SESSION OF 2023
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON HOUSE BILL NO. 2065
As Amended by Senate Committee on Judiciary

Brief*
HB 2065, as amended, would modify law governing
name changes during a divorce to allow the court to change a
spouse’s name to a name other than the spouse’s former
name at the request of the spouse and to give the court
jurisdiction to make such a change at or after the time the
decree of divorce becomes final.
[Note: Current law allows the court to order the
restoration of the spouse’s maiden or former name.]
The bill would be in effect upon publication in the
Kansas Register.

Background
The bill was introduced by Representatives Highberger
and Neelly.
[Note: A substantially similar bill, 2022 HB 2474 was
passed by the House Committee on Judiciary during the 2022
Legislative Session, but died below the line in the House of
Representatives.]

House Committee on Judiciary
In the House Committee hearing on January 30, 2023, a
Douglas County District Court judge testified as a proponent,
____________________
*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
http://www.kslegislature.org
stating the bill would save personal and judicial resources
and provide alternative options for victims of domestic
violence and sexual abuse.
A representative from the Kansas Bar Association
provided written-only proponent testimony.
No other testimony was provided.
The House Committee amended the bill to remove all
references in statute to the spouse’s “maiden” name.

Senate Committee on Judiciary
In the Senate Committee hearing on March 7, 2023,
written-only proponent testimony was provided by a
representative of the Kansas Bar Association. No other
testimony was provided.
The Senate Committee amended the bill to make it
effective upon publication in the Kansas Register.

Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, as introduced, the Office of Judicial
Administration indicates enactment of the bill would have a
negligible fiscal effect on Judiciary Branch operations.


Divorce; name change; former name


2- 2065


Statutes affected:
As introduced: 23-2716
As Amended by House Committee: 23-2716
As Amended by Senate Committee: 23-2716
Enrolled - Law effective July 1, 2023: 23-2716
Enrolled: 23-2716