Kansas SB459 - Prisoner Review Board Restructuring

Kansas Legislative Events

Published April 7th, 2026

Detected April 8th, 2026

Summary

Kansas Governor signed SB459 into law, restructuring the Prisoner Review Board by removing it from Secretary of Corrections supervision, establishing new member qualifications and appointment authority, and requiring parole hearing postponements when victims lack proper notice of public comment sessions.

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What changed

Kansas SB459 removes the Prisoner Review Board from the supervision of the Secretary of Corrections, transferring it to independent status with revised appointing authority. The legislation establishes qualification requirements for board members and mandates that parole hearings be postponed when proper notice of public comment sessions is not provided to victims.

Affected parties include the Kansas Department of Corrections, the Prisoner Review Board, and victims of crimes who participate in parole proceedings. Government agencies should review internal procedures to ensure compliance with new board governance structures and victim notification requirements.

What to do next

Update Prisoner Review Board governance procedures
Implement new member qualification requirements
Ensure victim notification protocols for parole hearings

Source document (simplified)

ChangeBridge / Kansas / SB459 Signed by Governor SB459 Senate Bill Signed by Governor 2026-04-09

Removing the prisoner review board from the supervision of the secretary of corrections, changing the appointing authority and creating qualifications for the members of the board and requiring parole hearings to be postponed if proper notice of the public comment session is not made to the victim.

Bill Details

State Kansas

Session 2025-2026 Regular Session

Chamber Senate

Official Source kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb459/

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Action History

2026-04-09 S Senate Approved by Governor on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 2026-04-09 S Senate Enrolled and presented to Governor on Monday, March 30, 2026 2026-03-26 S Senate Concurred with amendments in conference; Yea: 32 Nay: 7 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: 124 Nay: 0 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 2026-03-02 H House Hearing: Monday, March 2, 2026, 1:30 PM Room 546-S 2026-02-24 H House Referred to Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice 2026-02-24 H House Received and Introduced 2026-02-18 S Senate Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea: 33 Nay: 7 2026-02-17 S Senate Committee of the Whole - Be passed as further amended 2026-02-17 S Senate Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Senator Blasi was adopted 2026-02-17 S Senate Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Senator Blasi 2026-02-17 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 2026-02-09 S Senate Hearing: Monday, February 9, 2026, 10:30 AM Room 346-S 2026-02-04 S Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary 2026-02-03 S Senate Introduced

Votes

2026-02-18 Senate Final Action - Passed as amended - Yea: 33 Nay: 7 Yea: 33 Nay: 7 2026-03-18 House Emergency Final Action - Passed as amended - Yea: 124 Nay: 0 Yea: 124 Nay: 0 2026-03-26 Senate Concurred with amendments in conference - Yea: 32 Nay: 7 Yea: 32 Nay: 7

Committee Referrals

2026-02-04 S Judiciary 2026-02-24 H Corrections and Juvenile Justice

Amendments

2026-02-16 Senate Committee on Judiciary Report 2026-02-17 Senate Floor Amendment (Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Senator Blasi) 2026-03-17 House Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice Report