SB497:
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.
Committee Minutes and Testimony
| Date | Chamber | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Wed, Mar 11, 2026 Final Vote | House | Hearing: Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 1:30 PM Room 112-N |
| Fri, Mar 6, 2026 | House | Received and Introduced |
| Thu, Mar 5, 2026 | Senate | Final Action – Passed; Yea: 33 Nay: 5 |
| Wed, Mar 4, 2026 | Senate | Committee of the Whole – Be passed |
| Wed, Mar 4, 2026 | Senate | Committee of the Whole – Amendment by Senator Holscher was rejected Yea: 9 Nay: 30 |
| Wed, Mar 4, 2026 | Senate | Committee of the Whole – Motion to Amend – Offered by Senator Holscher |
| Wed, Mar 4, 2026 | Senate | Committee of the Whole – Amendment by Senator Miller was rejected Yea: 7 Nay: 32 |
| Wed, Mar 4, 2026 | Senate | Committee of the Whole – Motion to Amend – Offered by Senator Miller |
| Wed, Feb 25, 2026 | Senate | Withdrawn from Committee on Public Health and Welfare and referred to Committee of the Whole |
| Tue, Feb 24, 2026 | Senate | Withdrawn from Committee on Ways and Means; Rereferred to Committee on Public Health and Welfare |
| Thu, Feb 19, 2026 | Senate | Withdrawn from Calendar; Referred to Committee on Ways and Means |
| Wed, Feb 18, 2026 | Senate | Committee Report recommending bill be passed by Committee on Public Health and Welfare |
| Mon, Feb 16, 2026 | Senate | Hearing: Monday, February 16, 2026, 8:30 AM Room 142-S |
| Thu, Feb 12, 2026 | Senate | Hearing: Thursday, February 12, 2026, 8:30 AM Room 142-S |
| Tue, Feb 10, 2026 | Senate | Withdrawn from Committee on Federal and State Affairs; Referred to Committee on Public Health and Welfare |
The Proposed Ban (Active & Moving)
This bill is the primary threat to kratom’s legal status in Kansas. It seeks to classify kratom and its alkaloids as Schedule I controlled substances.
Status: SB497 was recently withdrawn from the Ways and Means Committee and rereferred to the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee on February 24, 2026.
What it does: It adds mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) to the same category as heroin and LSD, effectively banning possession and sale statewide.
The Debate: Proponents, including the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), argue that high-potency synthetic and semi-synthetic are a public health risk. Opponents argue that the bill fails to distinguish between natural leaf kratom and synthetic extracts.
HB2230: The Regulatory Option (KCPA) (Pending)
This is the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA), supported by advocates as a safer alternative to a total ban.
Status: HB2230 remains in the House Committee on Health and Human Services. While it was introduced earlier in the session, it has not moved as quickly as the Senate’s ban bill.
What it does: Instead of a ban, it would:
Task the Secretary of Agriculture with oversight.