Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB349

Introduced
1/21/26  

Caption

Requiring the Kansas state high school activities association to establish a school classification system for activities based on student attendance and a multiplier factor that adjusts certain schools' student attendance.

Impact

The bill mandates that all private schools will have their student attendance multiplied by a predetermined factor which will determine their classification for participation in various activities. Additionally, a championship multiplier will apply to schools that have won five or more state championships in the last five years, with specific adjustments based on the number of championships won. This layer of regulation serves to not only level the playing field but also aims to reduce the dominance of more successful schools in state activities, by raising their competitive classification.

Summary

Senate Bill 349 addresses the classification of high schools within the Kansas state high school activities association (KSHSAA) by implementing a system that incorporates a student attendance multiplier factor. This factor will adjust the classification of a private school based on its reported attendance figures, ensuring that schools are classified appropriately for competitive activities. The primary aim of SB349 is to create a more equitable playing field between public and private institutions in high school athletics, drawing on standardized measures of student participation.

Contention

Debate surrounding SB349 has raised concerns from various stakeholders. Proponents argue that this bill is necessary to ensure fairness and is a step towards allowing students comprehensive access to competitive activities without the disparities that often arise from differences in school funding and enrollment. Conversely, critics contend that the bill may overly penalize successful schools and discourage them from fostering high-level athletic programs, suggesting it could have the unintended consequence of diminishing overall competition quality in high school sports. This contention highlights the delicate balance between equity and excellence in school athletics.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

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 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 SR1703

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

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 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 SR1702

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

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 SB4

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

Similar Bills

KS HB2176

Requiring the Kansas state high school activities association to establish a school classification system based on student attendance and a multiplier factor that adjusts certain schools' student attendance.

FL S1676

Advanced Education Options

TX HB1452

Relating to the promotion of film and television production in this state, including the eligibility of film or television productions for funding under the major events reimbursement program, the creation of a film events trust fund and a film production tax rebate trust fund, the establishment of virtual film production institutes, and the designation of media production development zones.

TX HB2212

Relating to the promotion of film and television production in this state, including the eligibility of film or television productions for funding under the major events reimbursement program, the creation of a film events trust fund and a film production tax rebate trust fund, the establishment of virtual film production institutes, and the designation of media production development zones.

IN SB0314

Tax exemption for eligible events.

MS HR82

Madison-Ridgeland Academy Patriots Boys Basketball Team; commend on winning 2026 MAIS Class 4A Division I State Championship.

SC H5142

Laurence Manning Softball State Champions

MS HR131

Wayne Academy Lady Jaguars Softball Team; commend upon winning 2025 MAIS Class 3A Division II State Championship.