How they voted on the issues
Overview
How do Kansas State Legislators vote on key issues? We offer below at least part of the answer to this question. The Kansas Catholic Conference follows three pillars from the Kansas Bishops as the backbone of our legislative work.
- Protecting the dignity of human life.
- Protecting the integrity of marriage and the family.
- Protecting religious liberty.
While there are many issues that should be considered, these are the legislative priorities of the Kansas Catholic Conference. With this in mind, here is a look at key pieces of legislation from 2026 and how your Kansas Senator and Representative voted.
Voting records from the previous three years are also included below.
KEY ISSUES AND VOTING RECORDS FROM THE 2026 KANSAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION
HB 2347- Increased penalties for purchasing sex: This bill helps put a stop to sex trafficking. It increases the criminal penalties for buying sexual relations and in certain cases requires offenders to complete an educational or treatment program regarding commercial sexual exploitation.
Video link to learn more.
SB 244- Defining gender and creating protection for private spaces: The bill consists of two parts. The first part is legally defining biological gender and sex. While ensuring that one’s biological gender/sex is listed on an individual’s birth certificate and driver’s license. The second part is creating safe spaces for females when in private and vulnerable places. By requiring individuals to use the bathroom and locker rooms of their biological sex when in public, government owned buildings. There are however a few exceptions such as parents with young children, or those with disabilities/medical needs. A full list can be found in the bill. Overall, the bill promotes our biblical truth that God created us male and female.
Video link to learn more.
HB 2299- Cell phone ban during school hours: Known as the “Bell to Bell Bill”. This bill requires school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to prohibit the use of personal electronic devices (cell phones) during the school day. The goal is to help prevent additional distractions during the school day and help keep the classroom focused on learning.
Video link to learn more.
SB 368- Health care sharing ministry tax deduction act:
Health care sharing ministries are faith-based, nonprofit arrangements where families of similar religious or ethical beliefs voluntarily help pay one another’s medical bills. They are not insurance, there is no guarantee of payment, and members remain responsible for their own medical expenses, which is clearly disclosed and backed up by strict transparency and audit requirements in this bill.
Senate Bill 368 doesn’t change that structure at all. What it does is bring basic tax fairness to Kansans who meet their health care needs through a qualified sharing ministry instead of traditional insurance. Just like we already exclude employer-paid premiums or allow self-employed Kansans to deduct their health insurance costs, this bill lets members subtract what they pay into a qualifying ministry—within clear limits and only if those amounts weren’t already deducted on their federal return.
Video link to learn more.
HB 2635- CARE ACT (Center autonomy and rights of expression): This bill was designed to protect our over 50 wonderful pregnancy resource centers (PRCs) here in Kansas. The unfortunate truth is that across the nation we are seeing local and state governments attack PRC’s. By forcing them to post signage and provide information that is not in align with their mission. Or require them to hire individuals who do not support their mission and make PRCs provide a list of their donors. HB 2635 protects our PRCs from harassment and discrimination at both state and local level. Allowing them to continue their mission of providing life affirming care and compassion to all who walk through their doors.
Video link to learn more.
HB 2333- KIRK Act (Kansas intellectual rights and knowledge): Sadly, we had been learning several college campuses/universities were discriminating against certain organizations or guest speakers simply based on religious and political beliefs. HB 2333 will provide a civil cause of action and penalties for violations of such an act and authorizing students and student associations to exercise political and ideological beliefs, values and mission.
Video link to learn more.
SB 361- Opt in for Federal Tax Credit Scholarship: In the summer of 2025 the federal government created the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC) program within the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBB). This allows individuals to donate up to $1,700 dollars to an eligible Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) and receive a 100% tax credit on their federal taxes. These donated dollars are used to fund scholarships to children- both public and nonpublic schools, to help with their educational expenses. For children within your state to have access to these donated dollars for scholarships a state must “opt in” and claim participation with the IRS. SB 361 simply states that Kansas will be opting into the FSTC program.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (paragraph 2223) states that parents are the first and primary educators for their children. This includes where and how their child is educated. Programs like the FSTC can help parents in making this decision. Especially when money can often be a barrier preventing parents from choosing the best option for their child.
Video link to learn more.
HB 2727- Streamlines statutory damages from abortion: The reality is women are being denied critical information, necessary for them to make a fully informed decision. When this occurs they often have little to no pathway to hold the abortionist and abortion industry accountable. HB 2727 seeks to change this. The bill helps strengthen pathways for women to seek justice from when an abortionist fails to obtain full informed consent.
Video link to learn more.
HB 2729- Amends the Woman’s Right to Know: Simply updates the Woman’s Right to Know informed consent law. By requiring the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to be the sole provider of this form. Ensuring women, regardless of location, receive the most current information and the same information. Critical information they deserve in order to make a fully informed decision.
Video link to learn more.
HB 2018- Religious assembly protection: Religious freedom is crucial for our society to thrive. HB 2018 simply creates the crime of interference with the conduct of a religious assembly, providing criminal penalties and therefore providing for a civil cause of action for damages.
Video link to learn more.
BUDGET ITEMS, HB 2513:
Pregnancy Compassion Act This allocation of funds continues to be part of the Kansas Budget. Kansas taxpayers are now providing $3 million distributed annually through grants to qualified pregnancy resource centers and maternity homes that assist in the promotion of healthy and successful childbirth.
