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Bill

SB 15

Authorizing the director of alcoholic beverage control to issue licenses for the sale of alcoholic liquor to persons convicted of a felony if such conviction is more than 10 years old.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas bill allows alcohol licenses for felons convicted 10+ years ago, enabling workforce reentry but raising public safety and crime-type concerns.

Died in Committee
#alcoholicbeverages
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Bill Summary · SB 15

Legislative bill overview

SB 15 would allow Kansas's Alcoholic Beverage Control director to issue liquor licenses to individuals with felony convictions, provided the conviction occurred more than 10 years ago. Currently, Kansas law appears to categorically prohibit or severely restrict license issuance to anyone with a felony record, regardless of time elapsed or offense type.

Why is this important

This bill addresses workforce reentry and economic opportunity for formerly incarcerated individuals. Liquor retail and hospitality are significant employment sectors, and licensing restrictions can permanently exclude people from business ownership in this industry, potentially limiting rehabilitation prospects and increasing recidivism risk.

Potential points of contention

  • Public safety concerns: Opponents may argue that felony convictions—particularly for violent crimes, theft, or drug offenses—pose risks in roles managing controlled substances and handling cash transactions, regardless of the time period.
  • Lack of offense distinction: The bill applies uniformly to all felonies (murder, embezzlement, assault, etc.) without distinguishing conviction severity, which some view as either too lenient or insufficiently targeted.
  • Implementation ambiguity: The phrase "may issue" gives discretionary authority to the director rather than creating an automatic right, potentially leading to inconsistent application and continued barriers depending on individual decision-making.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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