Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2705

Introduced
2/4/26  

Caption

Providing that courts are not required to appoint counsel for an indigent inmate in certain habeas corpus actions.

Impact

The implications of HB 2705 are significant for the legal landscape concerning indigent defendants. By setting out precise guidelines for when counsel must be provided for habeas corpus petitions, the bill could lead to fewer state-funded legal defenses being required. Proponents argue that this will allow for a more efficient judicial process; however, it could also raise concerns regarding the rights of indigent inmates and their access to adequate legal representation, especially in cases where substantial legal questions arise.

Summary

House Bill 2705 aims to amend the current civil procedure laws in Kansas with respect to habeas corpus actions. It introduces specific limitations on the circumstances wherein courts are required to appoint counsel for indigent inmates who file petitions related to their imprisonment. The bill arises from a request by the Kansas Department of Corrections and seeks to streamline legal proceedings for inmates by clearly defining when representation is necessary, potentially reducing the burden on the state's legal resources.

Contention

There are notable points of contention surrounding this bill. Critics of HB 2705 might argue that the limitations imposed could impede the ability of some inmates to adequately challenge their convictions or the conditions of their confinement. This has the potential to create disparities in the legal system, particularly affecting those less able to navigate the complexities of legal proceedings without professional assistance. Supporters of the bill, on the other hand, contend that it is necessary to ensure that only those with substantial claims receive the aid of counsel, thereby conserving state resources.

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 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 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 SB6

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

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 SB3

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

KS HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

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 SB5

Authorizing counties to impose an earnings tax.

KS SB8

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

Similar Bills

HI SB169

Relating To Redress For Wrongful Conviction And Imprisonment.

HI SB169

Relating To Redress For Wrongful Conviction And Imprisonment.

HI HB2493

Relating To Wrongful Imprisonment.

HI SB3294

Relating To Wrongful Imprisonment.

CA AB479

Criminal procedure: vacatur relief.

MI HB4852

Traffic control: driver license; communication regarding requirements for reinstatement of driver license; require secretary of state to provide after court order. Amends sec. 323 of 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.323).

CA AB633

Human trafficking: vacatur relief for victims.

CA AB938

An act to amend Sections 236.