Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB373

Filed/Introduced
8/8/26  
Introduced
1/22/26  
Refer
1/23/26  

Caption

Creating a maximum length of time for an agreement between a utility and law enforcement to install law enforcement equipment on a utility pole or structure.

Impact

This legislation is aimed at clarifying the conditions under which law enforcement agencies can utilize utility poles for surveillance or related operations. By setting a strict time limit on these agreements, SB373 aims to protect the rights of utility customers and citizens while ensuring that law enforcement has defined limits on its powers. It specifically introduces provisions that will prevent the admissibility of any evidence collected after the 30-day period unless the proper legal authorizations are in place, thus reinforcing legal safeguards for civil liberties.

Summary

Senate Bill 373 is focused on the interaction between public utilities and law enforcement regarding the installation of law enforcement equipment on utility poles. The bill stipulates that any such agreement can only last for a maximum of 30 days, with certain exceptions. These exceptions allow for longer agreements only if they are authorized by a warrant, court order, or if the installation occurs in designated commercial or municipal areas. The bill emphasizes the need for a clear framework concerning the permissions necessary for law enforcement access to utility structures.

Conclusion

Ultimately, SB373 seeks to standardize and regulate the engagements between utility companies and law enforcement, establishing a legal framework that attempts to both empower law enforcement in maintaining public safety while also safeguarding the rights of citizens. As discussions around this bill unfold, stakeholders from diverse perspectives are likely to weigh in on how effectively these objectives are being balanced.

Contention

There might be potential points of contention regarding the balance between public safety and individual rights. Advocacy for law enforcement might argue for the necessity of longer access to utility structures, especially in high-crime areas, while civil liberties groups may raise concerns about surveillance overreach and the implications for privacy. Furthermore, ambiguity surrounding what constitutes a public area or how exceptions are applied could lead to inconsistencies in enforcement and interpretations of the law. The bill's introduction of civil immunity for public utilities can also raise questions about accountability in instances where law enforcement overreach occurs.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS SB6

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

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 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 SB8

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

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 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 SB3

Clarifying the procedures and restrictions on accepting a nomination for an elected office.

KS HB2002

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

KS HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.