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HB 2261

Creating a tax preference requirement for employee student loans.

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Kristine Reeves

Adds Major to unclassified KHP; guarantees return-to-classified rank not lower than the rank held when appointed; creates temporary slot if needed.

First reading, referred to Finance.
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Bill Summary · HB 2261

HB 2261 — Summary (Kansas Highway Patrol rank classification and return-to-rank protections)

Status: Approved by Governor (signed March 21, 2025).
Statute amended: K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 74-2113 (section repealed and replaced as amended).
Introduced: January 30, 2025 (House Committee on Transportation, requested by Lt. Roy Wise on behalf of the Kansas Highway Patrol).

Main purpose

Clarify that the rank of Major in the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) is part of the unclassified service under the Kansas Civil Service Act, and to guarantee that officers who serve in specified unclassified leadership positions return to a permanent classified rank no lower than the rank they held when appointed to that unclassified position.

Key provisions

  • Adds “majors” to the list of KHP positions within the unclassified service (joining superintendent and assistant superintendent).
  • Provides a returning-rights provision: if a KHP member who was promoted to superintendent, assistant superintendent, or major (and was a patrol member at the time of appointment) ends their term in that unclassified post, the member shall be returned to a classified patrol rank with permanent status that is not lower than the rank held when appointed to the unclassified position.
  • If the returning-to rank is currently filled, a temporary additional position in that rank will be created until a vacancy occurs.
  • Confirms all other KHP officers, troopers, and employees remain in the classified service under the Kansas Civil Service Act.
  • Retains related appointment and qualification rules already in statute (e.g., superintendent appointed by Governor with Senate confirmation, assistant superintendent appointed by superintendent, minimum service requirements for officer appointments).

Who is affected

  • Directly affects current and future KHP Majors and those appointed as superintendent or assistant superintendent.
  • Indirectly affects personnel administration and classification procedures within KHP and the Department of Administration.
  • No change to eligibility or duties of troopers/officers beyond classification/return-to-rank protections.

Fiscal and implementation notes

  • Division of the Budget / KHP fiscal note: enactment would have no fiscal effect on KHP operations.
  • Effective date: the act takes effect upon publication in the statute book (per bill language).

Background and rationale

  • The change was requested by the KHP after statutory ambiguity about whether the Major rank was classified or unclassified caused litigation and uncertainty. Current majors had voluntarily accepted unclassified status on appointment; this bill codifies that status and clarifies return-to-rank protections.

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

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