MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR

House Bill No. 2651

An Act concerning crimes, punishment and criminal procedure; relating to issuance of a warrant or summons when there is probable cause to believe that a defendant has committed a crime; limiting the use of a summons instead of a warrant to misdemeanor crimes; requiring that any bond set on a warrant issued after failure to appear in response to a summons shall not allow release on the defendant’s own recognizance; amending K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 22-2302 and repealing the existing section.

Message to the Legislature of the State of Kansas

This bill takes away a judge’s discretion to issue a summons instead of a warrant in any felony case. This means that for low-level non-violent felonies, individuals must have a warrant issued and likely be detained, regardless of the felony. This blanket rule increases costs to the criminal justice system. Law enforcement entities testified to the negative impacts this legislation would have upon their departments. I stand with them in opposing this bill.

Therefore, pursuant to Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution of the State of Kansas, I hereby veto House Bill 2651.

Laura Kelly, Governor

Dated April 8, 2026.