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HB 2182

Prohibiting a sheriff from charging a fee for service of process for proceedings under the protection from abuse act and the protection from stalking, sexual assault or human trafficking act.

2025-2026 Regular Session

HB 2182 bars county sheriffs from charging service fees for protection-order proceedings, reducing financial barriers for victims.

Approved by Governor on Wednesday, March 26, 2025
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Bill Summary · HB 2182

HB 2182 — Summary (Kansas, 2025)

Overview / Purpose

HB 2182 amends K.S.A. 28-110 to prohibit county sheriffs from charging a fee for service of process in proceedings under:
- the Protection From Abuse Act (K.S.A. 60-3104), and
- the Protection From Stalking, Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking Act (K.S.A. 60-31a04),

and for “similar proceedings” based on the laws of other jurisdictions. The change is intended to remove financial barriers for victims seeking protection orders and to ensure consistency with federal requirements tied to Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) funding.

Key provisions

  • Amends K.S.A. 28-110 to add an explicit prohibition on sheriff service fees for the listed protection-order proceedings and comparable out‑of‑state orders.
  • Maintains the general sheriff service fee structure in the statute (historically $10 for July 1, 2012–June 30, 2013 and $15 thereafter) but exempts the specified protection proceedings from that fee.
  • Includes technical updates and repeals the prior version of K.S.A. 28-110 (the section is replaced with the amended text).
  • As enrolled, contains a standard effect clause; the fiscal note identifies July 1, 2025 as the effective date (see “Timeline/Effect” below).

Who is affected

  • Victims/survivors seeking protection orders: will not be charged sheriff service fees for protected‑class proceedings, reducing a potential financial barrier.
  • County sheriffs and county governments: may lose revenue previously collected for service attempts or successful service in these specific proceedings.
  • Courts/clerk offices: administrative implementation to ensure service requests for these proceedings are processed without charging fees.
  • State agencies/federal funding: aligns Kansas practices with VAWA expectations (avoiding a federal funding compliance issue).

Fiscal impact

  • State: Judicial Branch reports no fiscal effect on state revenues or expenditures.
  • Counties: Potential decrease in county government revenues (amount unknown). Kansas Association of Counties concurs that county revenues would decrease but cannot quantify the loss.

Legislative history & timeline

  • Introduced: January 28, 2025 (by House Committee on Judiciary at request of Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence; primary sponsor Rep. Selina Bliss).
  • Amended by House Committee to add exemption for similar proceedings from other jurisdictions.
  • Passed both chambers, enrolled and presented to Governor March 21, 2025.
  • Approved by Governor: Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
  • Effective date: Fiscal note indicates the bill would take effect July 1, 2025; the enrolled bill contains a standard “effective upon publication” clause. (Publication date will determine the operative date in practice; check the published statute for final effective date.)

Additional notes

  • Supporters argued fees are routinely waived and that the bill provides clarity and consistency; proponents included the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence. The Kansas Sheriffs Association provided written-only proponent testimony.
  • The change reduces the risk of noncompliance with federal VAWA funding conditions that prohibit charging victims such fees.

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

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