Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB263

Introduced
2/11/25  
Refer
2/13/25  
Report Pass
3/18/25  
Refer
2/19/26  
Refer
2/24/26  
Engrossed
3/11/26  
Refer
3/11/26  

Caption

House Substitute for SB 263 by Committee on Education - Establishing standards and requirements for active shooter drills conducted by public and accredited nonpublic elementary and secondary schools and regulating active shooter simulations.

Impact

This bill introduces significant amendments to existing laws regarding school safety and emergency preparedness. It compels schools to conduct a minimum number of crisis drills each school year and provides guidelines on how these drills should be conducted. Moreover, it mandates schools to notify parents in advance of active shooter drills, allowing for parental choice and ensuring that any student who opts out has access to alternative safety education without penalty. Furthermore, mental health resources are to be made available to students participating in these drills, underscoring the importance of psychological well-being in emergency training.

Summary

Senate Bill 263 aims to enhance the safety of students in the state of Kansas by establishing standards and requirements for conducting active shooter drills in public and accredited nonpublic elementary and secondary schools. The bill emphasizes the need for drills to be developmentally and age-appropriate, accessible, trauma-informed, and culturally aware, ensuring that all students, including those with special needs, are catered to effectively during these exercises. Additionally, it delineates what constitutes active shooter drills versus simulations, with the former focusing on instruction without mimicking real-life violence, while the latter may involve realistic scenarios.

Contention

Notably, SB263 also requires schools to provide students in grades six through 12 with annual evidence-based violence prevention training, addressing critical issues such as recognizing warning signs of potential threats and understanding the importance of reporting such concerns. While supporters argue that this bill is a proactive measure to ensure student safety amid rising fears of school violence, opponents may express concerns about the psychological impact of regular drills and the effectiveness of such training. The emphasis on inclusivity and mental health support attempts to mitigate potential negative effects of these preparedness strategies, though debate may continue on the appropriateness and execution of such emergency protocols.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

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 SR1702

A resolution honoring the life, career and trailblazing achievements of Kansas icon Ed Dwight.

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 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 SB6

Providing a sales tax exemption for sales of electricity to residential premises by municipally owned or operated utilities.

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 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 HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.