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Session of 2026
SENATE BILL No. 504
By Committee on Federal and State Affairs
2-11
AN ACT concerning healthcare practices and professions; enacting the
Kansas healthcare professional employment mobility and patient access
act; prohibiting noncompete agreements restricting post-employment
patient care.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
Section 1. (a) This act shall be known and may be cited as the Kansas
healthcare professional employment mobility and patient access act.
(b) As used in this section:
(1) "Healthcare professional" means:
(A) A physician licensed by the state board of healing arts to practice
medicine and surgery; or
(B) a mid-level practitioner as defined in K.S.A. 65-1626, and
amendments thereto.
(2) "Noncompete agreement" means any agreement or contractual
provision that restricts a healthcare professional from engaging in the
practice of their profession or providing patient care services after
termination of employment or a contractual relationship.
(3) "Recruiting and relocation costs" means actual, reasonable and
documented expenses incurred by the employer, including retirement fees,
advertising, relocating expenses, immigration or licensure costs and
signing bonuses expressly designated for recruitment or relocation.
(c) Except as provided in subsection (d), a noncompete agreement
restricting post- employment patient care entered into in violation of this
section shall be void and unenforceable. An employer of a healthcare
professional shall not require, enforce or attempt to enforce a noncompete
agreement.
(d) An employer may include a limited restriction during the first 24
months of initial employment, applicable solely upon the voluntary
termination by the employee. Any such restriction shall be limited to a
reasonable geographic area not to exceed 15 miles from the employer's
primary practice location. The agreement shall provide a mandatory
financial buyout option equal to the unamortized portion of document
recruiting and relocation costs, amortized over 24 months. Lost profits,
anticipated revenue, training costs or punitive liquidated damages are
prohibited.
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SB 504 2
(e) Nothing in this act shall prohibit confidentiality or nondisclosure
agreements protecting trade secrets or proprietary information or
restrictive covenants entered into in connection with the sale of a medical
practice where goodwill is transferred.
(f) An employer shall not restrict healthcare professionals from
notifying patients of departure, a new practice location or the patient's
right to choose a healthcare provider.
(g) This act shall apply to agreements entered into, renewed, amended
or extended on or after July 1, 2026. Except as permitted under subsection
(d), existing agreements with post-employment restrictions are void.
(h) The provisions of this act are severable. If any portion of this act
is held by a court to be unconstitutional or invalid, or the application of
any portion of this act to any person or circumstance is held by a court to
be unconstitutional or invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other portions
of this act that can be given effect without the invalid portion or
application and the applicability of such other portions of this act to any
person or circumstance remains valid and enforceable.
Sec. 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book.
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