With more than a month until Kansas’s 2026 Legislative Session starts, three bills have already been introduced for the upcoming session. Rep. Bill Rhiley, of Wellington, introduced a bill prohibiting public school districts from starting the school year prior to labor day, which falls on the first Monday in September. The bill would change the schedules for school districts around the state, which start anywhere from mid-August to early September.
Rep. Steven Howe, of Salina, submitted a bill that would make it easier for local library taxing districts to leave their regional system. The bill removes the state library board’s ability to block withdraws if it’s submitted by a library taxing district that levies at least 0.25 mills.
Rep. Kevin Schwertfeger, of Turon, introduced a bill aiming to make it easier for retired teachers to reenter the profession. Teachers that have retired and seek to return to the profession must wait at least 60 days if they’re over the age of 62, and 180 days if they’re under 62, with some exceptions. The bill would shorten the waiting period to 45 days as long as there is no prearranged agreement for employment prior to the teacher’s retirement.
