February 6, 2026 Kansas Pet Advocates Weekly Legislative Update
- Reily Goyne
- Feb 6
- 4 min read
Spay/Neuter Funding Moves Forward J
Spay/Neuter Funding in House Budget Recommendations On Monday, House Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Committee Chair Lisa Moser (R-Wheaton) presented the Kansas Department of Agriculture budget recommendations to the House Appropriations Committee. The Budget Committee’s recommendations for FY2027, starting July 1, 2026, included $50,000 to reimburse shelters for care provided for animals seized by the Animal Facilities Inspection (AFI) program, $25,000 for community spay/neuter grants, and $25,000 to Kansas State for spay/neuter. The House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means Committees will work on their budget positions this week. Once each chamber approves its respective budget, leadership from both committees will meet to negotiate the differences. KPA will lobby to keep the funding for seizures and spay/neuter in the final budget bill. |
TNVR Decriminalization Receives No Opposition
The House Judiciary Committee heard HB 2535, decriminalizing trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) for feral cats, on Monday, February 2. You can watch the recorded hearing on YouTube. Jasmine Kyle, SEK Humane Society, Nika Orebaugh, Animal Control, and Terry Humphrey, KPA Executive Director testified in support, with many other organizations submitting written testimony. There was no opposition to the bill.
KPA is working with Chair Susan Humphries (R-Wichita) to schedule a date for the Committee to discuss and pass the bill.
SB 344 Advances to Full Senate
The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee amended and passed SB 344 on Tuesday. It is now on the Senate floor calendar, and can be debated and voted on anytime before February 19. KPA lobbyists are meeting with Senators to get their votes before it’s scheduled for debate. The amendments to the bill include the removal of the words “sick or injured”, narrowing the focus to just neonates, and defining neonates as “a newborn animal that is less than eight weeks of age and dependent on such animal's mother or a caregiver due to undeveloped biological functions related to feeding, regulation of body temperature and elimination of waste.” A third amendment changed the records retention schedule from three to five years. |
 Senator Kellie Warren (R-Leawood) met with KPA Deputy Director/Lobbyist, Reily Goyne on Thursday to talk about SB 344 and several other issues about companion pets. If you have time to travel to Topeka, take time to meet with your legislators and tell them about the awesome work you do. KPA is willing to help you set these meeting up, just contact Reily Goyne. |
Shelter Sales Tax Exemption Bill Hearing Next Week!
The House Taxation Committee is holding a hearing on HB 2077 on Wednesday, February 11, at 3:30 PM. HB 2077 is a sales tax exemption for nonprofit licensed shelters and rescues that includes
An exemption for purchases made by the shelter or rescue
An exemption for sales by the shelter or rescue
An exemption for contractors working on behalf of the shelter
This bill is estimated to redirect $800,000 back into the community each year. Keep an eye out for action alerts to contact your legislators about this bill!
Questions? Contact Reily Goyne.
Committee Schedule
Monday, February 9 - Day 29
Wednesday, February 11 - Day 31
3:30 - House Taxation: HB 2077 hearing
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.
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