Kansas SB454: Enhancing the criminal penalty for committing certain crimes in the context of transnational repression and requiring the development of transnational repression recognition and response training

What the bill says

An act concerning crimes, punishment and criminal procedure; enacting the crush transnational repression in Kansas act; providing for enhanced criminal penalties for offenses committed with the intent to commit transnational repression; requiring the development of transnational repression recognition and response training; amending K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 21-6804 and repealing the existing section.

From the introduced text, February 3, 2026:

AN ACT concerning crimes, punishment and criminal procedure; enacting the crush transnational repression in Kansas act; providing for enhanced criminal penalties for offenses committed with the intent to commit transnational repression; requiring the development of transnational repression recognition and response training; amending K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 21-6804 and repealing the existing section. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas: New Section 1. (a) The provisions of this section shall be known and may be cited as the crush transnational repression in Kansas act. (b) The purpose of this section is to counter the threat and practice of transnational repression committed by foreign governments or foreign terrorist organizations against the citizens and residents of this state. (c) As used in this section: (1) "Agent" means a person directed or controlled by a foreign principal, including any person acting as a proxy for a person who is directed or controlled by a foreign principal. (2) "Foreign adversary" means the following: (A) (i) People's republic of China, including the Hong Kong special administrative region; (ii) republic of Cuba; (iii) islamic republic of Iran; (iv) democratic people's republic of Korea; (v) Russian federation; (vi) Bolivarian republic of Venezuela; and (vii) any organization that is designated as a foreign terrorist organization as of July 1, 2026, pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1189, …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Craig Bowser, Craig (I) · primary sponsor

Latest actions

1. April 10, 2026: Died in House Committee
2. March 20, 2026: Referred to House Committee on Judiciary
3. March 20, 2026: Received and Introduced
4. March 19, 2026: Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea 40, Nay 0
5. March 18, 2026: Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended
6. March 18, 2026: Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
7. March 11, 2026: Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Senate Committee on Judiciary
8. March 3, 2026: Withdrawn from Senate Committee on Judiciary ; Referred to Senate Committee on Judiciary
9. February 4, 2026: Referred to Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs
10. February 3, 2026: Introduced

Votes

• Final Action Amended (March 19, 2026): 40 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is SB454?

SB454 is a bill in the Kansas Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): Enhancing the criminal penalty for committing certain crimes in the context of transnational repression and requiring the development of transnational repression recognition and response training.

What does SB454 do?

In its own words: An act concerning crimes, punishment and criminal procedure; enacting the crush transnational repression in Kansas act; providing for enhanced criminal penalties for offenses committed with the intent to commit transnational repression; requiring the development of transnational repression recognition and response training; amending K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 21-6804 and repealing the existing section.

What is the status of SB454?

In committee as of April 10, 2026. Latest action: Died in House Committee (April 10, 2026).

Who sponsored SB454?

Craig Bowser, Craig (I).

Where is the official record for SB454?

On the Kansas Legislature website: https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb454/