Kansas lawmakers wrapped up the majority of their work at the end of March, including passing a number of bills related to schools. Here’s an update on some of those key bills ahead of lawmakers’ return to Topeka for the annual veto session.
The agreement between the Kansas City Chiefs and the state of Kansas to build a new $3 billion domed football stadium, headquarters, training facility and entertainment district could be the largest stadium deal in American history, and most Kansas lawmakers agreed last week to establish a sports authority board to oversee the project.
Transgender activist Samantha Boucher tried her best to get arrested Tuesday for using the women’s bathroom in the Kansas Statehouse in defiance of a new state law that criminalizes bathroom use based on gender assigned at birth. Capitol Police declined.
The Senate and House narrowly passed a bill giving 10% of registered voters in a taxing area the ability to stop some property tax increases, a move one senator called “tyranny of the minority.”
The Kansas House acted with urgency to pass a bill endorsed by a jail bond lobbyist that mandates arrest warrants for people charged with felonies and restricts judges’ discretion to set bond conditions for defendants.
More and more Kansas legislators are using chatbots to summarize bills, write their remarks and more. There are no guidelines for how lawmakers use ChatGPT, Claude and other services.
A divided Kansas Supreme Court issued a narrow decision Friday resulting in dismissal of Gov. Laura Kelly’s petition alleging AG Kris Kobach interfered with her constitutional authority to engage in litigation on behalf of the state. Both sides declared victory.
A bill forcing extensive changes at the Kansas State Board of Nursing and voiding 20 years of disciplinary actions passed both legislative chambers and will land on the governor’s desk amid concerns about its impact.
Thin majorities in the Kansas Legislature early Friday passed a budget bill around bipartisan opposition. The bill spends vastly more than anticipated tax revenue.
Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed legislation Thursday that provides income tax deductions for Kansans enrolled in health care sharing ministries plans, but one day later, the Legislature overrode her decision.
