Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2774

Introduced
2/11/26  

Caption

Increasing penalties for the crimes of assault and battery if committed against a public-facing worker while such worker is engaged in the performance of such worker's assigned duties.

Impact

The bill amends existing statutes concerning assault and battery to impose heavier penalties for offenses against public-facing workers. Under the provisions of HB2774, the crime of assault against these workers will be treated more severely, reflecting the recognition of their contributions to public services and the vulnerabilities they face in their roles. For instance, assault of a public-facing worker is designated as a class B misdemeanor, while aggravated assaults can lead to more severe classifications depending on the circumstances. This change signals a commitment to worker safety and underscores the importance of preserving a safe working environment for individuals serving the public.

Summary

House Bill 2774 seeks to increase the criminal penalties for assault and battery against public-facing workers while they are performing their duties. This legislation is primarily aimed at protecting individuals such as retail employees, healthcare providers, and public transit workers from violent acts while they are engaged in service-oriented roles. The bill defines 'public-facing workers' broadly to include various professions that involve direct interaction with the public, ensuring a wide net of coverage under the new laws. The intent is to provide enhanced legal protections for workers who often face risks in their daily jobs due to direct confrontation with the public.

Contention

While the bill aims to enhance worker safety, discussions around it have highlighted concerns about its implications on the overall legal framework for assault and battery. Some critics argue that establishing differentiated penalties based on the victim's employment status could lead to inconsistencies in how similar offenses are treated across different contexts. Opponents may also fear that the bill could unintentionally criminalize behavior that may not warrant such severe repercussions and could increase the burden on the justice system in prosecuting these cases. Balancing effective protection for vulnerable workers while maintaining equitable treatment under the law remains a point of debate among legislators.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

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 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 SB8

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

KS HR6002

Providing for assignment of seats in the House of Representatives for the 2024 special session of the Legislature.

KS HB2002

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

KS SB3

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

KS SB6

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

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.