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Bill Summary · HB 2091

Summary — HB 2091 (Introduced Jan 24, 2025)

Subject: Voter registration services through state agencies, accredited high schools, and post‑discharge for inmates

Purpose / Intent

HB 2091 requires the Kansas Secretary of State to develop programs that expand opportunities to register to vote by offering voter registration services:
- at certain state benefit/assistance application points (three state agencies),
- at each accredited high school (for students age 17+), and
- to inmates who receive a certificate of discharge restoring civil rights.

The bill also modifies criminal‑liability language to protect individuals who register while actually ineligible, provided there is no willful misrepresentation of eligibility.

Key provisions

  • Secretary of State responsibilities

    • Develop a voter registration program to offer services through:
    • Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF)
    • Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS)
    • Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL)
    • Work with the State Board of Education to provide voter registration services at every accredited high school; students 17+ are to be offered the opportunity to register.
    • Establish rules for submitting voter registration applications to the Secretary of State and county election officers.

  • Agency interactions with applicants

    • At the time of applying for assistance/benefits from DCF, KDADS, or KDOL, applicants must be offered the opportunity to register to vote.
    • If proof of citizenship is not required for the underlying benefit, the applicant must be informed that proof of citizenship will be necessary to complete voter registration.

  • Corrections provision

    • The Kansas Department of Corrections must offer the opportunity to register to vote to any inmate who is a U.S. citizen and whose civil rights have been restored as part of the inmate’s certificate of discharge.

  • Criminal‑law amendment

    • Amends the “voting without being qualified” statute to state that a person who is ineligible but registers under the bill’s programs — and who has not willfully misrepresented eligibility — is presumed not at fault and is not subject to criminal prosecution.

  • Statutory changes

    • Amends K.S.A. 22‑3722 and 25‑2416 and repeals the prior versions.

Who is affected

  • Applicants to DCF, KDADS, KDOL (benefit/assistance applicants)
  • Students age 17+ enrolled in accredited Kansas high schools
  • Inmates discharged with restored civil rights
  • Secretary of State office and staff; county election officers and local election officials (for processing applications)
  • KDADS providers/contractors (may face additional administrative tasks)

Fiscal impact (from Fiscal Note — Feb 20, 2025)

  • Secretary of State: requests $60,000 from fee funds to fund 1.0 FTE to create/oversee/monitor the program. Agency will use existing resources to update training and public materials.
  • KDADS: expects additional administrative work for providers/contractors of non‑Medicaid services; operational costs may increase but fiscal effect not estimated.
  • KDOL: will need IVR/website programming to add a registration prompt but expects to absorb costs within existing resources.
  • State Board of Education: can perform required tasks with current staff, but cumulative demands from other legislation could require additional future resources.
  • DCF and Department of Corrections: indicate no fiscal effect.
  • Kansas Association of Counties: no fiscal effect expected on counties unless unusually large numbers of registrants or extra work for local election officials.
  • Not reflected in FY 2026 Governor’s Budget Report.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Introduced: January 24, 2025 (by Rep. Sawyer Clayton)
  • Current status listed as: Referred to Committee on Elections.
  • The bill text indicates it “shall take effect and be in force from and after its publication in the statute book” (typical effective timing provision).

Implementation considerations / open items

  • Secretary of State rulemaking will determine operational details for submission and processing of registrations through agencies and schools.
  • KDADS provider cost impacts are currently undefined.
  • Local election offices may need to adjust intake/processing capacity depending on participant volume.

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

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