Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: To Executive

SB 79 — Directing the secretary for children and families to request a waiver from supplemental nutrition assistance program rules that would allow the state to prohibit the purchase of candy and soft drinks with food assistance.

Last action — No motion to reconsider vetoed bill; Veto sustained

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced January 27, 2025. It awaits signature.

Vetoed by Governor Laura Kelly (Democratic) on April 11, 2025.

Next likely step: the executive signs it into law or issues a veto.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • To Executive

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

999 added · 958 removed

999 line(s) added, 958 removed.

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As Amended by Senate Committee Session of 2025 SENATE BILLNo.
SENATE BILL No.
79 By Committee on Government Efficiency 1-27 AN ACT concerning public assistance;
79 AN ACT concerning public assistance;
8 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
8-126, and amendments thereto, or any additional motor vehicle owned by the applicant for assistance to be a nonexempt resource of the applicant for assistance except that any additional motor vehicle used by SB 79—Am.
8-126, and amendments thereto, or any additional motor vehicle owned by the applicant for assistance to be a nonexempt resource of the applicant for assistance except that any additional motor vehicle used by the applicant, the applicant's spouse or the applicant's cohabiting partner for the primary purpose of earning income may be considered as exempt personal property in the secretary's discretion;
by SC 2 the applicant, the applicant's spouse or the applicant's cohabiting partner for the primary purpose of earning income may be considered as exempt personal property in the secretary's discretion;
The family group shall not be eligible for TANF if the family group contains at least one adult member who has received TANF, including the federal TANF assistance received in any other state, for 24 calendar months beginning on and after October 1, 1996, unless the secretary determines a hardship exists and grants an extension allowing receipt of TANF until the 36-month limit is reached.
The family group shall not be eligible for TANF if the family group contains at least one adult member who has received TANF, including the federal TANF assistance received in any other state, for 24 calendar months SENATE BILL No.
79—page 2 beginning on and after October 1, 1996, unless the secretary determines a hardship exists and grants an extension allowing receipt of TANF until the 36-month limit is reached.
Adults who are not otherwise eligible for TANF, such as ineligible aliens, SB 79—Am.
Adults who are not otherwise eligible for TANF, such as ineligible aliens, relative/non-relative caretakers and adults receiving supplemental security income are not required to complete the assessment process.
by SC 3 relative/non-relative caretakers and adults receiving supplemental security income are not required to complete the assessment process.
(B) has a valid offer of employment or is employed a minimum of 20 hours a week;
(B) has a valid offer of employment or is employed a minimum of hours a week;
Single parent families with a child under age six meet the federal participation requirement if the parent is engaged in work or work activities for at least 20 hours per week in a primary work component.
Single parent SENATE BILL No.
79—page 3 families with a child under age six meet the federal participation requirement if the parent is engaged in work or work activities for at least 20 hours per week in a primary work component.
Full or part-time employment, apprenticeship, work study, self-employment, job corps, subsidized employment, work SB 79—Am.
Full or part-time employment, apprenticeship, work study, self-employment, job corps, subsidized employment, work experience sites, on-the-job training, supervised community service, vocational education, job search and job readiness.
by SC 4 experience sites, on-the-job training, supervised community service, vocational education, job search and job readiness.
The period of ineligibility SB 79—Am.
The period of ineligibility for TANF benefits based on non-cooperation, as defined in K.S.A.
by SC 5 for TANF benefits based on non-cooperation, as defined in K.S.A.
and (D) fourth or subsequent penalty, 10 years.
and SENATE BILL No.
79—page 4 (D) fourth or subsequent penalty, 10 years.
and (c) following such 12 months of continuous eligibility when the secretary renews or redetermines a parent's eligibility for child care SB 79—Am.
and (c) following such 12 months of continuous eligibility when the secretary renews or redetermines a parent's eligibility for child care subsidy.
by SC 6 subsidy.
21- 5801, and amendments thereto, shall be required to name a protective payee as approved by the secretary or the secretary's designee to administer TANF benefits or food assistance on behalf of the children.
21-5801, and amendments thereto, shall be required to name a protective payee as approved by the secretary or the secretary's designee to administer TANF benefits or SENATE BILL No.
79—page 5 food assistance on behalf of the children.
SB 79—Am.
(ii) An individual's failure to submit to testing or failure to successfully pass a drug test shall result in ineligibility for food assistance until a drug test is successfully passed.
by SC 7 (ii) An individual's failure to submit to testing or failure to successfully pass a drug test shall result in ineligibility for food assistance until a drug test is successfully passed.
When a recipient of public assistance is a minor or otherwise incapacitated individual, a parent or legal guardian of such recipient may have a photograph of such parent or legal guardian placed on the card.
When a recipient of public assistance is a minor or otherwise incapacitated individual, a parent or legal guardian of such recipient may have a photograph of such parent or SENATE BILL No.
79—page 6 legal guardian placed on the card.
(D) The Kansas department for children and families shall monitor all recipient requests for a Kansas benefits card replacement and, upon the SB 79—Am.
