TOPEKA — Members of a House committee on Wednesday weighed a bill that would declare the World Health Organization, the United Nations and the World Economic Forum have no power to enforce any mandates in Kansas or any governing body in the state.
One lawmaker touted the legislation as a way to protect state sovereignty, but its impact is unlikely to be more than symbolic.
“This is as much a statement bill as it is anything,” said Mike Heim, a legislative staffer tasked with explaining bills to lawmakers.
Heim said he was unsure whether the organizations have any power in Kansas over laws, policies or governing entities.
“I suppose a state agency could try and implement a policy that’s being promoted by one of these organizations — or a local government. This would prevent that,” he said.
Rep. Rebecca Schmoe, an Ottawa Republican, sponsored House Bill 2204. She told committee members the legislation doesn’t seek to restrict the emergency powers of the state, federal or local officials.
“This only gives Kansas citizens the ability to interact with any kind of mandate or rule or regulation or tax through their elected representatives,” Schmoe said.
She wrote in testimony that international organizations “often promote policies or initiatives that may not reflect the unique cultural, economic, or social makeup of our state.”
The bill had no opponents.
Some states have considered or passed similar legislation, Heim said. A 2024 bill in Arizona prohibiting any public spending on the UN’s sustainable development goals passed both chambers but was vetoed by the governor. The governors of Louisiana and Oklahoma signed legislation last year stating the WHO, UN and WEF have no jurisdiction in the states. President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from WHO membership in the first days of his second term.
Erika Sheets, chair of the Johnson County chapter of Moms for Liberty, alleged a connection between a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention model for schools — called Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child — and global influence from treaty organizations.
“The whole child community school model is a critical component of a global plan by the World Health Organization to use health as a cover to change all sectors in all communities and to force compliance of the UN’s sustainable development goals for their agenda 2030 by instituting a well-being economy,” Sheets said.
The UN’s 2030 agenda is a plan to address global poverty, health and climate issues.
Moms for Liberty is a national advocacy group focused on school issues including book banning, denouncing critical race theory and anti-LGBTQ+ practices.
Sheets said the bill was necessary “for the survival of our nation.”
The House committee has yet to vote on the bill.
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