Non-compete laws · KS
Kansas physician non-compete law
As of October 21, 2026, Kansas has no statute specific to physician non-competes; general non-compete law and court decisions apply.
No physician-specific statuteChecked 2026-10-21
No physician-specific statute. Courts may enforce physician noncompetes found reasonable under a four-factor test (Weber v. Tillman, 1996): legitimate business interest, burden on the physician, public welfare, and time and territory. K.S.A. 50-163 (amended 2025) presumes certain written non-solicitation covenants enforceable. (K.S.A. 50-163 (L. 2013, ch. 102; L. 2025, ch. 74))
Who it covers
All employees under common law. No clinician-specific noncompete statute.
Exceptions
- Written covenants not to solicit customers or employees are conclusively presumed enforceable if they meet K.S.A. 50-163(c) conditions (e.g., employee covenants limited to material-contact customers and no more than two years; owner covenants up to four years); the employee or owner may still raise any defense
- K.S.A. 50-163(e)(6): the Kansas Restraint of Trade Act is not construed to apply to covenants not to compete (common law governs them)
Notes
Weber v. Tillman (1996) enforced a dermatologist's two-year, 30-mile covenant after weighing public welfare. K.S.A. 50-163 (amended 2025) addresses non-solicitation covenants, not noncompetes. SB 504 (2026), a health care noncompete ban, died.
Bills that have not become law
Non-compete bills from the 2025 and 2026 sessions that had not become law as of 2026-10-21, furthest along first. A bill that died has to be filed again to move in 2027. The 2027 session starts 2027-01-11 and ends no limit in odd years (usually April or May).
- HB 2650 (2025–2026) · All workers, some physicians
Would require noncompetes to be reasonable and void them on sale or change of control of the employer
Introduced · Died. Introduced by Rep. Steven Howe, referred to House Commerce, Labor and Economic Development 2026-02-03; Died in Committee 2026-04-10
- SB 504 (2025–2026) · Health care workers
Would void physician and mid-level practitioner noncompetes, except 24-month, 15-mile restriction with buyout on voluntary exit
Introduced · Died. Introduced by Senate Federal and State Affairs (requested by Sen. Murphy) 2026-02-11; referred to Senate Public Health and Welfare 2026-02-12; no hearing; Died in Committee 2026-04-10
Sources
- Weber v. Tillman, 259 Kan. 457, 913 P.2d 84 (1996) (court)
- K.S.A. 50-163 (L. 2013, ch. 102; L. 2025, ch. 74) (statute)
- Kan. SB 504 (2026), Kansas healthcare professional employment mobility and patient access act (died) (bill)
- Kan. HB 2650 (2026), noncompete reasonableness bill (died) (bill)
Questions to ask about your contract
- Is the radius measured from your practice site or from every location the employer owns?
- Does the restriction apply if the employer terminates you without cause?
- Is there a buyout, and how is the amount calculated?
- What does your state's law say about physician non-competes?
Not legal advice. This page summarizes the law as written. Whether a particular agreement is enforceable depends on its wording, when it was signed and court decisions. Ask an attorney licensed in Kansas.