Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB126

Introduced
1/30/25  
Refer
1/31/25  
Report Pass
2/17/25  
Engrossed
2/25/25  
Refer
2/25/25  
Report Pass
3/7/25  
Enrolled
4/10/25  

Caption

House Sub for SB 126 - Establishing an advance universal newborn screening program, providing for the reimbursement of certain treatment services and extending the transfer of moneys to the Kansas newborn screening fund, increasing state financial assistance for local health departments under certain circumstances and increasing the annual assessment rate on hospital providers.

Impact

The legislation also seeks to bolster financial support for local health departments, increasing the annual assessment rates on hospital providers. The bill stipulates that hospitals will contribute a percentage of their revenue, underlining a broader strategy to fund public health initiatives sustainably. Such resources are critical for maintaining the robustness of health services and ensuring adequate screening practices across all facilities providing maternity care.

Summary

Senate Bill 126 aims to enhance healthcare support in Kansas through the establishment of an advance universal newborn screening program. This program is designed to identify congenital conditions at an early stage, thereby mitigating the risk of intellectual and physical disabilities in newborns through timely interventions. The bill mandates that hospitals provide these essential tests and establishes educational programs regarding hereditary conditions like congenital hypothyroidism and phenylketonuria. The initiative represents a significant step towards improving public health outcomes for newborns within the state.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding SB126 appears to be favorable among health advocates and legislators who prioritize early disease detection and the wellbeing of children. Supporters argue that the financial implications for hospitals are a small price to pay for the potential health benefits provided by early screenings. However, some stakeholders express concern over the burden that increased assessments may place on hospital finances, particularly among struggling institutions.

Contention

Notably, the discussions related to SB126 reflect concerns regarding funding mechanisms and the balance between state mandates and local hospital capacities. Critics of the bill worry about the feasibility of imposing additional financial burdens on hospitals, especially those already facing financial challenges. Conversely, supporters maintain that the investment in healthcare through this bill is necessary for societal benefits and aligns with broader public health interests.

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 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 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 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 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 SCR1602

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

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.