Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB384

Filed/Introduced
8/8/26  
Introduced
1/26/26  
Refer
1/27/26  
Report Pass
2/16/26  
Refer
2/27/26  
Refer
3/2/26  
Engrossed
3/13/26  
Refer
3/13/26  

Caption

Extending the application deadline for authorization to operate as a public innovative district from December 1 to May 1 and deeming applications approved if not approved or denied within 45 days of submission.

Impact

By modifying the application process, SB384 seeks to encourage more school districts to explore innovative education methods by reducing bureaucratic delays. Specifically, the bill potentially opens the door for more educational programs and partnerships that may flourish under the innovative district framework. Public innovative districts will still be required to adhere to essential health, safety, and financial regulations while enjoying exemptions from certain existing school district rules. This balance could foster more tailored educational approaches to local needs.

Summary

Senate Bill 384 aims to amend existing legislation regarding the establishment and operation of public innovative districts in Kansas. The bill extends the application deadline for school districts wishing to operate as a public innovative district from December 1 to May 1 of the preceding school year. Furthermore, it establishes that applications will be deemed approved if the state board does not make a decision within 30 days of submission, which aims to streamline the approval process and potentially increase the number of innovative districts across the state.

Contention

While proponents of SB384 argue that the changes will enhance educational innovation by allowing timely approvals, critics may express concerns over the oversight and regulatory clarity. The change in application processing could lead to inconsistencies in quality and performance among newly formed districts. Moreover, there could be debates over the implications of allowing more districts to operate under a different regulatory framework, especially regarding resource allocation and equity among traditional districts and innovative ones.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

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 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 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 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 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 SCR1602

Approving the creation of a port authority in Wyandotte County Kansas.

KS SB8

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

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.

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