Kansas AI Laws and Regulation (2026)

Kansas regulates AI through targeted legislation rather than a comprehensive framework. SB 186, effective July 1, 2025, makes possession of an artificially generated visual depiction of a child a severity level 5 person felony and adds artificial intelligence language to Kansas's breach of privacy and unlawful transmission statutes. Senate Sub. for HB 2313, signed April 8, 2025, bans foreign adversary AI platforms including DeepSeek from state government devices and networks.

Kansas does not have a comprehensive artificial intelligence law. Instead, the state has taken a targeted approach, enacting specific legislation on AI-generated sexual imagery and banning foreign adversary AI platforms from government devices. Kansas was also an early mover on executive branch AI governance policy, establishing rules for state employee use of generative AI tools in 2023.

This guide covers the enacted Kansas laws that carry artificial intelligence provisions, the state's generative AI policy, pending legislation, and how federal AI rules apply to Kansas residents and businesses.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed Kansas attorney for guidance on specific situations.

Kansas's Enacted AI Laws

Kansas has passed two AI-related acts, both focused on security and protecting vulnerable populations rather than broad AI regulation. Between them they put artificial intelligence language into four Kansas statutes: K.S.A. 21-5510, 21-5611, 21-6101, and 75-4720.

SB 186: AI-Generated Sexual Imagery and Deepfake Intimate Images

Senate Bill 186 is an act "modifying elements in the crimes of sexual exploitation of a child, unlawful transmission of a visual depiction of a child and breach of privacy." Governor Laura Kelly signed the bill as part of a broader package aimed at combating online sexual crimes and strengthening protections for survivors of sexual assault.

The act reaches computer-generated and synthetic media through three Kansas criminal statutes: the child sexual exploitation statute, the unlawful transmission statute, and the breach of privacy statute. It is not a CSAM-only law, and the prongs it amended matter, because the scope differs from one to the next.

Key provisions of SB 186 include the following.

Possession of an artificially generated depiction of a child. K.S.A. 21-5510(a)(2)(B) now covers "possessing any artificially generated visual depiction with intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires or appeal to the prurient interest of the offender or any other person." That is a severity level 5 person felony under K.S.A. 21-5510(b)(1)(A). The definition added at subsection (d)(6) covers obscene depictions that appear to show a child under 18 engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including depictions "indistinguishable from a real child, morphed from a real child's image or generated without any actual child involvement."

Distribution is narrower than possession. SB 186 inserted the artificially generated language only at the possession prong and in the definitions. The promoting prong at K.S.A. 21-5510(a)(4), which is where distributing, transmitting, producing and manufacturing are reached through the definition of "promoting" in subsection (d)(2), was not amended. It still requires sexually explicit conduct "by a child under 18 years of age, or a person whom the offender believes to be a child under 18 years of age." A wholly synthetic depiction involving no real child is therefore not clearly covered by that distribution prong, even though possessing the same image is a felony.

Deepfake intimate images of adults. K.S.A. 21-6101(a)(8) makes it breach of privacy to disseminate, without consent and with intent to harass, threaten or intimidate, an image of an identifiable person 18 or older who is nude or engaged in sexual activity. The statute expressly includes an image that "has been created, in whole or in part, altered or modified by artificial intelligence or any digital means to appear to depict or purport to depict such identifiable person." That is a severity level 8 person felony, and a severity level 5 person felony on a second or subsequent conviction within five years.

AI-altered images of identifiable minors. K.S.A. 21-5611(g)(4) defines "visual depiction" to include any image "created, in whole or in part, altered or modified by artificial intelligence or any digital means to appear to depict or purport to depict an identifiable child." Unlawful transmission of a visual depiction of a child is a class A person misdemeanor, and the aggravated offense is a severity level 9 person felony.

Bond requirements increased. If a person is charged with a sexually violent crime and has a prior conviction for another sexually violent crime, their bond must be set at a minimum of $750,000, with minimum conditions for release including house arrest and no contact with victims or witnesses.

Effective date. SB 186 took effect on July 1, 2025.

Senate Sub. for HB 2313: Banning Foreign Adversary AI Platforms

Senate Substitute for House Bill 2313 prohibits state agencies from using artificial intelligence platforms controlled by foreign adversaries. Governor Kelly signed the bill on April 8, 2025, and it is codified at K.S.A. 75-4720.

The law specifically targets the Chinese AI platform DeepSeek and extends to any AI platform owned or controlled by entities in countries of concern, defined as the People's Republic of China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela.

Key provisions of the law include the following.

Device ban. No electronic device owned or issued by a state agency may be used to access an AI platform of concern.