(D) The Kansas department for children and families shall monitor all recipient requests for a Kansas benefits card replacement and, upon the fourth such request in a 12-month period, send a notice alerting the recipient that the recipient's account is being monitored for potential suspicious activity.
by SC 8 fourth such request in a 12-month period, send a notice alerting the recipient that the recipient's account is being monitored for potential suspicious activity.
and (B) determining and maintaining eligibility for non-TANF child care, requiring that all included adults shall be employed a minimum of 20 hours per week or more as defined by the secretary or meet the following specific qualifying exemptions:
and (B) determining and maintaining eligibility for non-TANF child care, requiring that all included adults shall be employed a minimum of hours per week or more as defined by the secretary or meet the following specific qualifying exemptions:
The other SB 79—Am.
The other parent shall meet another approvable criteria for child care subsidy.
by SC 9 parent shall meet another approvable criteria for child care subsidy.
(17) (A) The secretary for children and families is prohibited from requesting or implementing a waiver or program from the United States SENATE BILL No.
(17) (A) The secretary for children and families is prohibited from requesting or implementing a waiver or program from the United States department of agriculture for the time limited assistance provisions for able-bodied adults aged 18 through 49 without dependents in a household under the food assistance program.
79—page 7 department of agriculture for the time limited assistance provisions for able-bodied adults aged 18 through 49 without dependents in a household under the food assistance program.
The time on food assistance for able- bodied adults aged 18 through 49 without dependents in the household shall be limited to three months in a 36-month period if such adults are not meeting the requirements imposed by the U.S.
The time on food assistance for able-bodied adults aged 18 through 49 without dependents in the household shall be limited to three months in a 36- month period if such adults are not meeting the requirements imposed by the U.S.
department of agriculture that they must work for at least 20 hours per week or participate in a federally approved work program or its equivalent.
department of agriculture that they must work for at least hours per week or participate in a federally approved work program or its equivalent.
Non-citizen individuals who are unable or unwilling to provide qualifying immigrant documentation, as defined by the United States department of agriculture, residing within a household shall not be included when determining the household's size for the purposes of assigning a benefit level to the household for food assistance or comparing the household's monthly income with the income eligibility standards.
Non- citizen individuals who are unable or unwilling to provide qualifying immigrant documentation, as defined by the United States department of agriculture, residing within a household shall not be included when determining the household's size for the purposes of assigning a benefit level to the household for food assistance or comparing the household's monthly income with the income eligibility standards.
The gross non-exempt earned and unearned income and resources of disqualified individuals shall be counted in its entirety as available to the remaining household members.
The gross non- exempt earned and unearned income and resources of disqualified individuals shall be counted in its entirety as available to the remaining household members.
SB 79—Am.
(19) The secretary for children and families shall not enact the state option from the United States department of agriculture for broad- based categorical eligibility for households applying for food assistance according to the provisions of 7 C.F.R.
by SC 10 (19) The secretary for children and families shall not enact the state option from the United States department of agriculture for broad-based categorical eligibility for households applying for food assistance according to the provisions of 7 C.F.R.
79-3602c 79-3602, and amendments thereto;
79-3602, and SENATE BILL No.
79—page 8 amendments thereto;
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79-3602c 79- 3602, and amendments thereto.
79-3602, and amendments thereto.
The Kansas department for children and families shall verify if individuals SB 79—Am.
The Kansas department for children and families shall verify if individuals with such winnings are receiving TANF cash assistance, food assistance or assistance under the child care subsidy program and take appropriate action.
by SC 11 with such winnings are receiving TANF cash assistance, food assistance or assistance under the child care subsidy program and take appropriate action.
By applying for or receiving temporary assistance for needy families, or by surrendering physical custody of a child to a caretaker relative who is an applicant or recipient of such assistance on the child's behalf, the applicant, recipient or obligee is also deemed to have appointed the secretary, or the secretary's designee, as an attorney-in-fact to perform the specific act of negotiating and endorsing all drafts, checks, money orders or other negotiable instruments representing support payments received by the secretary in behalf of any person applying for, receiving or having received such assistance.
By applying for or receiving temporary assistance for needy families, or by surrendering physical custody of a child to a caretaker relative who is an applicant or recipient of such assistance on the child's behalf, the applicant, recipient or obligee is also deemed to have appointed the secretary, or the secretary's designee, as an attorney-in-fact to perform SENATE BILL No.
79—page 9 the specific act of negotiating and endorsing all drafts, checks, money orders or other negotiable instruments representing support payments received by the secretary in behalf of any person applying for, receiving or having received such assistance.
(1) When the secretary has adopted a medical care plan under which federal moneys or state moneys or both are expended, medical assistance in accordance with such plan shall be SB 79—Am.
