Child Abuse Registry Bill Establishing Administrative Registration and Expungement Process

Kansas Legislative Events

Published April 9th, 2026

Detected April 4th, 2026

Summary

Kansas HB2601 establishes a child abuse and neglect registry to be maintained by the Secretary for Children and Families, creating registration and expungement processes with administrative hearing and appeal provisions. The bill passed unanimously through both chambers and was enrolled on April 9, 2026.

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What changed

Kansas HB2601 establishes a new child abuse and neglect registry to be administered by the Secretary for Children and Families. The bill creates a registration process for individuals substantiated for abuse or neglect, an expungement process allowing removal under specified conditions, and administrative hearing procedures with subsequent appeal rights. The bill progressed through House and Senate with multiple amendments and passed final House Conference Committee adoption on March 27, 2026 (Yea: 124, Nay: 0).

The Secretary for Children and Families must prepare to implement registry operations, including establishing registration procedures, expungement criteria, and administrative hearing frameworks. Individuals currently or potentially subject to substantiated findings should understand their rights under the new administrative process. The bill was presented to the Governor on April 3, 2026, indicating imminent implementation pending executive action.

What to do next

Prepare administrative procedures for registry registration and expungement applications
Establish administrative hearing processes consistent with the bill's provisions
Update policies to inform individuals of appeal rights under the new registry framework

Source document (simplified)

ChangeBridge / Kansas / HB2601 Enrolled HB2601 House Bill Enrolled 2026-04-09

Establishing a registry for child abuse and neglect to be maintained by the secretary for children and families and providing for registration and expungement processes that include administrative hearings and opportunities for subsequent appeals.

Bill Details

State Kansas

Session 2025-2026 Regular Session

Chamber House

Official Source kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2...

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Action History

2026-04-09 H House Enrolled and presented to Governor on Friday, April 3, 2026 2026-04-09 H House Reengrossed on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 2026-03-27 H House Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea: 124 Nay: 0 2026-03-26 S Senate Conference committee report now available 2026-03-26 H House Conference committee report now available 2026-03-26 S Senate Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea: 39 Nay: 0 2026-03-26 S Senate Conference committee report now available 2026-03-23 H House Nonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Representative Howerton , Representative Johnson and Representative Ousley as conferees 2026-03-19 S Senate Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea: 40 Nay: 0 2026-03-18 S Senate Committee of the Whole - Be passed as further amended 2026-03-18 S Senate Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Senator Warren was adopted 2026-03-18 S Senate Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Senator Warren 2026-03-18 S Senate Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted 2026-03-16 S Senate Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Committee on Judiciary 2026-03-12 S Senate Hearing: Thursday, March 12, 2026, 10:30 AM Room 346-S 2026-02-26 S Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary 2026-02-25 S Senate Received and Introduced 2026-02-19 H House Emergency Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea: 116 Nay: 0 2026-02-19 H House Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended 2026-02-19 H House Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted 2026-02-18 H House Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Committee on Child Welfare and Foster Care 2026-02-16 H House Hearing continuation: Monday, February 16, 2026, 1:30 PM Room 152-S 2026-02-11 H House Hearing: Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 1:30 PM Room 152-S 2026-01-29 H House Referred to Committee on Child Welfare and Foster Care 2026-01-29 H House Introduced

Votes

2026-02-19 House Emergency Final Action - Passed as amended - Yea: 116 Nay: 0 Yea: 116 Nay: 0 2026-03-19 Senate Final Action - Passed as amended - Yea: 40 Nay: 0 Yea: 40 Nay: 0 2026-03-26 Senate Conference Committee Report was adopted - Yea: 39 Nay: 0 Yea: 39 Nay: 0 2026-03-27 House Conference Committee Report was adopted - Yea: 124 Nay: 0 Yea: 124 Nay: 0

Committee Referrals

2026-01-29 H Child Welfare and Foster Care 2026-02-26 S Judiciary

Amendments

2026-02-18 House Committee on Child Welfare and Foster Care Report 2026-03-16 Senate Committee on Judiciary Report 2026-03-18 Senate Floor Amendment (Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Senator Warren) 2026-03-26 Conference Committee Report