Authorizing the supreme court to impose a charge to fund the costs of non-judicial personnel through June 30, 2030.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Extends the Supreme Court docket-fee surcharge sunset to June 30, 2030 to fund non-judicial staff; receipts go to the State General Fund, with no direct Judicial Branch impact.

Approved by Governor on Friday, April 3, 2026

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Purpose

HB 2393 would extend the authority of the Kansas Supreme Court to impose a surcharge on various docket fees to fund the costs of non‑judicial personnel. The bill extends the current sunset date for that surcharge mechanism from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2030, and makes technical updates to remove outdated statutory references and effective dates.

Key provisions

Extends the sunset date permitting the Supreme Court to impose a docket‑fee surcharge for non‑judicial personnel from June 30, 2025 → June 30, 2030 (a five‑year extension).

Amends numerous Kansas statutes (see introduced version: K.S.A. 8‑2107, 20‑3021, 21‑6614, 22‑2410, 23‑2510, 28‑170, 28‑172a, 28‑177, 28‑178, 28‑179, 28‑172a, 32‑1049a, 38‑2215, 38‑2312, 38‑2314, 59‑104, 60‑729, 60‑2001, 60‑2203a, 61‑2704, 61‑4001, 65‑409 and others as listed) and repeals the existing versions of those sections.

Removes obsolete statutory cross‑references and outdated effective‑date language.

Does not change current practice that surcharge receipts are deposited into the State General Fund (per 2022 legislation — HB 2541).

Fiscal impact and revenues

The Division of the Budget fiscal note reports no fiscal effect on the Judicial Branch because surcharge revenues are deposited into the State General Fund (SGF).

Historic surcharge receipts (reported FY2021–FY2024):

District court surcharge: FY2021 $7,155,321; FY2022 $7,676,165; FY2023 $7,722,945; FY2024 $7,257,912.
Municipal court surcharge: FY2021 $406,975; FY2022 $347,065; FY2023 $356,083; FY2024 $262,093.

Any revenues from these surcharges accrue to the SGF and are not shown in the FY2026 Governor’s Budget Report tied specifically to the Judicial Branch.

Who is affected

Parties who pay docket fees in Kansas courts (indirectly affected through the continued authority to impose surcharges).

Kansas Supreme Court / Office of Judicial Administration (authority retained but no retained revenue stream — funds flow to SGF).

State General Fund (receives surcharge receipts under current law).

Procedural status and timeline

Introduced Feb 4, 2025 (by House Committee on Appropriations at request of Rep. Waymaster).

Hearing before House Committee on General Government Budget: March 3, 2025 (Judicial Branch representatives answered questions).

Committee report recommending bill be passed issued March 4, 2025.

As introduced, would extend surcharge authority through June 30, 2030 and repeal/amend listed statutory provisions.

Note: Multi‑state text appears in the legislative file; this summary addresses HB 2393 as it was filed in Kansas (extension of the Judicial Branch docket‑fee surcharge sunset).

Bill