Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB255

Introduced
2/10/25  

Caption

Authorizing certain inmates in the custody of the secretary of corrections to petition the court for a resentencing hearing.

Impact

If enacted, SB255 is expected to reshape certain aspects of Kansas's criminal justice system by facilitating resentencing for inmates who qualify under the prescribed conditions. This could lead to decreased sentences, thereby promoting rehabilitation over punitive measures. By allowing inmates a second chance after having served a portion of their sentence, the bill could potentially reduce prison populations and improve outcomes for those who reintegrate into society after serving time.

Summary

Senate Bill 255, commonly referred to as the Second Look Act, was introduced to provide a pathway for inmates in the custody of the Secretary of Corrections to petition for a resentencing hearing. This bill outlines specific criteria under which an inmate may file a verified petition after a designated period, depending on their age at the time of the offense and other specialized conditions such as completion of rehabilitative programs or being a veteran. This act aims to create opportunities for those who have demonstrated rehabilitation or whose sentences might be impacted by new legislative changes.

Contention

One notable point of contention surrounding SB255 is the balancing act between providing inmates with opportunities for reduced sentences and ensuring that victims' rights are upheld. Critics may argue that this bill could undermine the severity of sentences for serious offenses. Supporters, on the other hand, advocate for the restorative justice aspect of the legislation, arguing that it recognizes the potential for change and rehabilitation within the prison system, reflecting evolving societal views on justice and punishment.

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 SB5

Authorizing counties to impose an earnings tax.

KS HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

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 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 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 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 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 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.