Statutes are laws passed by state legislatures (state laws) and by the United States Congress (federal laws). Statutes are one of the primary sources of law in the United States (sometimes referred to as statutory law) and cover a wide variety of legal topics. Courts often rely on statutes to resolve legal disputes (lawsuits) by applying the relevant statutes to the particular set of factual circumstances underlying the dispute.

Courts generally seek the clear and plain meaning of a statute, and if the court finds a statute ambiguous or “ambiguous on its face” (looking only at the words as written) the court may attempt to determine what the legislature intended in enacting the statute—known as legislative intent.

Related statutes are sometimes compiled in groups and referred to as codes—such as the penal code, the family code, or the code of civil procedure. Statutes may be amended (changed) or repealed (eliminated) by the legislature or Congress or declared unconstitutional (and thus unenforceable) by a court.

In Kansas, as in other states, statutes are laws that have been enacted by the state legislature or the United States Congress. These statutes encompass a broad range of legal areas and are a fundamental source of law, often referred to as statutory law. Kansas courts interpret these statutes when resolving legal disputes by applying the law to the specific facts of a case. When interpreting statutes, Kansas courts first look for a clear and plain meaning of the text. If a statute is found to be ambiguous, the courts may look into legislative intent to ascertain what the legislature aimed to achieve when the statute was enacted. Kansas statutes are organized into codes based on related subject matter, such as the Kansas Penal Code or the Kansas Family Code. These codes facilitate legal research and organization of the law. Statutes can be modified or repealed by the Kansas Legislature and, similarly, by Congress at the federal level. Additionally, statutes can be struck down by the courts if deemed unconstitutional, rendering them unenforceable. It is important for individuals and attorneys in Kansas to stay informed about the current statutes and any changes to them, as they directly impact legal rights and obligations within the state.