Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB265

Filed/Introduced
8/8/26  
Introduced
2/13/25  

Caption

Designating November 14 of each year as Ruby Bridges walk to school day in the state of Kansas.

Impact

By establishing a designated day of commemoration, the bill aims to foster an educational environment where students can learn about the historical significance of desegregation and the ongoing struggles against racism. The initiative encourages students, teachers, and school staff to participate in activities that honor Bridges’ courage and legacy. It is intended to instill values of activism and social responsibility among students, reinforcing the community's commitment to addressing issues of inequality and injustice.

Summary

Senate Bill 265 designates November 14 of each year as 'Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day' in the state of Kansas. This date is significant as it marks the anniversary of Ruby Bridges' first day attending an elementary school as a young African American student, which is a pivotal moment in the history of civil rights and school desegregation in the United States. The bill celebrates the legacy of Ruby Bridges and aims to raise awareness of civil rights issues among the youth of Kansas, encouraging reflection and dialogue around racism and bullying in schools.

Contention

While the bill largely promotes positive ideals of remembrance and education, it may also raise discussions around the current state of education about civil rights in schools. There could be concerns about how effectively such initiatives can be implemented and the potential need for educational resources or programs that accurately convey the historical context and relevance of Ruby Bridges' experience. Additionally, as current debates about curriculum and educational content around civil rights continue, the bill may play a role in broader conversations about what constitutes an appropriate education regarding America’s history of segregation and civil rights.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS SR1703

Recognizing November 14, 2024, as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day.

KS SR1702

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

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 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 SCR1602

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

KS SCR1603

Proposing to amend section 1 of article 11 of the constitution of the state of Kansas to limit property tax valuation increases for residential property.

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.

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.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.