(1) When the secretary has adopted a medical care plan under which federal moneys or state moneys or both are expended, medical assistance in accordance with such plan shall be granted to any person who is a citizen of the United States or who is an alien lawfully admitted to the United States and who is residing in the state of Kansas, whose resources and income do not exceed the levels prescribed by the secretary.
by SC 12 granted to any person who is a citizen of the United States or who is an alien lawfully admitted to the United States and who is residing in the state of Kansas, whose resources and income do not exceed the levels prescribed by the secretary.
or (b) not more than nominally from resources of a person while that person owed a duty of support to the applicant or recipient of medical SB 79—Am.
or (b) not more than nominally from resources of a person while that person owed a duty of support to the applicant or recipient of medical assistance.
by SC 13 assistance.
(C) For the purposes of this paragraph, "public assistance" SENATE BILL No.
(C) For the purposes of this paragraph, "public assistance" includes, but is not limited to, medicaid, medical assistance or title XIX of the social security act.
79—page 10 includes, but is not limited to, medicaid, medical assistance or title XIX of the social security act.
A person who is receiving medical care including long- term care outside of Kansas whose health would be endangered by the SB 79—Am.
A person who is receiving medical care including long-term care outside of Kansas whose health would be endangered by the postponement of medical care until return to the state or by travel to return to Kansas, may be determined eligible for medical assistance if such individual is a resident of Kansas and all other eligibility factors are met.
by SC 14 postponement of medical care until return to the state or by travel to return to Kansas, may be determined eligible for medical assistance if such individual is a resident of Kansas and all other eligibility factors are met.
39-786 and 39-787, and amendments thereto, or as otherwise authorized on and after September 30, 1989, under section 303 of the federal medicare catastrophic coverage act of 1988, whichever is applicable, by applying for or receiving medical assistance under a medical care plan in which federal funds are expended, any accrued, present or future rights to support and any rights to payment for medical care from a third party of an applicant or recipient and any other family member for whom the applicant is applying shall be deemed to have been assigned to the secretary on behalf of the state.
39-786 and 39-787, and amendments thereto, or as otherwise authorized on and SENATE BILL No.
79—page 11 after September 30, 1989, under section 303 of the federal medicare catastrophic coverage act of 1988, whichever is applicable, by applying for or receiving medical assistance under a medical care plan in which federal funds are expended, any accrued, present or future rights to support and any rights to payment for medical care from a third party of an applicant or recipient and any other family member for whom the applicant is applying shall be deemed to have been assigned to the secretary on behalf of the state.
SB 79—Am.
Amounts collected pursuant to the assignment of rights to payment for medical care from a third party shall also be retained by the secretary for repayment of the unreimbursed portion of assistance.
by SC 15 Amounts collected pursuant to the assignment of rights to payment for medical care from a third party shall also be retained by the secretary for repayment of the unreimbursed portion of assistance.
The monetary value of any benefits received by the recipient of such medical assistance under long-term care insurance, as defined by K.S.A.
The monetary value of any benefits received by the recipient of such medical assistance under long-term care insurance, as SENATE BILL No.
79—page 12 defined by K.S.A.
(3) By applying for or receiving medical assistance under the provisions of article 7 of chapter 39 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto, such individual or such individual's agent, fiduciary, SB 79—Am.
(3) By applying for or receiving medical assistance under the provisions of article 7 of chapter 39 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto, such individual or such individual's agent, fiduciary, guardian, conservator, representative payee or other person acting on behalf of the individual consents to the following definitions of estate and the results therefrom:
by SC 16 guardian, conservator, representative payee or other person acting on behalf of the individual consents to the following definitions of estate and the results therefrom:
The medical assistance estate includes without limitation, assets conveyed to a survivor, heir or assign of the deceased recipient through joint tenancy, tenancy in common, survivorship, transfer-on-death deed, payable-on-death contract, life estate, trust, annuities or similar arrangement.
The medical assistance estate includes without limitation, assets conveyed to a survivor, heir or assign of the deceased recipient through joint tenancy, tenancy in common, survivorship, transfer-on-death deed, payable-on- death contract, life estate, trust, annuities or similar arrangement.
To return home means the recipient leaves the nursing or medical facility and resides in the home on which the lien has been placed SB 79—Am.
To return home means the recipient leaves the nursing or medical facility and resides in the home on which the lien has been placed for a continuous period of at least 90 days without being readmitted as an inpatient to a nursing or medical SENATE BILL No.
by SC 17 for a continuous period of at least 90 days without being readmitted as an inpatient to a nursing or medical facility.
79—page 13 facility.
(7) If the secretary for aging and disability services or the secretary of health and environment, or both, or such secretary's designee has not filed an action to foreclose the lien in the Kansas district court in the county SB 79—Am.
(7) If the secretary for aging and disability services or the secretary of health and environment, or both, or such secretary's designee has not filed an action to foreclose the lien in the Kansas district court in the county where the real property is located within 10 years from the date of the filing of the lien, then the lien shall become dormant, and shall cease to operate as a lien on the real estate of the recipient.
