Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB138

Introduced
1/31/25  
Refer
2/3/25  
Report Pass
2/13/25  
Engrossed
2/19/25  
Refer
2/19/25  
Report Pass
3/19/25  

Caption

House Substitute for SB 138 by Committee on Judiciary - Authorizing law enforcement officers to conduct investigations of violations of the scrap metal theft reduction act.

Impact

The bill's implications on state laws revolve around a stricter protocol for law enforcement when seeking search warrants. Currently, the process allows for some flexibility in the means of stating probable cause. This bill aims to remove ambiguity by requiring all statements to be documented and thus could lead to increased accountability for law enforcement. Moreover, it introduces specific time frames regarding the installation and use of tracking devices, aiming to set clear boundaries on law enforcement's surveillance capabilities.

Summary

Senate Bill 138 focuses on amending the legal procedures around search warrants in Kansas. It mandates that search warrants must only be issued based on a law enforcement officer's sworn statement that provides sufficient facts to establish probable cause for believing that a crime has been committed, is being committed, or will be committed. This amendment seeks to enhance the integrity of the search warrant process by ensuring that all statements made are formally recorded and can be reviewed in a judicial context, thereby reinforcing the protections under the Fourth Amendment regarding search and seizure practices.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding SB138 include concerns about the balance between effective law enforcement and the protection of individual privacy rights. Some lawmakers may argue that while the bill strengthens the process of obtaining search warrants, it may also impose undue burdens on law enforcement agencies that could hinder timely criminal investigations. Additionally, issues may arise regarding the process for sealing or redacting affidavits, as this could impact the transparency and accessibility of court records related to search warrants.

Overall_significance

If enacted, Senate Bill 138 could lead to significant changes in how search warrants are administered within the state of Kansas, reinforcing the requirement for documented evidence to justify searches while potentially reshaping the average citizen's interaction with law enforcement. The changes aim to fortify constitutional protections and endeavor to ensure that any intrusion into personal privacy is supported by adequate legal justification.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS SB5

Authorizing counties to impose an earnings tax.

KS HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

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 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 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 SB3

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

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 HB2002

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

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.