Aliens Public Benefits Prohibition (Vetoed)

Kansas Legislative Events

Published April 9th, 2026

Detected April 7th, 2026

Summary

Kansas Senate Bill 254, which sought to prohibit aliens unlawfully present in the United States from receiving state or local public benefits in accordance with federal law, was vetoed by the Governor on April 9, 2026. The bill had passed both chambers after conference committee reconciliation but was returned to the Senate without enactment.

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What changed

Kansas SB254 was vetoed by Governor Laura Kelly on April 9, 2026, preventing the bill from becoming law. The legislation would have prohibited aliens who are unlawfully present in the United States from receiving any state or local public benefit, consistent with applicable federal law. The bill had cleared both chambers with slim majorities (Senate 22-18, House 77-47) after conference committee revisions.

Since the bill was vetoed, no compliance obligations were created for state agencies, local governments, or benefit providers. Organizations that track Kansas immigration-related legislation may wish to monitor for future similar proposals, as the underlying policy debate continues in the Kansas legislature.

Source document (simplified)

ChangeBridge / Kansas / SB254 Vetoed SB254 Senate Bill Vetoed 2026-04-09

Prohibiting aliens who are unlawfully present in the United States from receiving any state or local public benefit in accordance with applicable federal law.

Bill Details

State Kansas

Session 2025-2026 Regular Session

Chamber Senate

Official Source kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb254/

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Action History

2026-04-09 S Senate Vetoed by Governor; Returned to Senate on Monday, April 6, 2026 2026-03-27 S Senate Enrolled and presented to Governor on Friday, March 27, 2026 2026-03-24 S Senate Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea: 22 Nay: 18 2026-03-19 H House Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea: 78 Nay: 46 2026-03-16 H House Conference committee report now available 2026-03-04 S Senate Conference Committee Report agree to disagree adopted; Senator Thompson, Senator Blew and Senator Faust Goudeau appointed as second conferees 2026-03-04 H House Conference Committee Report agree to disagree adopted; Representative Kessler, Representative Schmoe and Representative Meyer appointed as second conferees 2026-03-04 H House Conference committee report now available 2026-02-25 H House Representative Lewis is appointed to replace Representative Schmoe on the Conference Committee 2026-02-10 H House Motion to accede adopted; Representative Kessler, Representative Schmoe and Representative Meyer appointed as conferees 2026-02-09 S Senate Nonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Senator Thompson , Senator Blew and Senator Faust Goudeau as conferees 2026-02-05 H House Emergency Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea: 86 Nay: 36 2026-02-05 H House Motion for previous question adopted. Yea: 88 Nay: 34 2026-02-05 H House Motion to lay on table not adopted; 2026-02-05 H House EFA Subject to Amendment and Debate - Amendment by Representative Carmichael was rejected. 2026-02-05 H House EFA Subject to Amendment and Debate - Motion to Amend offered by Representative Carmichael 2026-02-05 H House EFA Subject to Amendment and Debate - Amendment by Representative Lewis was adopted 2026-02-05 H House EFA Subject to Amendment and Debate - Motion to Amend offered by Representative Lewis 2026-02-02 H House Referred to Committee of the Whole 2026-02-02 H House Received and Introduced 2026-01-28 S Senate Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea: 30 Nay: 9 2026-01-27 S Senate Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended 2026-01-27 S Senate Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Senator Shallenburger was rejected 2026-01-27 S Senate Senator Thompson raised a question of germaneness. The amendment was ruled germane. 2026-01-27 S Senate Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Senator Shallenburger 2026-01-27 S Senate Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted 2025-03-06 S Senate Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Committee on Federal and State Affairs 2025-02-27 S Senate Hearing: Thursday, February 27, 2025, 10:30 AM Room 144-S 2025-02-11 S Senate Referred to Committee on Federal and State Affairs 2025-02-10 S Senate Introduced

Votes

2026-01-28 Senate Final Action - Passed as amended - Yea: 30 Nay: 9 Yea: 30 Nay: 9 2026-02-05 House Motion for previous question adopted. - Yea: 88 Nay: 34 Yea: 88 Nay: 34 2026-02-05 House Emergency Final Action - Passed as amended - Yea: 86 Nay: 36 Yea: 86 Nay: 36 2026-03-19 House Conference Committee Report was adopted - Yea: 77 Nay: 47 Yea: 77 Nay: 47 2026-03-24 Senate Conference Committee Report was adopted - Yea: 22 Nay: 18 Yea: 22 Nay: 18

Committee Referrals

2025-02-11 S Federal and State Affairs

Amendments

2025-03-06 Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs Report 2026-01-27 Senate Floor Amendment (Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Senator Shallenburger) 2026-02-05 House Floor Amendment (Lewis) 2026-02-05 House Floor Amendment (Carmichael) 2026-03-04 Conference Committee Report 2026-03-16 Conference Committee Report