Adding a citation to the code of federal regulations to the definition of veteran and disabled veteran and removing the active requirement from military service members for occupational licensure.

2025-2026 Regular Session

HB 2280 broadens veteran qualifications by aligning state definitions with federal rules and removing the required “active” service for certain licenses.

Engrossed on Tuesday, April 1, 2025

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Purpose

HB 2280 updates Kansas statutory definitions and licensing rules to (1) align the state definitions of “veteran” and “disabled veteran” with a specific federal regulation (38 C.F.R. § 3.7) and (2) remove a requirement that military service be “active” for certain occupational licensure provisions. The bill clarifies who qualifies as a veteran/disabled veteran under state law and broadens eligibility for licensing accommodations tied to military service.

Key provisions

Adds a federal citation to state definitions:

The definitions of “veteran” and “disabled veteran” are amended to explicitly include groups and individuals listed under 38 C.F.R. § 3.7.
Example from the enrolled text: “disabled veteran” now includes persons who served in the active military, naval, air or space service, including those groups and individuals listed under 38 C.F.R. § 3.7.

Removes the “active” service requirement for occupational licensure:

Where state licensing statutes previously required “active” military service to qualify for certain licensing treatments (e.g., expedited, provisional, or reciprocal licensure for service members), that active-duty-only limitation is removed so non‑active categories identified by the federal citation may qualify.

Amends numerous Kansas statutes to reflect these changes (statutory sections listed in the enrolled bill):

K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 8-160, 8-1,221, 8-243, 8-1324, 32-934, 48-3406, 48-3601, 50-676, 73-201, 73-230, 73-1239, 73-1244, 75-3740, 79-4502 (existing sections repealed and replaced as shown in the enrolled version).

Who is affected

Veterans and disabled veterans (state benefits/recognition tied to the statutory definitions).

Service members beyond active duty (e.g., certain Reserve or National Guard members or other groups enumerated in 38 C.F.R. § 3.7) who seek occupational licenses in Kansas.

State licensing boards and agencies that apply veteran status or military-service-based licensing rules (they will apply the updated definitions and removed “active” requirement).

Applicants for veteran-designated vehicle plates, certain benefits, or licensure pathways that reference the amended statutes.

Procedural / timeline notes

Introduced: January 30, 2025.

Enrolled and presented to governor: April 4, 2025.

Approved by Governor: April 8, 2025 (now enacted as law).

The enrolled bill amends and repeals the listed statutory sections; consult the published session laws or the updated Kansas Statutes Annotated for the final text and the effective date (the enrolled version and Secretary of State publication will show the effective date if not immediate).

Potential impact

Aligns state terminology with federal regulation (reducing ambiguity about who counts as a veteran).

Broadens eligibility for licensing accommodations or streamlined pathways for a larger class of service members (likely including some Reserve/Guard categories), potentially increasing the number of qualifying applicants and simplifying administration for licensing boards.

Fiscal impacts are likely minimal; administrative adjustments will be required by agencies that implement veteran-related provisions.

Bill