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SB 497KANSASSession 2025-2026State Billdead
Did Not Advance

Kansas Senate Bill 497 adds kratom to schedule I controlled substances and updates fentanyl definitions

Original title: AN ACT concerning controlled substances; adding kratom to schedule I of the uniform controlled substances act and making conforming amendments to the definition of fentanyl-related controlled substance in the criminal code; amending K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 21-5701 and 65-4105 and repealing the existing sections.

Last action · April 10, 2026: Died in House Committee

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Senate Bill 497 classifies kratom as a controlled substance and updates the definition of fentanyl-related controlled substances in Kansas criminal law. The measure amends existing statutes K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 21-5701 and 65-4105, and repeals the prior versions of these sections upon publication in the statute book.

Why it matters

The measure criminalizes the possession, manufacture, and distribution of kratom by placing it under restrictions, changing legal penalties and regulatory oversight for individuals and entities handling the substance.

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Kansas residents

Individuals are subject to new criminal restrictions and penalties regarding the possession and distribution of kratom.

Directly affected

Law enforcement agencies

Agencies gain expanded enforcement authority over the possession, sale, and manufacture of kratom under schedule I rules.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Senate Bill 497 do?
It adds kratom to of the uniform controlled substances act and makes conforming amendments to the definition of fentanyl-related controlled substances.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died in committee.

Procedural history

19 actions
  1. Apr 10, 2026House
    Died in House Committee
  2. Mar 11, 2026House
    Hearing: Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 1:30 PM — Room 112-N — CANCELED
  3. Mar 6, 2026HouseIntroduced
    Received and Introduced
  4. Mar 6, 2026HouseCommittee
    Referred to House Committee on Health and Human Services
  5. Mar 5, 2026SenateFloor
    Final Action - Passed
  6. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Committee of the Whole - Now working on
Show 13 earlier actions
  1. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by
  2. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Committee of the Whole - Amendment by was rejected
  3. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by
  4. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Committee of the Whole - Amendment by was rejected
  5. Mar 4, 2026SenateFloor
    Committee of the Whole - Be passed
  6. Feb 25, 2026Senate
    Withdrawn from and referred to Committee of the Whole
  7. Feb 24, 2026Senate
    Withdrawn from Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare; Rereferred to Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare
  8. Feb 19, 2026Senate
    Withdrawn from Calendar; Referred to Senate Committee on Ways and Means
  9. Feb 18, 2026SenateFloor
    Committee Report recommending bill be passed by
  10. Feb 16, 2026Senate
    Hearing: Monday, February 16, 2026, 8:30 AM — Room 142-S
  11. Feb 10, 2026Senate
    Withdrawn from Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare; Referred to Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare
  12. Feb 9, 2026SenateCommittee
    Referred to Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs
  13. Feb 6, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Introduced

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

Kratom Reclassification

The bill shifts kratom into schedule I, aligning its legal status with other high-restriction substances.

Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare

Connected Entities

State Board of Pharmacy, Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare, United States pharmacopeia and 1 more
OrganizationState Board of Pharmacy“Board designating immediate precursors”Map →
OrganizationSenate Committee on Public Health and Welfare“Committee sponsoring Senate Bill 497”Map →
OrganizationUnited States pharmacopeia“Recognized pharmacopeia for drugs”Map →
OrganizationUnited States food and drug administration“FDA approval authority for drug products”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.kslegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 65)
  • Controversy75
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz40
    Current news / social attention level

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