Kansas SB 290 would move the primary for all office from August to early May. It is introduced by the Committee on Federal and State Affairs. The independent petition deadline in Kansas is tied to the date of the primary, so if the bill passed as introduced, it would automatically move the petition deadline for independent candidates from August to May. Section 25-305 says the independent candidate deadline is the day before the primary.

In 1987, when the Libertarian Party challenged the independent candidate petition deadline (which was in June at that time), the state agreed that the June deadline was unconstitutional and settled the case, and moved the deadline to August. Merritt v Graves, 87-4264-R. The settlement is dated September 20, 1988. At the time, the Libertarian Party was not a qualified party in Kansas, and had to use the independent petition procedure to place its presidential nominee, Ron Paul, on the ballot.