Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB281

Introduced
2/27/25  
Refer
2/28/25  
Refer
3/3/25  
Report Pass
3/19/25  
Engrossed
3/24/25  
Refer
3/24/25  
Report Pass
2/12/26  

Caption

House Substitute for Substitute for SB 281 by Committee on Education - Requiring school districts to prohibit the use of personal electronic communication devices during school hours, prohibiting any employee of a school district from using social media to directly communicate with any student for official school purposes.

Impact

The bill will amend existing statutes and create new structures within the Kansas treasury, particularly focusing on the management of education savings accounts. It will facilitate the establishment of dedicated trust funds for both the postsecondary education savings program and the ABLE savings program. This reallocation and creation of funds will ensure that the financial resources aimed at helping families with education costs are properly managed and allocated. The introduction of a matching grants system, where state funds will match contributions dollar-for-dollar up to certain limits, encourages participation and savings among eligible families.

Summary

Senate Bill 281 aims to establish the Kansas postsecondary education savings account and the Kansas ABLE savings account grant incentive program. This legislation is designed to provide financial support to families saving for higher education and disabilities through tax-advantaged savings methods. The newly created program will replace the existing low-income family postsecondary savings accounts incentive program, which had previously provided similar support. By introducing this new framework, the bill seeks to simplify and enhance the state's approach to educational savings, making it more beneficial for families in need.

Contention

One notable point of contention within the legislative discussions may revolve around the elimination of the previous low-income family postsecondary savings accounts incentive program. The move to a new structure could raise concerns among stakeholders who benefitted from the former program. Additionally, there may be debates around the adequacy of the matching grant limits and whether they sufficiently meet the needs of lower-income families who may still struggle to save for education despite these incentives. Discussions regarding the distribution of funds and the effectiveness of financial education requirements imposed on participants are also likely areas of contention.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS SCR1601

Informing the Governor that the two houses of the Legislature are organized and ready to receive communications.

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 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 SB8

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

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 SR1703

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

KS HB2002

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

KS SB6

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

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

NJ S2180

Requires registration of postsecondary education debt creditors; establishes protections for borrowers.

NJ A5117

Requires registration of postsecondary education debt creditors; establishes protections for borrowers.

CA AB1098

California Education Interagency Council.

MS SB2517

"MS Intercollegiate Athletics Compensation Rights Act" and "Uniform Athletes Agent Act"; bring forward.

MS SB2044

Mississippi Intercollegiate Athletics Compensation and Publicity Rights Act; amend concerning confidentially.

AZ SB1615

Student athletes; employment status; restrictions

AZ SB1210

private postsecondary education; nondomiciled institutions

CA AB2392

Public postsecondary education: generative artificial intelligence systems: procurement standards: training.