Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB3

Filed/Introduced
8/8/26  
Introduced
1/13/25  

Caption

Requiring the department of health and environment to audit hospital compliance with the lay caregiver act and report the results of such audit to the legislature.

Impact

This legislation is expected to amend existing healthcare statutes, specifically regarding how hospitals interact with caregivers and their patients. By requiring hospitals to notify designated caregivers about discharge plans and any aftercare instructions, it aims to ensure that patients receive necessary support in their transition from hospital to home. Furthermore, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment will be tasked with auditing compliance from hospitals to ensure adherence to these regulations, thereby strengthening accountability.

Summary

Senate Bill 3, known as the Kansas Lay Caregiver Act, focuses on enhancing the support available to patients post-hospital discharge by formalizing the role of designated caregivers. The bill mandates that hospitals provide patients with an opportunity to identify a caregiver before their discharge. This designated caregiver can be a relative, friend, or any individual with a significant relationship with the patient, and will be informed about aftercare needs to facilitate better recovery practices for the patient at home.

Sentiment

Overall, the sentiment surrounding SB3 appears to be positive, with many stakeholders recognizing the value of involving caregivers in patient aftercare. Supporters argue that by providing caregivers with the right information and resources, patient recovery can improve significantly, reducing readmission rates and enhancing overall health outcomes. This act has the potential to streamline communication between hospitals and caregivers, fostering a collaborative environment for patient care.

Contention

However, there are points of contention regarding the bill's implications on hospital operations and the responsibilities of caregivers. Critics highlight concerns that the legislation may inadvertently overload caregivers with responsibilities or place undue pressure on hospitals to effectively manage the designation process. Additionally, questions around what constitutes adequate training for caregivers and the potential liability for hospitals in cases where patients do not have a designated caregiver remain discussions that stakeholders continue to navigate.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS HB2002

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

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 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 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 SB6

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

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.

KS SCR1601

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

KS SB4

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

Similar Bills

CA SB601

An act to amend Sections 13170, 13263, 13350, 13370, 13372, 13373, 13374, 13376, 13383.

MD SB493

Nursing Facilities - Involuntary Discharge or Transfer

MD HB1002

Nursing Facilities - Involuntary Discharge or Transfer

CA AB2722

Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax Law: suspension of tax.

NJ SR46

Urges Congress to amend tax code to exclude all forms of discharged student loans from federal income tax.

CA SB1081

Waste discharge requirements: minimum penalties: exception: publicly owned treatment works.

MI HB4035

Environmental protection: sewage; violations for sewer overflows; modify. Amends 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.101 - 324.90106) by adding sec. 3115b.

DE SB301

An Act To Amend Title 16 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Hospital Discharge Plans For Pregnant Patients.