UPDATE 3/30/2026: This story has been updated to include a statement from the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), a consistent advocate for right-to-race legislation.
Sports work best when they happen in dedicated venues. A pickup basketball game belongs on a court, not the street — that's safer for everyone involved. Motorsports is no different: it belongs at purpose-built tracks, away from public roads. Kansas is now adding its name to a growing list of states taking legislative steps to shield existing racing facilities from nuisance lawsuits filed by nearby property owners.
The Kansas House of Representatives approved House Bill 2416 by a vote of 122–0, with three members absent. The bill — officially titled the Kansas Motorsports Venue Protection Act — shields established racetracks and drag strips from civil nuisance claims brought by owners of residential or commercial properties built after the race facility was already in operation.
The House passage follows a 38–2 affirmative vote in the Kansas Senate. The bill now awaits the signature of Governor Laura Kelly to become law. If signed, Kansas would join Iowa and North Carolina in having enacted protections for motorsports venues against noise complaints and nuisance suits. More than 10 additional states have introduced similar legislation that would extend comparable protections to racing facilities.
"The people of Kansas are on the verge of a great win and motorsports enthusiasts from across the country have another example of leadership by lawmakers who understand and appreciate the value of motorsports and car culture," the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) said in a statement to Car and Driver. SEMA is a dedicated backer of right-to-race laws like this one. "Our racetracks drive economic success, unite communities, and empower the next generation of engineers and innovators to show what it takes to win a checkered flag. We look forward to the governor signing this bill and using Kansas as a shining example for other states to follow."
Racing isn't appropriate on public roads, and a working racetrack is by its nature a noisy place. Laws like this one help safeguard the grassroots motorsports facilities that matter to so many enthusiasts, and the hope is that more states will follow suit.
This story was originally published on March 25, 2026.