by SC 18 where the real property is located within 10 years from the date of the filing of the lien, then the lien shall become dormant, and shall cease to operate as a lien on the real estate of the recipient.
(h) Placement under the revised Kansas code for care of children or revised Kansas juvenile justice code;
SENATE BILL No.
79—page 14 (h) Placement under the revised Kansas code for care of children or revised Kansas juvenile justice code;
(i) No person who voluntarily quits employment or who is fired from employment due to gross misconduct as defined by rules and regulations of the secretary or who is a fugitive from justice by reason of a felony conviction or charge or violation of a condition of probation or parole SB 79—Am.
(i) No person who voluntarily quits employment or who is fired from employment due to gross misconduct as defined by rules and regulations of the secretary or who is a fugitive from justice by reason of a felony conviction or charge or violation of a condition of probation or parole imposed under federal or state law shall be eligible to receive public assistance benefits in this state.
by SC 19 imposed under federal or state law shall be eligible to receive public assistance benefits in this state.
By applying for or receiving child care subsidy or food assistance, the applicant or recipient is also deemed to have appointed the secretary, or the secretary's designee, as an attorney in fact to perform the specific act of negotiating and endorsing all drafts, checks, money orders or other negotiable instruments representing support payments received by the secretary in behalf of any person applying for, receiving or having received such assistance.
By applying for or receiving child care subsidy or food assistance, the applicant or recipient is also deemed to have appointed the secretary, or the secretary's designee, as an attorney in fact to perform the specific act of negotiating and endorsing all drafts, checks, money orders or other negotiable instruments representing support payments received by the secretary in behalf of any person SENATE BILL No.
79—page 15 applying for, receiving or having received such assistance.
Under such program of drug screening, the secretary for children and families shall order a drug SB 79—Am.
Under such program of drug screening, the secretary for children and families shall order a drug screening of an applicant for or a recipient of cash assistance at any time when reasonable suspicion exists that such applicant for or recipient of cash assistance is unlawfully using a controlled substance or controlled substance analog.
by SC 20 screening of an applicant for or a recipient of cash assistance at any time when reasonable suspicion exists that such applicant for or recipient of cash assistance is unlawfully using a controlled substance or controlled substance analog.
Upon a second positive test for unlawful use of a controlled substance or controlled substance analog, a recipient of cash assistance shall be ordered to complete again a substance abuse treatment program and job skills program, and shall be terminated from cash assistance for a period of 12 months, or until such recipient of cash assistance completes both substance abuse treatment and job skills programs, whichever is later.
Upon a second positive test for unlawful use of a controlled substance or controlled substance analog, a recipient of cash assistance shall be ordered to complete again a substance abuse treatment program and job skills program, and shall be terminated from cash assistance for a period of months, or until such recipient of cash assistance completes both substance abuse treatment and job skills programs, whichever is later.
Upon a third positive test for unlawful use of a controlled substance or controlled SB 79—Am.
SENATE BILL No.
by SC 21 substance analog, a recipient of cash assistance shall be terminated from cash assistance, subject to applicable federal law.
79—page 16 Upon a third positive test for unlawful use of a controlled substance or controlled substance analog, a recipient of cash assistance shall be terminated from cash assistance, subject to applicable federal law.
(C) Upon any positive test for unlawful use of a controlled substance or controlled substance analog, the designated individual shall not receive cash assistance on behalf of the parent's or legal guardian's minor child, and another designated individual shall be selected by the secretary for children and families to receive cash assistance on behalf of such parent's SB 79—Am.
(C) Upon any positive test for unlawful use of a controlled substance or controlled substance analog, the designated individual shall not receive cash assistance on behalf of the parent's or legal guardian's minor child, and another designated individual shall be selected by the secretary for children and families to receive cash assistance on behalf of such parent's or legal guardian's minor child.
by SC 22 or legal guardian's minor child.
First- time offenders convicted under federal or state law of any offense that is classified as a felony by the law of the jurisdiction and has as an element of such offense the manufacture, cultivation, distribution, possession or use of a controlled substance or controlled substance analog, and the date of conviction is on or after July 1, 2013, such person shall become ineligible to receive cash assistance for five years from the date of conviction.
First-time offenders convicted under federal or state law of any offense that is classified as a felony by the law of the jurisdiction and has as an element of such offense the manufacture, cultivation, distribution, possession or use of a controlled substance or controlled substance analog, and the date of conviction is on or after July 1, 2013, such person shall become ineligible to receive cash SENATE BILL No.
79—page 17 assistance for five years from the date of conviction.
21- 5701, and amendments thereto.
21-5701, and amendments thereto.
I hereby certify that the above ILLoriginated in the SENATE , and passed that body _________________________ _________________________ President of the Senate.
_________________________ Secretary of the Senate.
Passed the H OUSE ________________________ _________________________ Speaker of the House.
_________________________ Chief Clerk of the House.
A PPROVED ____________________________ _________________________ Governor.
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Action History