App installation prohibited. State agencies must prohibit the installation of any application that allows users to access an AI platform of concern on state-issued devices.

Network-level blocking. Any network operated by a state agency must prohibit access to AI platforms of concern by users on that network.

Account deletion required. State agencies that have existing accounts with AI platforms of concern must deactivate and delete those accounts.

Law enforcement exception. The law includes exceptions for law enforcement and cybersecurity investigations that may require access to these platforms.

Genetic sequencer provisions. The bill also bars medical and research facilities receiving state funds from using genetic sequencers or related software produced by foreign adversaries. Facilities may request state reimbursement for replacement costs.

Kansas was among the first wave of states to ban DeepSeek specifically from government networks, joining several states that moved quickly in early 2025 after security concerns emerged about the platform's data handling practices.

Kansas Generative AI Policy for State Government

Kansas was an early adopter of executive branch AI governance. Governor Laura Kelly directed all executive branch agencies to adopt a statewide Generative Artificial Intelligence Policy, which the Office of Information and Technology Services implemented in late July 2023.

Scope of the Policy

The policy applies to all business uses involving the State of Kansas, including the development of software code, written documentation, correspondence, research, summarization and proofreading of documents, and the making of business decisions.

Key Requirements

Human review mandatory. AI-generated responses must be reviewed for accuracy, appropriateness, privacy, and security before being disseminated or acted upon. No AI output may be accepted at face value.

Restricted data prohibited. State information and Restricted Use Information (RUI) must not be provided when interacting with generative AI. This prevents sensitive government data from being used to train commercial AI models.

Contractor disclosure required. Agencies must ensure that contractors disclose in their contracts the use of generative AI or integrations with generative AI platforms.

Contractor data restrictions. Contractors are prohibited from using State of Kansas RUI or other confidential data in generative AI queries or for building or training proprietary AI programs unless explicitly approved.

Living Document Approach

Kansas treats its AI policy as a living document that has been modified multiple times since its initial implementation. This approach allows the state to adapt its rules as AI technology evolves, without waiting for legislative action.

AI Legislation in the 2025-2026 Session

The Kansas Legislature considered several AI-related bills during the 2025-2026 biennium beyond SB 186 and HB 2313. None of them were enacted before the 2026 session adjourned.

HB 2592: Kansas AI Task Force

House Bill 2592 would have created the Kansas Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies. Introduced on January 29, 2026, by Representative Nick Hoheisel, the bill was referred to the Committee on Legislative Modernization.

The proposed task force would have studied and evaluated the impacts, risks, workforce implications, and regulatory needs of artificial intelligence and related emerging technologies. It would also have explored the use of AI to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of state and local government operations and the responsible integration of AI into public education.

Membership. The task force would have consisted of six voting members (three representatives and three senators) and five non-voting members representing key state offices and a governor-appointed AI or cybersecurity expert.

Reporting requirements. The task force would have submitted findings and recommendations to the governor and legislative leadership on December 31, 2026, and annually thereafter until its expiration on January 1, 2028.

Status. The Kansas Legislature's bill tracker lists HB 2592 as dead. It did not advance out of committee.

Existing Kansas Legislative AI Task Force

Even without HB 2592, Kansas has an existing Legislative Artificial Intelligence Task Force that serves as a non-voting, informational resource. This task force convenes members from the legislature, executive branch, attorney general's office, and higher education institutions, along with private sector representatives, to build a knowledge base for legislators considering AI policy.

Election Deepfake Proposals

In 2024, a bipartisan group of Kansas lawmakers introduced a proposal to restrict the use of AI in political ads. The bill would have prohibited political campaigns from using AI-generated media to create "false representations" of candidates or public officials in advertising and other campaign materials, including manipulated images, audio, and video often called "deepfakes."

As of September 2026, Kansas has not enacted an election deepfake disclosure law. Kansas's corrupt political advertising statute, K.S.A. 25-2407, was last amended in 2007 and contains no artificial intelligence or synthetic media provision.

How Existing Kansas Law Applies to AI

While Kansas lacks AI-specific regulations in several areas, existing state laws provide a framework that applies to AI systems and their outcomes.

Consumer Protection

The Kansas Consumer Protection Act (K.S.A. 50-623 et seq.) prohibits deceptive and unconscionable business practices. This broad prohibition applies to AI-driven practices that mislead consumers, including deceptive AI chatbots, AI-generated fake reviews, false advertising created by AI, and AI systems that misrepresent product or service qualities.

Consumers harmed by deceptive AI practices can bring private actions under the KCPA. The Kansas Attorney General and local district attorneys also have enforcement authority to protect consumers from AI-related deception.

