Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB160

Introduced
2/3/25  

Caption

Granting the attorney general concurrent authority to prosecute any crimes related to schools.

Impact

If enacted, SB160 would significantly impact state laws by creating a more robust framework for the prosecution of education-related crimes. The bill would amend existing laws to ensure that the Attorney General can act alongside local district attorneys, fostering a more coordinated approach to law enforcement in educational contexts. Critics of the bill might argue that this could undermine local authority, yet proponents argue that it will facilitate more efficient legal actions in cases that involve inter-county criminal activity, particularly those that threaten the welfare of students and school systems.

Summary

Senate Bill 160, introduced in the Kansas legislative session of 2025, seeks to expand the powers of the Attorney General by granting them concurrent authority to prosecute crimes related to elementary and secondary education. This bill amends existing statutes to empower the Attorney General in instances where criminal conduct spans multiple counties, specifically targeting issues like organized retail crime, theft, and violations of the racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations act when linked to educational institutions. By allowing the state’s highest legal officer to assume jurisdiction, the bill aims to enhance accountability and swift action against crimes affecting schools across jurisdictions.

Contention

The bill potentially raises concerns regarding the balance of power between state and local authorities. While supporters emphasize the need for a unified response to crimes affecting education, opponents could contend that giving the Attorney General broader prosecutorial powers might lead to overreach, impacting how local crimes are managed. Furthermore, the specific crimes included in the bill—such as organized retail crimes linked to education—may evoke debates over whether existing local resources are sufficient, or if state intervention is necessitated. Discussions in committee meetings may reflect these various perspectives as stakeholders voice their support or opposition based on their interpretations of law enforcement efficacy and community autonomy.

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 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 SB5

Authorizing counties to impose an earnings tax.

KS HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

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 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 SB8

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

KS SCR1602

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

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.