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HB 2747

Specifying that courts shall consider certain factors in determining whether a prior violation of law is comparable to any act described in certain driving under the influence crimes when calculating a person's criminal history score under the Kansas sentencing guidelines act.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas bill standardizes how courts determine if prior crimes count as comparable DUI offenses for criminal history scoring, potentially increasing sentences for repeat DUI offenders.

Approved by Governor on Monday, April 6, 2026
#crimes #punishmentandcriminalprocedure
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Bill Summary · HB 2747

Legislative bill overview

HB 2747 clarifies how Kansas courts should evaluate prior criminal violations when determining whether they count as comparable offenses for DUI sentencing purposes under the state's criminal history scoring system. The bill specifies factors courts must consider when deciding if past crimes are similar enough to a current DUI charge to increase the criminal history score, which directly affects sentencing length.

Why is this important

Criminal history scores significantly influence sentencing outcomes in Kansas—higher scores lead to longer sentences. This bill impacts how repeat DUI offenders are punished by standardizing the criteria courts use to determine comparability of prior offenses, potentially increasing consistency across judicial decisions but also potentially resulting in harsher sentences for some defendants with prior records.

Potential points of contention

  • Sentencing severity: Clarifying comparability factors could result in more prior offenses counting toward criminal history scores, leading to longer sentences for repeat DUI offenders
  • Judicial discretion: The bill may reduce judges' flexibility in considering individual circumstances, as it mandates specific factors be considered in comparability determinations
  • Definition ambiguity: The bill's reference to "certain factors" without detailed specification in the summary leaves open questions about which specific criteria courts must apply

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

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