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HB 2273

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2025 Regular Session Introduced by Chris Obenshain

HB 2273 aligns Kansas veteran definitions with 38 C.F.R. § 3.7, adding federal categories to state law, and includes 50%+ service-connected disabled vets for licenses and plates.

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Bill Summary · HB 2273

Summary — HB 2273 (2025)

Title: Adding a citation to the Code of Federal Regulations to the definition of veteran and disabled veteran
Introduced: January 30, 2025
Current status: Passed House as amended; referred to Senate Select Committee on Veterans Affairs (Feb. 26, 2025)
Primary sponsor/requestor: Kansas Office of Veterans Services (requested by Rob Leicht)

Purpose and intent

HB 2273 updates Kansas statutory definitions of “veteran” and “disabled veteran” to expressly incorporate the groupings enumerated in the federal regulation 38 C.F.R. § 3.7. The stated intent is to align Kansas law with federal definitions and to ensure persons Congress/VA have designated as veterans are consistently recognized across state statutes and programs.

Key provisions

  • Adds an explicit reference to 38 C.F.R. § 3.7 in the statutory definitions of “veteran” and “disabled veteran” (for example, K.S.A. 8-160 and other locations).
  • Defines “disabled veteran” to include:
    • Service in active military, naval, air or space service, including the groups listed in 38 C.F.R. § 3.7;
    • A disability incurred or aggravated in line of duty; and
    • A service‑connected evaluation percentage of at least 50% (citing 38 U.S.C. § 1101 et seq. or 10 U.S.C. § 1201 et seq.).
  • Inserts the updated “veteran” definition into multiple statutes, including driver’s license provisions (so a veteran designation on licenses must meet specified documentation) and the statute governing issuance of a 1st Infantry Division distinctive license plate.
  • Makes a technical update renaming the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs Office to the Kansas Office of Veterans Services (KOVS) where applicable.
  • Amends and repeals existing sections across numerous K.S.A. citations (listed below).

Statutes amended (as noted in the bill): K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 8-1,221; 8-243; 8-1324; 32-934; 48-3601; 50-676; 73-201; 73-230; 73-1239; 73-1244; 75-3740; 79-4502 (and others referenced, with existing sections repealed as required).

Who is affected

  • Individuals: Persons federally designated as veterans under 38 C.F.R. § 3.7 would be expressly recognized as veterans under Kansas law for purposes covered by the amended statutes (e.g., veteran designation on driver’s licenses, eligibility for state programs that rely on the statutory definition).
  • State agencies: Kansas Office of Veterans Services, Department for Aging & Disability Services, Department of Revenue, Division of Vehicles, and other agencies that apply veteran/disabled‑veteran definitions in program eligibility, licensing, or exemptions.
  • No substantive new benefits are created by the bill; it primarily standardizes and clarifies definitions.

Fiscal and administrative impact

  • Fiscal note (Division of the Budget, Feb. 10, 2025): No fiscal effect reported by KOVS, Department for Aging & Disability Services, or Department of Revenue.
  • Administrative impact is described as minimal — chiefly definition updates and possible minor procedural adjustments for verifying veteran status where statutes reference the updated definition.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Committee activity: Hearing before the House Committee on Veterans and Military; proponents included KOVS and the Military Officers Association of America. The House committee adopted a technical amendment (short title fix).
  • House action: Reported out of committee as amended and passed by the House (committee report dated Feb. 14, 2025; floor passage recorded Feb. 20, 2025).
  • Next step: Referred to the Senate Select Committee on Veterans Affairs (Feb. 26, 2025).

Additional note

38 C.F.R. § 3.7 lists a set of specific groups and circumstances (25 distinct categories) that federal law treats as having performed active military, naval, air, or space service for VA purposes. The bill does not change those federal criteria — it makes Kansas recognition depend expressly on that federal citation so state law follows the federal categorization.

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

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