HB2018 Creates Religious Assembly Interference Crime, Kansas
Summary
Kansas HB2018, signed April 10, 2026, enacts a new crime of interference with the conduct of a religious assembly. The bill establishes criminal penalties for those who knowingly interfere with religious gatherings and provides a civil cause of action allowing affected parties to recover damages.
What changed
HB2018 creates a new criminal offense prohibiting interference with the conduct of religious assemblies in Kansas. The bill was signed into law on April 10, 2026, after passing the House 106-14 and Senate 34-6. Violators face criminal penalties established under the legislation. Additionally, the bill provides a private civil cause of action allowing parties harmed by such interference to seek monetary damages in court.
Religious organizations and institutions in Kansas should be aware that they now have enhanced legal protections for their gatherings, including both criminal enforcement mechanisms and the ability to pursue civil litigation. Individuals or groups considering actions that could disrupt religious services or assemblies may face both criminal charges and civil liability under this new statute.
What to do next
- Review organizational policies for compliance with new religious assembly protection requirements
- Consult legal counsel regarding potential civil liability exposure
- Implement measures to prevent interference with religious gatherings
Archived snapshot
Apr 14, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
ChangeBridge / Kansas / HB2018 Signed by Governor HB2018 House Bill Signed by Governor 2026-04-10
Senate Substitute for HB 2018 by Committee on Federal and State Affairs - Creating the crime of interference with the conduct of a religious assembly, providing criminal penalties therefor and providing for a civil cause of action for damages.
Bill Details
State Kansas
Session 2025-2026 Regular Session
Chamber House
Official Source kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2...
LegiScan View on LegiScan
Sponsors
Federal and State Affairs
Action History
2026-04-10 H House Will become law without Governor's signature 2026-04-09 H House Enrolled and presented to Governor on Friday, April 3, 2026 2026-03-26 H House Concurred with amendments in conference; Yea: 106 Nay: 14 2026-03-24 S Senate Motion to accede adopted; Senator Thompson, Senator Blew and Senator Faust Goudeau appointed as conferees 2026-03-23 H House Nonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Representative Kessler , Representative Schmoe and Representative Meyer as conferees 2026-03-19 S Senate Final Action - Substitute passed; Yea: 34 Nay: 6 2026-03-18 S Senate Committee of the Whole - Substitute bill be passed 2026-03-18 S Senate Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted recommending substitute bill be passed 2026-03-17 S Senate Committee Report recommending substitute bill be passed by Committee on Federal and State Affairs 2025-02-18 S Senate Referred to Committee on Federal and State Affairs 2025-02-17 S Senate Received and Introduced 2025-02-17 H House Engrossed on Friday, February 14, 2025 2025-02-14 H House Emergency Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea: 107 Nay: 12 2025-02-14 H House Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended 2025-02-14 H House Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted 2025-02-06 H House Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Committee on Elections 2025-01-28 H House Hearing: Tuesday, January 28, 2025, 3:30 PM Room 218-N 2025-01-16 H House Referred to Committee on Elections 2025-01-16 H House Introduced
Votes
2025-02-14 House Emergency Final Action - Passed as amended - Yea: 107 Nay: 12 Yea: 107 Nay: 12 2026-03-19 Senate Final Action - Substitute passed - Yea: 34 Nay: 6 Yea: 34 Nay: 6 2026-03-26 House Concurred with amendments in conference - Yea: 106 Nay: 14 Yea: 106 Nay: 14
Committee Referrals
2025-01-16 H Elections 2025-02-18 S Federal and State Affairs
Amendments
2025-02-06 House Committee on Elections Report 2026-03-17 Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs Report
Bill Text Versions
2025-01-16 Introduced 0000-00-00 Amended 0000-00-00 Comm Sub 2026-04-09 Enrolled Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
Named provisions
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