126 new Kansas laws take effect July 1. Here are some that may impact daily life

When the clock strikes midnight July 1, a total of 126 bills passed during the spring legislative session will become law in Kansas.

The new laws cover a variety of topics, from agriculture, criminal matters and education to taxation and transportation.

If you sell honey, use kratom, plan to buy lockable firearm and ammunition storage, have a child in school or proudly display a license plate frame on your vehicle, some of these laws may be of interest to you.

Here’s what to know about just some of the bills that go into effect this summer.

Senate Bill 82

This bill creates new income tax credits for employer child care expenses, which Gov. Laura Kelly called “smart, commonsense legislation that strengthens child care access in Kansas.”

“By updating the business tax credit for child care, we’re ensuring Kansas’ economy can thrive while making our state a place where families want to put down roots,” she said.

The bill also creates tax credits for the purchase of lockable firearm and ammunition storage and the sale of higher-ethanol fuel.

House Substitute for Senate Bill 366

Using a cell phone while driving in school and construction zones will be illegal under this bipartisan bill, unless it is being used hands free.

“I’m pleased to sign smart, commonsense legislation that will help ensure drivers are distraction-free and schoolchildren, pedestrians, and construction workers are protected,” Kelly said in April.

If you are caught using a phone in these zones starting July 1, you may be issued a warning citation. After July 1, 2027, drivers may be given a $60 fine.

Senate Bill 382

Students of nonaccredited private schools will now be allowed to participate in Kansas State High School Activities Association activities on behalf of nonpublic schools. In Kansas, homeschools are considered nonaccredited private schools.

Senate Bill 403

This bill prohibits drivers from using license plate frames or other objects that affect a plate’s “visibility or legibility.” This means law enforcement should be able to see the registration number, the issuing state and the expiration month and color on the registration decal “from a reasonably safe distance.”

Senate Bill 430

Kratom and 7-OH substances will now be illegal in Kansas as they are added to Schedule I of the Uniformed Controlled Substances Act.

“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is in the process of determining whether kratom is a safe and effective means of treating certain medical conditions,” Kelly said earlier this year. “Until such a time as quality scientific reviews determine positive impacts and minimal health risks, it is wise to safeguard the health of Kansans.”

Substitute for House Bill 2018

This bill adds crimes and penalties for those who interfere with religious assemblies in Kansas. Kelly allowed the bill to become law without her signature.

“This bill is born out of a tension between two fundamental rights: the right to freely practice religion and the right to freedom of expression,” she said. “This type of tension is not uncommon in a democracy that has enumerated as many constitutional rights as we enjoy and seek to protect today.

“However, I am concerned that this legislation addresses this tension in a manner that prioritizes one of these rights over the other, and will result in costly litigation,” she continued.

House Bill 2158

This new bill allows beekeepers who meet state requirements to sell packaged honey or honeycomb without food establishment or processing licenses.

Senate Substitute for House Bill 2299

Students will now be banned from using cell phones and personal electronic devices during school hours. Public schools and accredited private schools must prohibit students from using personal cell phones, tablets, computers, watches, ear buds and other electronic devices while on campus during the school day.

“We’re taking a commonsense approach to address the impact smartphones and social media have on Kansas children’s academic performance, learning environments, and mental health,” Kelly said of the bipartisan bill.

House Bill 2347

This bipartisan bill amends and creates new laws related to certain crimes, including increasing criminal penalties for buying sexual relations and making it illegal to knowingly direct a laser pointer at on-duty officers and in-flight aircraft.

House Bill 2537

Caleb’s Law is named after Caleb Moore, a 14-year-old Kansas boy who died by suicide after officials say he was targeted by an online sextortion scheme. The bill “expands and strengthens Kansas law to better combat sexual extortion and protect victims.”

House Bill 2601

This bill creates a statewide Child Abuse and Neglect Registry that will be maintained by the Kansas Department for Children and Families.