Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB23

Introduced
1/16/25  
Refer
1/17/25  
Report Pass
2/5/25  
Engrossed
2/20/25  
Refer
2/20/25  
Report Pass
3/4/25  
Enrolled
4/9/26  

Caption

Requiring agents and insurers to respond to inquiries from the commissioner of insurance within 14 calendar days and authorizing certain rebate pilot programs to exceed one year in duration.

Impact

The bill is expected to significantly impact the operational landscape for insurance agents in Kansas, particularly those who are nonresidents. By allowing the commissioner to revoke licenses without pre-hearing notifications, the bill could potentially expedite the removal of noncompliant agents from the market, thereby safeguarding consumer interests. However, it also raises concerns regarding the fairness of such actions and the lack of due process for affected agents. Furthermore, the requirement for prompt responses to the commissioner's inquiries aims to foster a more transparent and responsive regulatory environment, promoting higher standards in the industry.

Summary

Senate Bill No. 23 aims to streamline the regulatory framework for the insurance industry in Kansas. It revises provisions concerning foreign insurance companies seeking authorization to operate within the state. Particular emphasis is placed on the suspension or revocation of nonresident agents' licenses without prior notice, contingent upon the agent's home state license status. Additionally, the bill mandates that agents and public adjusters must respond to inquiries from the insurance commissioner within 14 calendar days, thereby enhancing accountability and response time in regulatory matters. This introduces a more efficient process for overseeing compliance in the insurance sector, ensuring that all agents meet the necessary legal standards before conducting business in Kansas.

Sentiment

The general sentiment surrounding SB23 seems to be mixed among legislators and industry stakeholders. Supporters argue that the bill strengthens consumer protection by ensuring that only qualified agents can operate in the state and provides the commissioner with necessary tools to enforce compliance. Conversely, critics express apprehension regarding the abruptness of license revocation without due process, which could be viewed as an infringement on agents' rights. The proposed measures to enhance regulatory oversight are seen as beneficial by some, while others fear potential overreach that may unduly penalize agents for minor infractions.

Contention

Notable points of contention in the discussions about SB23 center on the balance between increasing regulatory efficiency and maintaining fairness in enforcement. While the bill intends to protect consumers by improving oversight of insurance practices, opponents emphasize the need for due process in license revocation decisions. This could lead to an atmosphere of uncertainty for nonresident agents who may fear losing their licenses without adequate warnings or the ability to contest the commissioner's rulings. The potential implementation of rebate pilot programs for exceeding one-year durations also invites scrutiny, implicating broader discussions about the regulatory parameters of financial incentives in the insurance market.

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 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 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 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 SB8

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

KS HB2002

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

KS SB4

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

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