who may feel threatened by federal immigration agents. By prohibiting former ICE agents from taking law enforcement positions, the bill aims to create a more welcoming environment for residents regardless of their immigration status.

Summary

House Bill 2686 aims to prohibit individuals who were agents of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from being eligible to serve as law enforcement officers in the state of Kansas. This legislation applies specifically to former ICE agents employed on or after January 20, 2025. The bill directly impacts the hiring practices of state and local law enforcement agencies within Kansas, as it mandates that these agencies cannot employ individuals who have previously served as ICE agents.

Contention

However, the bill is expected to evoke significant debate among lawmakers and stakeholders. Critics may view it as a restriction on the personnel pool for law enforcement, potentially limiting the ability of agencies to hire qualified professionals who have experience in immigration issues. Supporters of the bill maintain that the inclusion of former ICE agents in local law enforcement could lead to biased enforcement practices and increased fear within immigrant communities, arguing that the risks outweigh the potential staffing concerns. As discussions continue, the bill's impact on both law enforcement effectiveness and community safety remains a pivotal point of contention.

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 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 SR1702

A resolution honoring the life, career and trailblazing achievements of Kansas icon Ed Dwight.

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 SCR1602

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

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 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 SB8

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

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.