Requiring postsecondary educational institutions to provide annual training on freedom of speech, association and exercise of religion to certain individuals based on materials, programs and procedures developed by the state board of regents, in consultation with the attorney general, requiring the state board of regents to confirm that each such institution has complied with training requirements and authorizing the attorney general to bring an action to enforce compliance.

As Amended by Senate Committee
Session of 2026
SENATE BILL No. 496
By Committee on Education
2-6
AN ACT concerning education; relating to postsecondary educational
institutions; requiring the state board of regents, in consultation with
the attorney general, to develop materials, programs and procedures
regarding freedom of speech, association and exercise of religion;
requiring postsecondary educational institutions to provide training to
certain individuals using such materials, programs and procedures;
requiring the state board of regents to confirm that each such institution
has complied with such requirements; authorizing the attorney general
to bring a civil action to enforce compliance with this act.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
Section 1. (a) The state board of regents, in consultation with the
attorney general, shall develop materials, programs and procedures for
each postsecondary educational institution, as defined in K.S.A. 74-3201b,
and amendments thereto, to provide annual training on the policies,
guidelines and duties of the postsecondary educational institution
regarding freedom of speech, association and exercise of religion on the
campus of such institution.
(b) The materials, programs and procedures developed pursuant to
subsection (a) shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) The provisions of K.S.A. 60-5301 et seq. and 60-5321, and
amendments thereto;
(2) sections 3, 7 and 11 of the bill of rights of the Constitution of the
state of Kansas; and
(3) the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
(c) (1) As part of the required annual training, each postsecondary
educational institution shall provide the materials, programs and
procedures to the following individuals to ensure that such individuals
understand the policies, guidelines and duties referred to in subsection (a):
(A) Individuals responsible for discipline or instruction of students;
(B) individuals responsible for the administration of the campus
community; and
(C) individuals with oversight over student organizations or that
distribute activity fee funds. Such individuals include, but are not limited
to, any president, vice president, dean, department director, administrator,
campus law enforcement officer, residence life official, faculty and
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SB 496—Am. by SC 2
members of a student government organization.
(2) Any other student, faculty, staff or elected officials and the staff of
such officials shall be allowed to attend any training programs or receive
any materials developed pursuant to subsection (a).
(d) The state board of regents shall annually confirm to the speaker of
the house of representatives, the president of the senate and the attorney
general that each postsecondary educational institution has provided the
training required by this section.
(e) The attorney general may bring an action against the state board
of regents or any postsecondary educational institution to enforce
compliance with this section.
Sec. 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book.
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