Competency Evaluation Procedures for Defendants Charged with Serious Offenses

Kansas Legislative Events

Published April 9th, 2026

Detected April 4th, 2026

Summary

Kansas SB374 establishes new requirements for competency evaluation and treatment procedures during competency proceedings for defendants charged with the most serious offenses. The bill passed both chambers with strong bipartisan support and was enrolled on April 9, 2026, after receiving unanimous Senate approval (39-0) and near-unanimous House approval (121-0) on the Conference Committee Report.

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What changed

Kansas SB374 modifies competency evaluation and treatment procedures for defendants charged with serious offenses. The bill requires enhanced consideration of evaluation and treatment during competency proceedings for this defendant population. The measure passed through the Kansas Legislature with emergency final action designation in both chambers, reflecting legislative priority.

Defense attorneys representing clients charged with serious offenses should review the new competency evaluation requirements and assess how they may affect ongoing or future cases. Courts will need to implement updated procedures for competency proceedings involving serious offense charges. Legal counsel should monitor for the Governor's signature and any effective date provisions to determine when the new requirements take effect.

What to do next

Review SB374 competency evaluation requirements for serious offense cases
Update case handling procedures to comply with new evaluation and treatment protocols
Monitor for Governor's action and effective date provisions

Source document (simplified)

ChangeBridge / Kansas / SB374 Enrolled SB374 Senate Bill Enrolled 2026-04-09

Requiring further consideration of evaluation and treatment during the course of competency proceedings for defendants charged with the most serious offenses.

Bill Details

State Kansas

Session 2025-2026 Regular Session

Chamber Senate

Official Source kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb374/

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Action History

2026-04-09 S Senate Enrolled and presented to Governor on Friday, April 3, 2026 2026-03-27 S Senate Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea: 39 Nay: 0 2026-03-26 H House Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea: 121 Nay: 0 2026-03-26 H House Conference committee report now available 2026-03-23 H House Motion to accede adopted; Representative Lewis, Representative Barrett and Representative Schlingensiepen appointed as conferees 2026-03-23 S Senate Nonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Senator Warren , Senator Titus and Senator Corson as conferees 2026-03-18 H House Emergency Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea: 116 Nay: 8 2026-03-18 H House Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended 2026-03-18 H House Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted 2026-03-17 H House Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice 2026-03-11 H House Hearing: Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 1:30 PM Room 546-S 2026-02-25 H House Referred to Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice 2026-02-25 H House Received and Introduced 2026-02-18 S Senate Emergency Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea: 40 Nay: 0 2026-02-18 S Senate Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended 2026-02-18 S Senate Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted 2026-02-16 S Senate Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Committee on Judiciary 2026-02-04 S Senate Hearing: Wednesday, February 4, 2026, 10:30 AM Room 346-S 2026-01-23 S Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary 2026-01-22 S Senate Introduced

Votes

2026-02-18 Senate Emergency Final Action - Passed as amended - Yea: 40 Nay: 0 Yea: 40 Nay: 0 2026-03-18 House Emergency Final Action - Passed as amended - Yea: 116 Nay: 8 Yea: 116 Nay: 8 2026-03-26 House Conference Committee Report was adopted - Yea: 121 Nay: 0 Yea: 121 Nay: 0 2026-03-27 Senate Conference Committee Report was adopted - Yea: 39 Nay: 0 Yea: 39 Nay: 0

Committee Referrals

2026-01-23 S Judiciary 2026-02-25 H Corrections and Juvenile Justice

Amendments

2026-02-16 Senate Committee on Judiciary Report 2026-03-17 House Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice Report 2026-03-26 Conference Committee Report