Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB157

Introduced
2/3/25  
Refer
2/4/25  
Report Pass
2/17/25  
Engrossed
2/25/25  
Refer
2/25/25  
Refer
2/28/25  

Caption

Requiring search warrants to be issued only on the statement of facts sufficient to show probable cause made by a law enforcement officer, warrants issued for failure to appear to be provided to a compensated surety, bond forfeiture to be set aside in certain circumstances and remission if the defendant is returned to custody in certain circumstances and prohibiting a compensated surety from making loans for certain portions of the required minimum appearance bond premium.

Impact

The bill amends K.S.A. 22-2807 and includes provisions for the remission of bond amounts under specific circumstances, such as if a defendant is found to be incarcerated within the U.S. or has left the country. Under the new provisions, courts will have the flexibility to set aside the forfeiture of a bond if evidence is presented that justifies such a decision. This amendment is particularly important for sureties, as it provides them with a clearer pathway to contest forfeiture and recover their bond amounts, aligning the interests of the courts, defendants, and sureties more closely than in previous statutes.

Summary

Senate Bill 157 is designed to amend existing criminal procedure laws concerning the management of appearance bonds for defendants who fail to appear in court. The bill introduces requirements for issuing warrants related to failures to appear, mandating that these warrants must be provided to the compensated sureties who post bonds on behalf of defendants. This measure aims to enhance communication between the courts and bond companies, ensuring that sureties are kept informed about the status of their clients and any warrants issued against them. Additionally, it establishes enhanced conditions under which bond forfeitures can be set aside by the court, allowing for greater judicial discretion in managing such cases.

Contention

Debate surrounding SB 157 may center on the balance between ensuring accountability for defendants and providing fair treatment for those whose circumstances might lead to unintentional failures to appear in court. While proponents argue that the bill safeguards the interests of sureties and enhances the overall efficiency of the judicial process, opponents may voice concerns over potential abuse of discretion by courts or the creation of inequitable treatment for defendants based on their financial or social circumstances. The bill's provisions for clearer communication and defined conditions for bond forfeiture may also raise discussions about the rights of defendants and their ability to navigate the legal system effectively.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

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 SB4

Requiring all advance voting ballots be returned by 7:00 p.m. on election day.

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 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 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 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 SB8

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

KS SB3

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

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

HI HB126

Relating To Property Forfeiture.

HI SB722

Relating To Property Forfeiture.

CO HB1250

Procedures Related to Civil Asset Forfeiture

CO HB261250

Concerning procedures relating to state action resulting in the relinquishment of private property, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

WV HB2772

Relating generally to forfeiture of contraband

WV HB5261

Relating generally to forfeiture of contraband

HI SB320

Relating To Property Forfeiture.

HI SB320

Relating To Property Forfeiture.