SB374 Permits Municipal Judges to Order Psychiatric Exams for Defendants
Summary
Kansas enacted SB374, authorizing municipal judges to initiate psychiatric or psychological examinations to determine competency for defendants charged with the most serious offenses. The legislation establishes procedures for evaluation and treatment during competency proceedings and requires further consideration of these matters in such cases.
What changed
Kansas SB374 grants municipal judges new authority to initiate psychiatric or psychological examinations to determine competency for defendants charged with the most serious offenses. The bill establishes procedural requirements for such evaluations and treatment considerations during competency proceedings.
Municipal courts in Kansas must implement new procedures for ordering and conducting psychiatric examinations. Criminal defendants facing serious charges will be subject to new competency evaluation processes. Legal professionals and court administrators should prepare for these enhanced judicial powers and procedural requirements.
What to do next
- Review internal court procedures for psychiatric exam orders under SB374
- Update protocols for competency proceedings involving serious offenses
- Monitor for Kansas Judicial Branch implementation guidance
Archived snapshot
Apr 10, 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 / SB374 Signed by Governor SB374 Senate Bill Signed by Governor 2026-04-09
Permitting a municipal judge to initiate a psychiatric or psychological examination to determine competence, setting forth relevant procedures and 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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Sponsors
Judiciary
Action History
2026-04-09 S Senate Approved by Governor on Thursday, April 9, 2026 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
Bill Text Versions
2026-01-22 Introduced 0000-00-00 Amended 0000-00-00 Amended 2026-04-09 Enrolled Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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