KS HB2228

Political subdivisions in Kansas must hold an open meeting with public notice before approving any contingent fee contract for legal services, including disclosure of reasons for pursuing the matter, attorney qualifications, and justification for using contingency fees rather than hourly rates.

The governing body must make written findings that the contract serves residents' best interests, cannot be performed by in-house attorneys, and hourly rate arrangements are not feasible due to cost or the nature of the legal matter.

The attorney general must approve all contingent fee contracts within 45 days before they become effective, and may refuse approval if the matter overlaps with state litigation, involves issues better suited for state enforcement, or violates attorney professional conduct rules.

Contracts entered into between July 1, 2024 and July 1, 2025 must be submitted to the attorney general by July 1, 2026 for retroactive review.

The law excludes certain legal services from these requirements, including bond counsel, debt collection, insurance cost recovery, property sales, and child support enforcement; the provisions expire on July 1, 2029.