Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB256

Introduced
2/10/25  

Caption

Enacting the back to work act to require all full-time state employees to perform such employees' duties in their assigned office, facility or field location, provide for certain exceptions by agency heads and require certain reports regarding such exceptions.

Impact

The Back to Work Act will significantly impact the employment policies of state agencies across Kansas. By requiring employees to be physically present in their assigned locations, the bill aims to streamline operations and improve accountability. However, the legislation allows agency heads to issue exceptions for specific cases, such as nonstandard work hours or limitations on office space. This provision could lead to variability in how different agencies implement the policy, potentially creating disparities in employee experiences across the state government.

Summary

Senate Bill 256, also known as the Back to Work Act, mandates that all full-time employees of state agencies in Kansas perform their duties at designated offices or field locations starting July 1, 2025. This legislation aims to reinforce the in-office work policy for state employees, reflecting a shift from remote work practices that became common during the pandemic. The bill highlights the necessity for state agencies to return to traditional workplace settings, which supporters argue will enhance productivity and collaboration among employees.

Contention

While supporters view the bill as a necessary step towards operational efficiency, there are concerns regarding its rigidity and the potential loss of flexibility for state employees. Critics argue that enforcing in-person work could disregard the benefits of remote or hybrid arrangements that some employees may have found effective. The exceptions clause may alleviate some issues; however, determining who qualifies could become a bureaucratic challenge, raising questions about management and oversight within agencies. The discussions around the bill indicate that it may provoke debate on work-life balance and the evolving nature of public sector employment in the wake of the global shift towards remote work.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS HB2749

Requiring medical care facilities and providers to report the reasons for each abortion performed at such facility or by such provider to the secretary of health and environment.

KS HB2321

Enacting the Kansas work and save program act, allowing certain individuals to contribute to individual retirement accounts and providing administrative duties and powers of the state treasurer regarding such program.

KS SB301

Requiring annual filing of a statement of substantial interest by local governmental officers and employees, exempting elected or appointed officers of townships or school districts from such requirements absent a change in substantial interests of such officers.

KS HB2019

Implementing additional reporting requirements for information technology projects and state agencies, requiring additional information technology security training and status reports, requiring reporting of significant cybersecurity audits and changing the membership requirements, terms of members and the quorum requirements for the information technology executive council.

KS HB2401

Defining "benefit year" and "temporary unemployment" in the employment security law, allowing the extension of temporary unemployment; requiring electronic report filing by certain employers, permitting discretion in appointments and terms for the temporary employment security board of review, delaying new account formation after certain business acquisitions, requiring the new unemployment insurance system to allow employer reports regarding claimant compliance and authorizing the legislative coordinating council to extend new system implementation deadlines.

KS HB2570

Substitute for HB 2570 by Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development - Defining benefit year, temporary unemployment, wages and other terms in the employment security law, requiring electronic filing for certain employers, establishing qualifications for employment security board of review candidates, extending the deadline for new accounts following business acquisitions, making certain changes to the employer rate schedules and lowering rates for new employers, enabling employers to report claimant work search issues, confirming legislative coordinating council oversight for the new unemployment insurance information technology system implementation, authorizing the secretary to grant additional temporary unemployment in certain circumstances, requiring the secretary to publish certain information, abolishing the employment security interest assessment fund and providing relief for negative account balance employers.

KS HB2400

Enacting the Kansas adult learner grant act to facilitate workforce development by providing grants and workforce retention incentive tax credits to adults who pursue baccalaureate degrees from eligible postsecondary educational institutions in certain fields of study.

KS HB2420

Establishing tax withholding requirements when certain employees work in multiple states.

KS HB2064

Establishing the Kansas employee emergency savings account (KEESA) program to allow eligible employers to establish employee savings accounts, providing an income and privilege tax credit for certain eligible employer deposits to such employee savings accounts and providing a subtraction modification for certain employee deposits to such savings accounts.

KS SB478

Defining benefit year, temporary unemployment and other terms in the employment security law, requiring electronic filing for certain employers, establishing qualifications for employment security board of review candidates, extending the deadline for new accounts following business acquisitions, making certain changes to the employer rate schedules, enabling employers to report claimant work search issues, confirming legislative coordinating council oversight for the new unemployment insurance information technology system implementation, authorizing the secretary to grant temporary unemployment, requiring the secretary to annually publish certain data and abolishing the employment security interest assessment fund.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.