WICHITA (KS)
KWCH-TV, CBS-12 [Wichita KS]
February 24, 2026
By Sophia Gernander
A bill that would make members of the clergy ‘mandatory reporters’ of child abuse passed the Kansas House of Representatives last week,but it has a long road ahead before it can become a law.
The bill, House Bill 2352, passed by a vote of 111 to 5. It now moves to the Kansas Senate.
Senators say that there is no opposition to the bill on religious grounds, since there is an amendment that exempts private confession. However, senators say they are seeing opposition from insurance companies that represent churches.
Related Story: Bill to make Kansas clergy mandatory reporters of child abuse faces opposition for fourth year
Joe Cheray, a sexual abuse survivor, said it was unbelievable to witness the bill pass in the house. Cheray was abused as a child and has been pushing for this bill for four years.
She said she had almost given up hope before seeing the bill pass on Thursday.
“I was actually ready to throw in the towel on Wednesday, but I had people tell me, ‘don’t you dare give up on this.’ It was great to see our efforts over four years finally pay off,” Cheray said.
The bill has been assigned to the Committee on Judiciary. Advocates are pushing for it to get a public hearing.