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HB 2091

Reducing the term of office for Berkeley County Commisioners from six years to four years

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Larry Kump

HB 2091 expands voter registration by offering it through state agencies, high schools, and inmate discharge programs, with liability protections for ineligible registrants.

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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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