Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2738

Introduced
2/5/26  
Refer
2/5/26  
Report Pass
2/16/26  
Engrossed
2/25/26  

Caption

Directing the secretary for children and families to request or update a pending waiver application from the supplemental nutrition assistance program that would allow the state to prohibit the purchase of food commonly marketed, advertised or recognized as candy and soft drinks.

Impact

The bill introduces a drug screening program for applicants and recipients of cash assistance, making it a condition for receiving benefits. If an individual tests positive for illegal substances, they must complete a substance abuse treatment program as well as a job skills program to regain eligibility. Failure to comply could result in loss of benefits for up to twelve months or longer, depending on the number of positive tests, highlighting a significant shift towards stricter requirements for public assistance eligibility.

Summary

House Bill 2738 aims to amend the eligibility requirements for public assistance in Kansas, particularly focusing on cash and food assistance programs. At its core, the bill directs the Secretary for Children and Families to seek a waiver from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that would disallow the purchase of candy and soft drinks with food assistance benefits. The legislative goal is to ensure that SNAP funds are utilized for healthier food options to potentially improve the nutritional standards of beneficiaries.

Contention

Notably, the bill has raised concerns regarding its impact on vulnerable populations. Critics argue that the increased scrutiny and penalties associated with drug testing could disproportionately affect low-income individuals and families, potentially exacerbating their difficulties. Additionally, the enforcement of such testing and the implications for those with prior convictions for drug-related offenses could lead to further marginalization. Supporters, however, contend that these measures are necessary for promoting accountability and ensuring that assistance programs serve their intended purposes.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

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 HB2002

Expanding medical assistance eligibility and enacting the cutting healthcare costs for all Kansans act.

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 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 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 SB8

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

KS SB6

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

KS HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

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.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.