Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB126

Introduced
1/30/25  
Refer
1/31/25  
Report Pass
2/17/25  
Engrossed
2/25/25  
Refer
2/25/25  
Report Pass
3/7/25  
Enrolled
4/10/25  

Caption

House Sub for SB 126 - Establishing an advance universal newborn screening program, providing for the reimbursement of certain treatment services and extending the transfer of moneys to the Kansas newborn screening fund, increasing state financial assistance for local health departments under certain circumstances and increasing the annual assessment rate on hospital providers.

Impact

The legislation also seeks to bolster financial support for local health departments, increasing the annual assessment rates on hospital providers. The bill stipulates that hospitals will contribute a percentage of their revenue, underlining a broader strategy to fund public health initiatives sustainably. Such resources are critical for maintaining the robustness of health services and ensuring adequate screening practices across all facilities providing maternity care.

Summary

Senate Bill 126 aims to enhance healthcare support in Kansas through the establishment of an advance universal newborn screening program. This program is designed to identify congenital conditions at an early stage, thereby mitigating the risk of intellectual and physical disabilities in newborns through timely interventions. The bill mandates that hospitals provide these essential tests and establishes educational programs regarding hereditary conditions like congenital hypothyroidism and phenylketonuria. The initiative represents a significant step towards improving public health outcomes for newborns within the state.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding SB126 appears to be favorable among health advocates and legislators who prioritize early disease detection and the wellbeing of children. Supporters argue that the financial implications for hospitals are a small price to pay for the potential health benefits provided by early screenings. However, some stakeholders express concern over the burden that increased assessments may place on hospital finances, particularly among struggling institutions.

Contention

Notably, the discussions related to SB126 reflect concerns regarding funding mechanisms and the balance between state mandates and local hospital capacities. Critics of the bill worry about the feasibility of imposing additional financial burdens on hospitals, especially those already facing financial challenges. Conversely, supporters maintain that the investment in healthcare through this bill is necessary for societal benefits and aligns with broader public health interests.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS SB139

Expanding newborn screening services and increasing transfer from the medical assistance fee fund to the Kansas newborn screening fund.

KS SB42

House Substitute for SB 42 by Committee on Appropriations - Exempting rural emergency hospitals from the hospital provider assessment and establishing residency and other requirements for membership on a hospital board.

KS HB2024

Expanding legal surrender of an infant to include newborn safety devices, requiring a referral of an alleged victim of child abuse or neglect for an examination as part of an investigation, creating a program in the department of health and environment to provide training and payment for such examinations, enacting the Representative Gail Finney memorial foster care bill of rights, applying the federal Indian child welfare act to certain actions under the revised Kansas code for care of children.

KS SB377

Substitute for SB 377 by Committee on Assessment and Taxation - Providing an income tax rate of 5.25% for individuals, increasing the income limit for the income tax subtraction modification for social security income, increasing the standard deduction by a cost-of-living adjustment, increasing the Kansas personal exemption, decreasing the privilege tax normal tax, establishing a 0% state rate for sales and use taxes for food and food ingredients on April 1, 2024, and increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy.

KS SB37

House Substitute for SB 37 by Committee on Financial Institutions and Pensions - Modifying income tax rates for individuals, exempting all social security benefits from Kansas income tax, increasing the Kansas standard deduction and the Kansas personal exemption, decreasing the privilege tax normal tax, establishing a 0% state rate for sales and use taxes for food and food ingredients on July 1, 2024, and modifying the percent credited to the state highway fund, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, decreasing the rate of ad valorem tax imposed by a school district, abolishing the local ad valorem tax reduction fund and the county and city revenue sharing fund and providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund.

KS HB2586

Increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, decreasing the normal rate of privilege tax, increasing the household and dependent care expenses income tax credit amount, exempting all social security benefits from Kansas income tax, increasing the Kansas standard deduction, providing for an annual sales tax holiday for certain sales of school supplies, computers and clothing, providing sales tax exemptions for children's diapers and feminine hygiene products and reducing the state rate of tax on sales of food and food ingredients to 0% on April 1, 2024.

KS SB300

House Substitute for SB 300 by Committee on Taxation - Modifying income tax rates for individuals, increasing the standard deduction and the Kansas personal exemption, increasing the income limit for an income tax subtraction modification for social security income, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, decreasing the privilege tax normal tax rate, abolishing the local ad valorem tax reduction fund and the county and city revenue sharing fund, providing for certain transfers to the special city and county highway fund and decreasing the rate of ad valorem tax imposed by a school district.

KS SB169

House Substitute for SB 169 by Committee on Taxation - providing an income tax rate of 5.15% for individuals and decreasing the normal tax for corporations, increasing the income limit for the income tax subtraction modification for social security income, increasing the standard deduction by a cost-of-living adjustment, discontinuing the food sales tax credit, decreasing the privilege tax normal tax, establishing a 0% state rate for sales and use taxes for food and food ingredients on January 1, 2024, and increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy.

KS SB430

Providing workers compensation act coverage for the Kansas national guard, limiting benefit reductions for retirement benefits, increasing dependents death benefits, reducing certain functional impairment requirements, increasing compensation for certain disability categories and for treatment without authorization, raising the evidentiary standard for future medical treatment, limiting certain procedures for post-award medical benefit claims, allowing benefit payment by funds transfer or payment cards, establishing procedures for neutral healthcare examinations, exchanges and admission of medical reports, extending employee injury notification deadlines, eliminating the deadline for motions to avoid dismissal for lack of prosecution, providing for expedited settlement and digital recording of hearings and other changes to the workers compensation act.

KS HB2785

Transferring certain child care programs to the Kansas office of early childhood and separating licensing duties between the secretary for health and environment and the executive director of early childhood.

Similar Bills

KS HB2399

Establishing an advance universal newborn screening program, providing for the reimbursement of certain treatment services and extending the transfer of moneys to the Kansas newborn screening fund.

LA HB3

Provides for a work and community engagement initiative within the Medicaid program (Item #13) (EG SEE FISC NOTE GF EX See Note)

KS SB139

Expanding newborn screening services and increasing transfer from the medical assistance fee fund to the Kansas newborn screening fund.

US HB4605

Healthy Moms and Babies Act

US SB948

Healthy Moms and Babies Act

VT H0013

An act relating to Medicaid payment rates for community-based service providers

WV SB313

Requiring doula services be covered and reimbursed by Medicaid and PEIA

NC S425

HHS Omnibus