Defunding big abortion at the state level. This budget provision safeguards our taxpayer dollars from subsidizing the abortion industry. By disqualifying any facilities that perform abortions from serving as a Medicaid provider. Kansans can rest easy knowing their hard earned tax money is not going to these inadequate clinics.
Mental Health Intervention Team (MHIT). This budget funding goes to providing students- both public and nonpublic, with mental health services.
Video link for more information on these budget items.
Click here to download the House Scorecard 2026 PDF
Click here to download the Senate Scorecard 2026 PDF
KEY ISSUES AND VOTING RECORDS FROM THE 2025 KANSAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION
SB 63 - Help Not Harm This new law protects Kansas children by prohibiting the use of chemical or surgical protocols for the purposes of so-called “gender transitioning.”
HB 2311 - Adoption Protection Act This is Religious Liberty legislation that provides added protection to couples who wish to adopt children or provide foster care, particularly if they hold sincerely held religious beliefs about traditional views of human sexuality (the belief that we are created as male and female).
HB 2062 - Child Support from Conception Women seeking child support payments can now ask a judge to consider ordering payments from the father of a child regarding pregnancy-related expenses dating back from the time of conception. The new law also allows for child support payments to be withdrawn from retirement accounts, along with a child tax exemption.
S sub HB 23982 - Fetal Development Video An unfortunate truth is that many Kansas children do not know or understand human development from its very first stages of life beginning in the womb. This law requires school districts to include a scientifically accurate fetal development film or video presentation be shown as part of the curriculum for any course addressing human growth, human development or human sexuality.
HB 2307 - Pre/Post Natal Disability Support Many who receive a pre or post-natal disability diagnosis feel alone and lost as they seek accurate information and support. This new law directs the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities to provide updated information and resources to families or medical professionals caring for these families.
HB 2359 - Guardianship/End of Life Protection for the Intellectually Disabled This law updates Kansas law regarding improved guardianship oversight and end of life care for those with intellectual or developmental disabilities, ensuring they are treated with proper respect and human dignity.
Pregnancy Compassion Act This allocation of funds is part of the 2025 Kansas Budget. Kansas taxpayers are now providing $3 million distributed annually through grants to qualified pregnancy resource centers and maternity homes that assist in the promotion of healthy and successful childbirth
SR 1717 - Senate Resolution 1717 states the Senate condemnation of the Satanic worship ritual planned for March 28, 2025. All Kansas Senators except for one, signed onto this resolution.
HR 6016 - House Resolution 6016 condemned the Satanic worship ritual planned for March 28, 2025. 15 Kansas House Representatives voted against the support of this resolution.
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Click here to download the 2025 Legislative Scorecard as a PDF
Legislative Scorecard for the 2023-2024 year
Life Issues
HB 2313 Born Alive: The Born-Alive Infant Protection Act now provides legal protections for all infants who are born alive in Kansas, regardless of the intent of the delivery. This includes babies who may survive a botched abortion. All newborns are now required to receive proper medical care and treatment.
HB 2264 Abortion Pill Reversal: This measure requires that women who choose a chemical abortion must be informed that the effects of this procedure may be reversible if progesterone medication is administered in a timely manner. The definition of "abortion" is also legally clarified to exclude medical events like a pregnancy miscarriage. This law is currently tied up in the courts.
HB 2436 Abortion Coercion: This new law makes it a crime to coerce a woman into having an abortion.
HB 2749 Abortion Reporting: By updating abortion reporting requirements, this new law helps policy makers and others know why women are choosing abortion and how they can be better supported and encouraged to bring their child into the world.
HB 2465 Life Tax Package: This may be the most effective, long-term Prolife measure passed by the legislature. It creates a tax-friendly adoption savings account, increases the adoption tax credit for parents seeking to adopt, allows qualified pregnancy resource centers and maternity to become sales tax exempt, and creates a 70% tax credit for donors contributing to eligible pregnancy resource centers and maternity homes.
Pregnancy Compassion Act: Kansas taxpayers are now providing $2 million distributed annually through grants to qualified pregnancy resource centers and maternity homes that assist in the promotion of healthy and successful childbirth.
SB 232 Child Support: Though it did not become law, this measure would have provided for child support orders to fathers for unborn children from the date of conception.
CLICK THE LIFE ISSUES SCORECARD TO LEARN HOW LEGISLATORS VOTED IN 2024 ON KEY LIFE ISSUES.
Family Issues
SB 83 Educational Savings Account: This “educational choice” measure did not become law but would have provided Education Savings Accounts (ESA’s) for the parents of qualified students that could have been used to select an alternative to a public-school setting. It would have also required school districts to provide a salary increase to all licensed teachers.
SB 180 Women’s Bill of Rights: This first of its kind in the United States law established the Women's Bill of Rights that provided the legal definition of a woman.
HB 2238 Fairness in Women’s Sports: The Fairness in Women's Sports Act now requires that female student athletes in Kansas only compete against other biological females.
SB 394 Age Verification: Children are being exposed to the insidious scourge of pornography at early ages, mostly via smartphones and tablets. Using age-verification technology, this new law requires that only Kansas adults can access porn.
SB 233 Help Not Harm: Passed by the legislature but successfully vetoed by the governor, this law would have stopped Kansas health care providers (and their use of state funds) from promoting so-called “gender transitioning” through hormonal chemicals, puberty blockers, and surgery on minors.
CLICK THE LIFE ISSUES SCORECARD TO LEARN HOW LEGISLATORS VOTED IN 2024 ON KEY DEFENSE OF FAMILY ISSUES.