---
type: "Bill"
title: "Requiring a proponent to demonstrate that it is more likely than not that certain specialized knowledge will help the trier of fact to understand evidence before certain qualified witnesses may testify."
description: "Requiring a proponent to demonstrate that it is more likely than not that certain specialized knowledge will help the trier of fact to understand evidence before certain qualified witnesses may testify."
jurisdiction: "us/states/ks"
legislature: "Kansas Legislature"
session: "2025-2026"
identifier: "SB 398"
citation: "Kansas SB 398 (2025-2026)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: ["Civil Procedure and Civil Actions"]
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: []
version_count: 3
action_count: 17
vote_count: 0
first_action: "2026-01-27"
last_action: "2026-04-09"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/530a9913-a1db-421a-ba6a-6867920be1ec"
source_url: "https://www.kslegislature.gov/b2025_26/bills/SB398/"
source_hash: "cfaa5d967ac097b18f4f15bde7cdcdd2ab2d167c515d249f61017a4580c6c79b"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-ks"]
---

# Kansas SB 398 (2025-2026) — Requiring a proponent to demonstrate that it is more likely than not that certain specialized knowledge will help the trier of fact to understand evidence before certain qualified witnesses may testify.

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **As Introduced** (filed) — [source](https://www.kslegislature.gov/b2025_26/bills/download/?apn=b2025_26/year2/ready_for_publication/sb_398/sb398_00_0000.pdf)
2. **As Amended by House Committee** (committee substitute) — [source](https://www.kslegislature.gov/b2025_26/bills/download/?apn=b2025_26/year2/ready_for_publication/sb_398/sb398_01_0000.pdf)
3. **Enrolled** (enrolled) — [source](https://www.kslegislature.gov/b2025_26/bills/download/?apn=b2025_26/year2/ready_for_publication/sb_398/sb398_enrolled.pdf)

## Sponsors

- Committee on Judiciary — primary (organization)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2026-04-09** Approved by Governor on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 `executive-signature`
- **2026-04-09** Enrolled and presented to Governor on Monday, March 30, 2026
- **2026-03-26** Concurred with amendments in conference; Yea 39, Nay 0, Absent 1
- **2026-03-23** Motion to accede adopted; Rep. Susan Humphries, Rep. Laura Williams and Rep. Dan Osman appointed as conferees
- **2026-03-23** Nonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Sen. Kellie Warren, Sen. Kenny Titus and Sen. Ethan Corson
- **2026-03-18** Emergency Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea 124, Nay 0, Absent 1 `passage`
- **2026-03-18** Motion to advance to Emergency Final Action adopted
- **2026-03-18** Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended `passage`
- **2026-03-18** Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted `passage`
- **2026-03-12** Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by House Committee on Judiciary `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2026-02-19** Referred to House Committee on Judiciary `referral-committee`
- **2026-02-19** Received and Introduced `introduction`
- **2026-02-18** Emergency Final Action - Passed; Yea 40, Nay 0 `passage`
- **2026-02-18** Committee of the Whole - Be passed `passage`
- **2026-02-10** Committee Report recommending bill be passed by Senate Committee on Judiciary `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2026-01-28** Referred to Senate Committee on Judiciary `referral-committee`
- **2026-01-27** Introduced `introduction`

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/530a9913-a1db-421a-ba6a-6867920be1ec`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Kansas legislature records).