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HB 2206

Renaming the Kansas governmental ethics commission to the Kansas public disclosure commission, defining terms in the campaign finance act, requiring the filing of statements of independent expenditures, prohibiting agreements requiring contributions in the name of another and requiring the termination of unused campaign finance accounts.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Renames the ethics agency to the Kansas Public Disclosure Commission, tightens campaign finance rules, requires independent-expenditure reporting, and mandates termination of unuse

Reengrossed on Thursday, March 27, 2025
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 2206

Summary — HB 2206 (2025)

Status: Approved by Governor (April 7, 2025). Introduced January 29, 2025. Effective timing: multiple provisions specify on/after July 1, 2025 (notably the agency name change); other requirements have specific report/termination deadlines described below.

Purpose / Intent

HB 2206 updates Kansas campaign finance law by (1) renaming the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission to the Kansas Public Disclosure Commission, (2) clarifying and adding definitions (including a new “cooperation/consent” concept for independent/expression advocacy), (3) strengthening prohibitions against “giving in the name of another,” (4) changing definitions and registration rules for political committees (including a bar on legislators creating such committees), (5) requiring independent-expenditure reporting, and (6) requiring termination of unused candidate campaign accounts in certain circumstances.

Key provisions and changes

  • Agency rename and continuity

    • Renames Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission → Kansas Public Disclosure Commission effective on/after July 1, 2025.
    • Renames associated fee fund; clarifies existing rules, opinions, member terms, and contracts continue in force.

  • New/clarified definitions — “cooperation or consent”

    • Defines when an express-advocacy expenditure is considered made with a candidate/party’s cooperation or consent (request/recommendation by candidate/committee, or assent to a payor’s recommendation).
    • Lists explicit exclusions (e.g., routine responses to inquiries, public-source info, endorsements, solicitation of contributions).
    • Addresses use of commercial vendors or former campaign staff: allows such vendors if they have not provided services during the prior 120 days, or if a firewall is implemented to prevent flow of campaign information.

  • “Giving in the name of another”

    • Raises the de minimis threshold: an individual may accept a contribution without knowing the donor’s name/address up to $50 (was $10).
    • Prohibits contributors (except candidates to their own committee) from retaining authority to control/use a contribution once made.
    • Prohibits conditional contributions requiring that all or part be subsequently passed to another committee; such agreements are declared null and void.
    • Defines “contribution in the name of another” (targeting concealment of original source), but excludes transfers/contributions already reportable under the Act.

  • Political committee definition and limits

    • Redefines “political committee” to cover entities (including groups of two or more non-married individuals) whose major purpose is to make contributions/expenditures exceeding $3,000 in a calendar year and that either (a) state that purpose in governing documents/resolutions, or (b) have spent at least 50% of total program spending on contributions/expenditures (look-back period: lifetime or last 5 years if >5 years old).
    • “Total program spending” defined to include aggregate program expenditures and certain fundraising communications; excludes volunteer time, administrative expenses, and other fundraising costs.
    • Prohibits any member of or candidate for the Kansas Legislature from establishing a political committee.

  • Reporting and termination requirements

    • Requires filing of statements of independent expenditures by non-candidate/non-committee payors (amends filing rules; specific form/content changes in bill text).
    • Requires political committees to file termination reports with both the Secretary of State and county election offices.
    • New termination requirement for candidate campaign accounts: if an elected official (state or local) chooses not to run again or is defeated, the campaign account for that office must be terminated no later than 90 days after the date of the second subsequent general election in which the person was not elected; treasurers must dispose residual funds per law and file termination reports.

Who is affected

  • Kansas Public Disclosure Commission (successor agency; rule continuity)
  • Candidates and candidate committees (reporting, account termination, contribution rules)
  • Political committees, independent expenditure payors, and organizations making grants/transfers
  • Legislators and legislative candidates (barred from creating political committees)
  • Commercial vendors and former campaign staff (subject to 120‑day rule or required firewall)
  • Secretary of State and county election offices (receiving termination reports)

Fiscal impact & administrative notes

  • Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission indicated minor one-time costs (logo/material updates) absorbable within existing resources.
  • Projected reduced fee-fund revenue due to fewer entities qualifying as political committees: approximately $10,000 reduction in FY2026 and FY2027 (per fiscal note).
  • Existing commission rules and prior opinions remain effective pending any amendments.

Enforcement / timing highlights

  • Agency name change and rule continuity referenced to July 1, 2025.
  • Campaign-account termination: deadline = 90 days after the second subsequent general election in which the person is not elected.
  • Other reporting and registration changes apply as laid out in the amended Campaign Finance Act sections in the enrolled bill text.

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

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