WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SB 346

Prohibiting plaintiffs from filing abusive civil actions against certain defendants with whom the plaintiff has a current or former family, household or dating relationship and authorizing the court to impose prefiling restrictions on such plaintiffs.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas SB 346 blocks civil lawsuits between family/romantic partners in certain cases and lets courts restrict future filings by plaintiffs deemed abusive.

Died in Committee
#civilprocedureandcivilactions
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 346

Legislative bill overview

SB 346 would prohibit individuals from filing civil lawsuits against current or former family members, household members, or romantic partners in certain circumstances deemed "abusive." The bill would also empower courts to impose prefiling restrictions—requirements that plaintiffs obtain court permission before filing future civil cases—against individuals found to have filed such actions.

Why is this important

This bill directly affects access to civil courts for people in intimate relationships. It creates a mechanism to restrict someone's right to sue based on their relationship to the defendant, potentially limiting remedies available for property disputes, contract breaches, or other civil matters arising within families or between former partners. The practical impact depends heavily on how "abusive civil actions" is defined and applied.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition ambiguity: The bill references "abusive civil actions" but the provided text doesn't clarify what constitutes abuse—creating risk of inconsistent application or overly broad interpretation by different judges
  • Access to justice concerns: Prefiling restrictions could prevent legitimate civil claims (property division, debt recovery, breach of contract) simply because parties have a relationship history
  • Intersection with protective orders: Unclear how this interacts with existing domestic violence protections and whether it could undermine victims' ability to pursue civil remedies alongside criminal cases

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

Sign in to ask a question.