Employment Discrimination

The Kansas Act Against Discrimination (K.S.A. 44-1001 et seq.) prohibits employment discrimination based on race, religion, color, sex, disability, national origin, ancestry, and age. When Kansas employers use AI tools for hiring, promotion, or termination decisions, those tools must produce results that comply with these anti-discrimination requirements.

If an AI hiring algorithm produces disparate impact on protected groups, the employer faces liability under the same standards that apply to human decision-making. The Kansas Human Rights Commission enforces these protections.

Kansas does not have a dedicated AI hiring law similar to New York City's Local Law 144 or Illinois's AI Video Interview Act. There are no Kansas-specific requirements for bias audits, impact assessments, or candidate disclosure when using AI in employment.

Data Privacy

Kansas does not have a comprehensive consumer data privacy law comparable to the California Consumer Privacy Act or Iowa Consumer Data Protection Act. The state relies on federal privacy laws and sector-specific regulations to govern data practices, including those involving AI systems.

Kansas does have a data breach notification law (K.S.A. 50-7a01 et seq.) that requires businesses to notify Kansas residents when their personal information is compromised. AI systems that store or process personal data must comply with these notification requirements in the event of a breach.

How Federal AI Policy Affects Kansas

Federal AI policy creates additional requirements that apply to Kansas alongside state law.

Executive Orders and Federal Standards

Federal AI policy has shifted between administrations. President Biden's Executive Order 14110 established AI safety testing and transparency requirements across federal agencies. The Trump administration has taken a lighter regulatory approach, but many agency-level standards continue to apply.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) AI Risk Management Framework provides voluntary guidelines that Kansas businesses can follow for responsible AI deployment.

FTC Enforcement

The Federal Trade Commission enforces against deceptive AI practices nationwide, including in Kansas. The FTC has taken action against companies that make unfounded claims about AI capabilities, use AI to generate fake reviews, or deploy AI in ways that cause substantial consumer harm.

The TAKE IT DOWN Act

The federal TAKE IT DOWN Act adds a layer of protection for Kansas residents by making it a federal crime to publish or threaten to share non-consensual intimate images, including AI-generated deepfakes. Social media platforms must remove such content within 48 hours of being notified by a victim. It runs alongside the Kansas offense at K.S.A. 21-6101(a)(8) rather than replacing it.

Sector-Specific Federal Rules

Kansas businesses in regulated industries face additional federal AI requirements. Financial institutions must ensure AI credit-scoring tools comply with fair lending laws. Healthcare providers must meet FDA requirements for AI diagnostic tools. Employers must follow EEOC guidance on algorithmic fairness when using AI in hiring or employment decisions.

AI in Kansas Government Operations

Kansas has been exploring AI use within government operations beyond simply regulating the technology.

Legislative AI Exploration

The Kansas Legislative AI Task Force has been working to build a knowledge base for legislators on AI topics. The task force brings together representatives from across government, academia, and the private sector to help lawmakers understand AI's potential benefits and risks before crafting legislation.

State Agency Adoption

Under the generative AI policy, Kansas state agencies can use approved AI tools for specific business purposes, subject to the human review, data protection, and disclosure requirements outlined in the policy. The policy framework encourages agencies to explore AI's potential for improving government efficiency while maintaining appropriate safeguards.

Penalties Summary

Looking Ahead: Kansas's AI Regulatory Future

Kansas's approach to AI regulation has been cautious and targeted. Rather than attempting a comprehensive AI framework like Colorado or California, Kansas has focused on high-priority areas: criminalizing AI-generated sexual imagery and keeping foreign adversary AI platforms off state networks.

Key trends to watch in Kansas include the following.

AI task force efforts. While HB 2592 died, the existing Legislative AI Task Force continues its work. Any formal recommendations from this body could drive future legislation.

Election deepfakes. Bipartisan interest in regulating AI in political advertising suggests Kansas may eventually join the growing list of states requiring disclosure of AI-generated campaign content.

AI hiring regulation. As more states adopt AI hiring laws, Kansas may face pressure to establish its own rules around algorithmic fairness in employment, particularly for state government hiring.

Healthcare AI. Kansas has not yet addressed AI in healthcare through legislation, but federal action on AI medical devices and autonomous diagnostic tools may prompt state-level responses.

More Kansas Laws

• Kansas Data Privacy Laws
• Kansas Data Breach Notification Laws
• Kansas Biometric Privacy Laws
• Kansas Surveillance Camera Laws
• Kansas Background Check Laws
• Kansas Whistleblower Laws
• Kansas Sexting Laws