← All Bills
SB398: 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.
Passed BothSenate
Introduced
In Committee
Passed Chamber
Passed Both
Signed
Plain-Language Summary
This bill requires witnesses with specialized knowledge to prove that their expertise will help the judge or jury understand evidence before they can testify.
Who This Affects
Kansas residents who may be called as expert witnesses in court cases, such as medical professionals or engineers, will need to demonstrate the value of their specialized knowledge before sharing it with a judge or jury.
Key Provisions
• The bill requires witnesses to show that their expertise is relevant and helpful for understanding evidence
• Witnesses must prove that their testimony will help the trier of fact (judge or jury) understand the evidence better
• This change aims to ensure that expert testimony is meaningful and not just presenting technical details
AI-generated summary · verify with full bill text
Timeline
Introduced
Monday, January 26, 2026
Last Action
Senate Approved by Governor on Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Apr 8, 2026
Sponsors
No sponsors listed.
Track This Bill
Get email alerts when this bill has new action.
Advertisement