  1. No motion to reconsider vetoed bill; Veto sustained

  2. Vetoed by Governor; Returned to Senate on Thursday, April 3, 2025

  3. Motion to override veto prevailed; Yea 29, Nay 11

  4. Enrolled and presented to Governor on Thursday, March 27, 2025

  5. Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Rep. Ford Carr

  6. Rep. Brian Bergkamp raised a question of germaneness. The amendment was ruled not germane

  7. Committee of the Whole - Be passed

  8. Motion to advance to Emergency Final Action adopted

  9. Emergency Final Action - Passed; Yea 65, Nay 58, Absent 2

  10. Committee Report recommending bill be passed by House Committee on Welfare Reform

  11. Received and Introduced

  12. Referred to House Committee on Welfare Reform

  13. Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea 29, Nay 11

  14. Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted

  15. Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Sen. Dinah Sykes

  16. Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Sen. Dinah Sykes was rejected; Yea 11, Nay 28, Absent 1

  17. Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Sen. Patrick Schmidt

  18. Sen. Renee Erickson raised a question of germaneness. The amendment was ruled not germane

  19. Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Sen. Cindy Holscher

  20. Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Sen. Cindy Holscher was rejected; Yea 8, Nay 29, Absent 2

  21. Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended

  22. Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Senate Committee on Government Efficiency

  23. Referred to Senate Committee on Government Efficiency

  24. Introduced

Sponsors

  • Committee on Government Efficiency · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 164 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

  • Committee on Government Efficiency

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (164)

164 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 164 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Subjects

public-safety health-insurance agriculture
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 79?
SB 79 is sponsored by Committee on Government Efficiency.
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This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced January 27, 2025. It awaits signature.
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