Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB334

Introduced
1/15/26  
Refer
1/16/26  
Report Pass
2/16/26  
Engrossed
2/19/26  
Refer
2/19/26  
Report Pass
3/10/26  
Enrolled
3/24/26  

Caption

Facilitating nursing workforce development by providing education levels for instructors at nursing schools as a requirement for state approval.

Impact

The enactment of SB334 is projected to significantly impact nursing education in the state by raising the bar for instructor qualifications, thereby improving the quality of nursing graduates. Schools that do not comply with these new standards could face challenges in obtaining or maintaining their approved status, which may affect licensing eligibility for graduates. The bill indicates that institutions facing difficulties in hiring compliant faculty may be granted exemptions, offering some flexibility within the regulatory framework.

Summary

Senate Bill No. 334 aims to enhance nursing workforce development in Kansas by establishing education level requirements for instructors at nursing schools to secure state approval. The legislation amends K.S.A. 65-1119 and introduces specific criteria that institutions must meet to gain and retain their approved status. Key provisions dictate that nursing schools must employ faculty members who possess a nursing degree that is at least one level higher than the degree offered by their program. This measure is designed to uphold educational standards and ensure that nursing students receive quality training from qualified professionals.

Sentiment

The sentiment regarding SB334 is generally positive among proponents who argue that the bill will result in better-prepared nursing professionals, addressing the challenges in the nursing workforce. Supporters emphasize the importance of having instructors who are not only qualified but also competent in delivering relevant nursing education. Conversely, some concerns were raised about the potential challenges that nursing schools might face in hiring qualified faculty, especially in underserved areas, which could exacerbate existing workforce shortages.

Contention

Despite the overall support, SB334 has sparked some contention regarding the strict nature of the faculty qualifications. Critics argue that the requirement for degrees that are at least one level above what is being taught may lead to difficulties in staffing nursing programs, particularly in rural areas where qualified instructors are scarce. This debate reflects a broader conversation about balancing quality education standards with the practical realities of workforce needs in the healthcare system.

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 SB6

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

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 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 HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

KS HB2002

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

KS SB8

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

KS SB5

Authorizing counties to impose an earnings 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.

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