State desk
Ranks 23rd of 50 on the Liberty Index.
Where Kansas stands on 12 policies, sourced from our 50-state trackers, with the latest headlines from 8 Kansas outlets.
12 policies · each strip is all 50 states, grouped by rule · Kansas in red. Free to cite with attribution.
No permit required for concealed carry by adults 21 and older; optional licenses remain available for reciprocity.
Kansas is 1 of 29 states with this rule
15 · Shall-Issue Permit6 · Restrictive: Permit Required
Kansas taxes individual income at graduated rates rising to 5.58 percent across 2 brackets, ranking 19 of 41 among the states that tax income.
Kansas is 1 of 26 states with this rule
8 · No Income Tax1 · Capital Gains Only15 · Single Flat Rate
Kansas charges 25.03 cents per gallon in state tax, ranking 34 of 50, which is among the lowest in the country. With the federal 18.40 cents added, a driver pays 43.43 cents per gallon in tax. Diesel is taxed at 27.03 cents.
Kansas is 1 of 17 states with this rule
17 · Among the Highest16 · Near the Middle
Retains the death penalty.
Kansas is 1 of 23 states with this rule
4 · Retains it, executions paused23 · Abolished
Right-to-work protected in the state constitution since 1958.
Kansas is 1 of 26 states with this rule
24 · No Right-to-Work Law
State minimum wage matches the federal rate at $7.25.
Kansas is 1 of 12 states with this rule
30 · Above the Federal Floor3 · Below Federal, So Federal Applies5 · No State Minimum Wage Law
Voters must show an accepted photo ID; without one, a provisional ballot counts only if they verify identity within days.
Kansas is 1 of 10 states with this rule
14 · Photo ID Requested4 · Strict Non-Photo ID8 · ID Requested (No Photo)14 · No Document Required
Tax Credit for Low Income Students Scholarship program serves only low-income students in specific schools.
Kansas is 1 of 16 states with this rule
17 · Universal / Near-Universal17 · No Private-Choice Program
NCSL lists Kansas among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present.
Kansas is 1 of 31 states with this rule
7 · Recognized by Court Decision12 · Not Listed by NCSL
Any registered voter may request an advance mail ballot without providing a reason.
Kansas is 1 of 29 states with this rule
8 · All-Mail13 · Excuse Required
Kansas's unemployment rate was 3.8% in September 2026, seasonally adjusted, unchanged from August. It ranks 25th lowest of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.). A year earlier, in September 2025, it was 3.8%. The U.S. rate was 4.2%.
Data retrieved from the BLS public API on October 30, 2026. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.
Elected statewide to a four-year term.
Kansas is 1 of 43 states with this rule
5 · Appointed by the governor1 · Chosen by the legislature1 · Appointed by the state supreme court