February 21, 2026 Kansas Pet Advocates Weekly Legislative Update
- Reily Goyne
- Feb 20
- 4 min read
ACT NO
: Ask your Representatives to Suppor 344 and RE
Advocacy Efforts Bring TNVR Decriminalization to the Floor for Debate and a Passing Vote! J
 Your advocacy worked! Representatives received at least 63 emails urging them to contact House leadership to schedule a floor debate for HB 2535, decriminalizing trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) for feral cats, and to vote YES when it came to a vote. Late Wednesday night, KPA received word that leadership planned to debate and vote on HB 2535 on Thursday, February 19, the last day it could be debated in the House. After last week’s overwhelmingly supportive vote in the House, HB 2535, decriminalizing trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) for feral cats, is scheduled for a hearing on Monday, March 2, in the Senate Judiciary Committee. KPA lobbyists are meeting with members of the Senate Judiciary Committee to secure their support for HB 2535. Let Senators know how TNVR helps your community manage feral cat overpopulation and why the bill is important. .The House passed HB 2535 with a vote of 98-18. Rep. Lauren Bohi (R-Olathe) presented the bill to the House, and several House members spoke in support, including Dan Osman (D-Overland Park), Ken Collins (R-Mulberry), Brooklynne Mosley (D-Lawrence), Susan Ruiz (D-Kansas City), Angela Martinez (D-Wichita), Tobias Schlingensiepen (D-Topeka), and Alexis Simmons (D-Topeka). Representatives Ken Rahjes (R-Agra) and Fred Gardner (R-Garnett) spoke in opposition to the bill. Several Representatives got into the spirit of the bill by meowing to show support, rather than saying “aye” as is traditionally done. You can watch the recorded debate here. HB 2535 is halfway through the process and now moves to the Senate for referral to a Committee for consideration. KPA lobbyists will work with the committee chair to request a hearing. |
Bill to Allow Placement of Stray Neonates in Foster Care has House Committee Hearing WEDNESDAY
 Statehouse Update By Reily Goyne, KPA Deputy Director A few committees met on Monday, but this week was dedicated to floor debate before the Turnaround deadline on Thursday, February 19. The Senate adjourned on Wednesday afternoon while the House continued to work through Thursday. Over 100 bills were passed out of their chamber of origin and sent to the second chamber. Any bill not considered exempt that was not passed this week cannot advance and must be reintroduced in 2027. The only bills considered exempt are those sponsored by or referred to one of the six exempt committees: House and Senate Federal and State Affairs, House Taxation, Senate Assessment and Taxation, House Appropriations, and Senate Ways and Means. |
Spay/Neuter Funding Included in House Budget
The House has passed its version of the state budget, which includes $50,000 dedicated to spay/neuter services.
The funding proposal provides:
$50,000 to reimburse shelters caring for animals seized through the Animal Facilities Inspection (AFI) program
$25,000 for spay/neuter surgeries performed by the K-State Mobile Veterinary Clinic
$25,000 for community-based spay/neuter grant funding
Any unused funds designated for seizure reimbursement will carry over into the next fiscal year
Bills to Watch
SB 59 exempts licensed nonprofit shelters and rescue networks from paying sales tax, and extends the exemption for construction materials purchased for shelters. It is in Senate Assessment and Taxation, and no hearing has been set. It is exempt from deadlines.
SB 130 amends the Kansas Pet Animal Act. It has been introduced in the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, and no hearing is set. It is exempt from deadlines.
SB 344 authorizes animal shelters to place neonates needing treatment or care in foster homes and requires shelters to display photographs of animals at a location other than the shelter during a holding period. The Senate passed it unanimously, and it has been assigned to the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.
HB 2077 exempts licensed nonprofit shelters and rescue networks from paying sales tax and extends the exemption for construction materials purchased for shelters. It had a hearing on Wednesday, February 11, in the House Taxation Committee. It is exempt from deadlines.
HB 2395 establishes an income tax credit for medical expenses for adopted dogs and cats. It is in the House Taxation Committee, and no hearing is set. It is exempt from deadlines.
HB 2535 clarifies that trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) for feral cats does not violate the animal cruelty statute. It passed the House 98-18 and is awaiting referral to a Senate committee.
HB 2581, sister bill to SB 344, authorizes animal shelters to place certain animals needing treatment or care in foster homes and requires shelters to display photographs of animals at a location other than the shelter during a holding period. It missed the Turnaround deadline and is dead for the session.
HB 2582 establishes the developing veterinary medicine in rural Kansas program within the Kansas department of agriculture and provides financial assistance and support to certain veterinarians practicing in rural communities. It missed the Turnaround deadline and is dead for the session.
HB 2698 provides for permanent seizures of animals in instances when the owner violates county resolutions. It missed the Turnaround deadline and is dead for the session.
HB 2707 modifies the definition of abuse in the protection from abuse act to include certain acts or threats related to pets and specifies that courts may include orders relating to pets in protection from abuse act orders. It missed the Turnaround deadline and is dead for the session.
Kansas Pet Animal Advisory Board (KPAAB) Meeting
The next Kansas Pet Animal Advisory Board meeting is March 11, 2026, at 10:00 AM on Zoom Part of the discussion at Wednesday meeting will be the new KDA draft vet care form. Click here to view the new form. If you want to get emails about future meetings, email Heather Landsdowne and ask to be put on the meeting notice list. |
Don't Miss The Next KPA Partner Meeting
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