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HB 2190

Declaring the even-numbered year general election day as a legal public holiday.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Adds Election Day in even-numbered years to Kansas list of legal public holidays. Estimated state cost about $5,000 in FY2026; county impacts vary.

Died in Committee
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 2190

HB 2190 — Declaring even‑numbered year general Election Day a legal public holiday (Kansas)

Status: Referred to Committee on Elections
Introduced: January 29, 2025
Primary sponsor: Rep. Tony M. McCombie (chief sponsor later shown as Rep. Martin McLaughlin)
Statutory change: Amends K.S.A. 35-107

Main purpose

To add the even‑numbered‑year general Election Day (defined as the Tuesday following the first Monday in even‑numbered years) to Kansas’s statutory list of legal public holidays.

Key provisions

  • Amends K.S.A. 35‑107 to include: “Election Day, the Tuesday following the first Monday in even‑numbered years” among legal public holidays (alongside New Year’s Day, MLK Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas).
  • Provides that references elsewhere in state law to observance of legal public holidays will apply to the day(s) listed in the amended subsection (i.e., Election Day will be treated like other legal public holidays for statutory observance purposes).
  • Effective date language in the introduced text: the act takes effect upon publication in the statute book.

Who would be affected

  • State agencies and employees: the designation modifies statutory references to legal holidays and could affect leave/observance rules for state employees (specific employer policies and collective‑bargaining agreements would determine paid holiday treatment).
  • Secretary of State and county election offices: operational and staffing effects on offices that must remain open to administer elections.
  • Poll workers and county governments: scheduling and staffing patterns could change; some jurisdictions may see changes in volunteer availability.
  • Employers and employees across the state: public‑sector observance is certain; private‑sector impacts depend on employer policies.

Fiscal and operational impacts

  • Fiscal note (Kansas Division of the Budget, March 3, 2025): Secretary of State estimates approximately $5,000 beginning in FY2026 to cover increased salaries and wages for agency employees who work Election Day in even‑numbered years. The Secretary of State would use existing resources for training, updates to manuals/website, and outreach about the change.
  • Kansas Association of Counties: adding the holiday could increase the pool of available poll workers, but counties were unable to provide an estimate of fiscal impact; potential county costs or savings are uncertain and likely to vary by county.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Filed: Jan 29, 2025; referred to Committee on Elections (noted Feb 3, 2025).
  • Fiscal note completed: March 3, 2025.
  • Companion bill: SB 2380 (listed as related).

Summary: HB 2190 is a narrowly focused statutory change that adds general Election Day in even‑numbered years to Kansas’s list of legal public holidays. The direct state fiscal impact appears small (Secretary of State estimate ≈ $5,000 in FY2026), while county impacts are uncertain and may depend on local election staffing choices and employer holiday policies.

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

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