Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB84

Introduced
1/27/25  
Refer
1/28/25  
Report Pass
2/4/25  
Engrossed
2/13/25  
Refer
2/13/25  
Report Pass
3/7/25  
Enrolled
4/9/26  

Caption

Enacting the supported decision-making agreements act to provide a statutory framework for allowing an adult to receive decision-making assistance from one or more other adults, requirements for decision-making agreements and duties related thereto.

Impact

If enacted, SB84 could significantly alter state laws related to guardianship and the support of dependent adults. By outlining a framework for supported decision-making, it seeks to create an alternative to guardianship, which can sometimes strip individuals of their autonomy. This legislation aims to ensure that adults with diverse needs can continue to participate actively in managing their own affairs while receiving the necessary assistance. It includes provisions to prevent coercion and protect the rights of individuals, thus enhancing their ability to make informed choices regarding their lives.

Summary

Senate Bill 84, known as the Supported Decision-Making Agreements Act, aims to empower adults, particularly vulnerable populations, by enabling them to receive assistance in making decisions about their personal, healthcare, and financial matters. The bill outlines the regulations for establishing supported decision-making agreements, detailing the roles and responsibilities of the supporters, defined as adults who provide assistance to individuals in navigating their affairs. The act emphasizes the importance of voluntary agreements and the capability of individuals to maintain agency over their decisions.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding SB84 appears positive among advocates for adult autonomy and rights, as it signifies a progressive move towards recognizing individuals’ capacities to manage their own decisions with the help of support. Proponents argue that the bill addresses the need for assistance in decision making without compromising an individual’s independence. On the other hand, some concerns were raised regarding the potential for abuse or misunderstandings in the dynamics between supporters and principals, which emphasizes the necessity of clear guidelines and training for supporters.

Contention

A notable point of contention involves balancing the autonomy of the adult principal with the potential risks of their decisions being influenced by supporters. Critics raised questions about how the law will prevent supporters from exerting undue influence, which could undermine the very intent of the supported decision-making framework. Additionally, the bill's implications for existing guardianship laws highlight a need for thoughtful discussions about how well the bill can coexist with state statutes governing more traditional protective arrangements such as guardianship and conservatorship.

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 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 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 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 SCR1601

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

KS HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

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