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SB 533

Limiting the restrictions on who is eligible to be a county commissioner to only individuals holding elected office in the same county.

2025-2026 Regular Session

SB 533 narrows eligibility for county commissioners to ban same-county elected roles, while allowing other involvements like state board appointments and volunteer service.

Died in Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 533

Overview

SB 533, introduced in the Kansas 2025-2026 session, simplifies the eligibility restrictions for the office of county commissioner by limiting ineligibility to only individuals who hold elected office in the same county. The bill revises current law to remove broader prohibitions related to holding any state, county, township, or city elected office, and it clarifies certain qualifications and permissive limitations.

Main purpose and intent

  • To narrow the existing prohibition on eligibility for county commissioner offices.
  • To specify that an individual who holds an elected office in the same county would be ineligible to serve as a county commissioner in that county.
  • To maintain certain allowances for county commissioners to serve in other capacities (e.g., state boards) as long as compensation rules are observed.
  • To provide technical corrections to align statute with the proposed restriction.

Key provisions and changes

  • Amends K.S.A. 19-205 (and repeals the existing section) to state:
    • No person holding any elected state, county, township, or city office shall be eligible to hold the office of county commissioner in the same county in Kansas, with the clarified scope focusing on the same-county restriction.
    • The prohibition does not prohibit a county commissioner from being appointed to a state board, committee, council, commission, or similar body established by statute, provided they do not receive pay or expenses beyond what is allowed by law (per K.S.A. 75-3223 and amendments).
    • County commissioners may serve as volunteers for emergency medical services, ambulance services, or as volunteer firefighters, and may receive usual compensation for such volunteer services.
  • Repeals the current version of K.S.A. 19-205 and replaces it with the new language.
  • Effective date: The act would take effect upon publication in the statute book.

Who or what would be affected

  • Potential county commissioners in Kansas counties who currently hold or seek to hold another elected office (state, county, township, or city) would be constrained if that other office is in the same county.
  • County election officials and state election administrators, who would need to adjust guidance and materials to reflect the clarified eligibility rules.
  • County governments and the Kansas Association of Counties (KAC) as stakeholders who may need to communicate the change to local officials.
  • Individuals serving on state boards or commissions who are also county commissioners would need to ensure compensation compliance if applicable.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Legislative action history:
    • March 10, 2026: Introduced.
    • March 11, 2026: Referred to the Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs.
    • April 10, 2026: Died in Committee (did not advance to floor for a vote).
  • Fiscal note:
    • The Division of the Budget indicates SB 533 would use existing resources for training, updating manuals, and website/public documents; no new funding is reflected in the FY 2027 Governor’s Budget.
    • The Kansas Association of Counties states there would be no fiscal effect on counties.
  • Effective date contingent on publication; as introduced, the measure would take effect after publication in the statute book if enacted.

Fiscal impact (as noted in the fiscal note)

  • No new county-level fiscal impact anticipated.
  • State resources would be used to update training materials and public guidance, but no additional appropriations are specified in the fiscal note.
  • The bill’s advancement did not occur, so no enacted fiscal provisions are in force.

Bottom line

SB 533 seeks to narrow the eligibility prohibition for county commissioners to the prohibition against holding another elected office within the same county, while permitting certain other involvements (e.g., volunteer service and appointments to state boards with compensation constraints). The bill did not advance out of committee in the 2025-2026 session.

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

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