Bill
HB 2143
KS SOS will contract with credit reporting agencies to verify U.S. citizenship of registered voters and remove noncitizens from voter rolls, with reinstatement on proof.
Status and key dates
- Introduced: January 28, 2025 (filed by Rep. Waggoner; referred to Committee on Elections).
- Enacted: Signed by the Governor May 24, 2025.
- Effective date: September 1, 2025.
Purpose / Intent
- Require the Kansas Secretary of State (SOS) to obtain certain consumer data from one or more credit reporting (rating) agencies and use that information to verify the U.S. citizenship status of persons registered to vote in Kansas. The stated aim is to identify and remove any noncitizens who are registered.
Key provisions
- Contracting authority: SOS must enter into agreements with one or more credit reporting agencies to obtain specified information about Kansas residents.
- Data to be obtained: includes, but is not limited to, names, addresses, phone numbers, social security numbers, dates of birth, and alien registration numbers.
- Verification and reporting: SOS will use the data to verify U.S. citizenship of registered voters.
- Notification and removal: If the SOS identifies any noncitizen persons who are registered to vote, the SOS must notify the appropriate county election officer and direct removal of those persons from the voter registration rolls.
- Reinstatement avenue: County election officers must notify persons removed that they may be reinstated by providing proof of U.S. citizenship.
- Effective timing: Act takes effect as specified; law effective 9/1/2025.
Who is affected
- Registered voters in Kansas (particularly those flagged by data matches).
- Kansas Secretary of State’s office (responsible for contracting, data processing, notifications).
- County election officers (responsible for removals and communications to affected voters).
- Credit reporting agencies (potential data providers and contract parties).
Fiscal impact and implementation notes
- The Division of the Budget fiscal note (Feb 24, 2025) states the SOS cannot determine total fiscal effect because fees charged by credit reporting agencies are unknown. The SOS contacted agencies and expects fees but cannot estimate a fee structure. The SOS says it would use existing resources to update training materials for local election officials.
- The Kansas Association of Counties reported the bill would have no fiscal effect on counties.
- The fiscal effects are not reflected in the FY 2026 Governor’s Budget Report.
Other considerations
- The bill requires transfer and use of highly sensitive personal information (SSNs, alien registration numbers); implementation will involve data-sharing agreements and operational steps for matching and notification. The fiscal note highlights uncertainty about contracting costs; practical, legal, or privacy safeguards are not detailed in the text of the bill.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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