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SB 22

Requiring title agents to make their audit reports available for inspection instead of submitting such reports annually, requiring the amount of surety bonds filed with the commissioner of insurance to be $100,000 and eliminating the controlled business exemption in certain counties.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas SB 22 requires title agents to keep audit reports available for inspection, mandates $100,000 surety bonds, and eliminates controlled business exemptions in certain counties.

Died in Conference
#insurance
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 22

Legislative bill overview

SB 22 modifies Kansas title agent regulations by shifting audit report submission from annual filings to on-demand inspection availability, standardizing surety bond requirements at $100,000, and removing exemptions for controlled business arrangements in specific counties. The bill is currently in conference committee after House amendments were rejected by the Senate.

Why is this important

Title agents handle significant financial transactions in real estate closings, making oversight mechanisms critical for consumer protection. These changes affect operational compliance costs for title companies and the state's ability to monitor industry practices, while the controlled business exemption removal could reshape market competition in affected counties.

Potential points of contention

  • Compliance burden vs. transparency trade-off: Shifting from scheduled reporting to inspection-on-demand may reduce administrative costs but could create uncertainty about inspection frequency and timing for title agents
  • Surety bond adequacy: A flat $100,000 requirement may be insufficient for larger operations or insufficient for smaller ones, potentially over/under-protecting consumers depending on company size
  • Controlled business exemption removal: Eliminating exemptions in certain counties could disadvantage existing business arrangements and create inconsistent regulations across different Kansas regions, raising fairness concerns

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

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