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Kansas House dramatically amends bill aimed at constraining local property tax increases
The Kansas House voted Wednesday to alter significant provisions of a bipartisan property tax reform bill granting the public a direct voice in decisions by local government to raise property taxes more than 3% annually.
Kansas House dramatically amends bill aimed at constraining local property tax increases
The Kansas House voted Wednesday to alter significant provisions of a bipartisan property tax reform bill granting the public a direct voice in decisions by local government to raise property taxes more than 3% annually.
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Civil rights • Voter rights • Anti-trans legislation • Abortion • Immigration • Municipalities’ local control • Kansas State Board of Education
MORe KANSAS NEWS
Kansas Republicans again propose near-total abortion bans, despite constitutional protections
The start of the 2025 Kansas legislative session brings renewed efforts to restrict access to abortion in a state that voted overwhelmingly to protect abortion rights.
Legislative budget proposes $7 million cut to Kansas public defenders, despite shortage
Public defenders in Kansas face borderline unethical caseloads, lower pay rates than peers and now the possibility of even less funding to address attorney shortages.
Kansas House, Senate Democrats want to focus ’25 session on cost-of-living issues
Kansas Democrats vowed on the second day of the legislative session Tuesday to concentrate on reforms that addressed the rising cost of housing, health care, groceries, child care and fuel.
Kansas Legislature convenes 2025 session with emboldened Republican supermajority
Members of the Kansas Legislature gathered with family and friends Monday to convene the 2025 session, welcome three dozen new lawmakers and test the influence of expanded Republican majorities in the House and Senate.
Kansas House speaker bans reporters from chamber floor, doesn’t say why
House Speaker Dan Hawkins banned reporting from the House chamber floor in new rules issued ahead of the legislative session, breaking from historical precedent and further exhibiting his disregard for news reporting.
Prefiled bill would release millions in school bond funds from Kansas attorney general’s grasp
Two Kansas legislators prefiled a bill that would deliver millions in voter-approved school bonds that were blocked earlier this year because of a strict ruling from the Kansas attorney general.
Kansas governor orders federal benefits go to foster kids savings accounts instead of state agency
A new mandate from Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly requires federal cash benefits, like social security and disability, to go directly to foster children after decades of using them to pay for state agency operating costs.
Auditors urge Kansas agency to better document justification for tax credit awards
Auditors say a state program distributing $4M annually in income tax credits to incentivize donations for community service projects lacks transparency because the agency doesn’t fully document its rationale when selecting recipients.
Kansas’ death penalty under scrutiny in pretrial hearings in 2019 homicide case
A long-shot challenge to Kansas’ death penalty unfolding in court proceedings for a man charged in the deaths of 4 people at a Wyandotte County bar centers on claims the state’s process of jury selection is racially biased in favor of executions.
Kansas lawmakers will debate the taxes you pay and access to trans health care this session
Property tax cuts and access to care for young, transgender people are likely to be top issues in the Kansas Statehouse this year.
Scott Schwab runs for Kansas governor after two terms as state’s top election official
Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab announced Wednesday he will seek the Republican nomination for governor in next year’s election cycle.
Daylight saving time would end in Kansas under senator’s prefiled bill
A Kansas legislator renewed attempts to rid the state of daylight saving time under a bill filed ahead of the state’s 2025 legislative session, which begins later this month.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Kansas lawmakers throw up unique barrier to use of state’s alternative-fuel vehicle tax credit
A Kansas income tax credit created in 1995 to incentivize reliance on alternative-fueled cars and trucks was sabotaged by amendments to state law to exclude electric vehicles and forbid individuals from claiming the tax break.
Kansas attorney general blocks school bond funds in state’s smallest county
The Kansas Attorney General’s Office blocked millions in school bond funds to a district in the state’s smallest county based on a rigid interpretation of a 2023 elections law.
KDOT to modernize traffic accident reporting system with $2.6 million federal grant
A $2.69 million federal grant will allow KDOT to rebuild the state’s vehicle crash information system and expand use of driver’s license scanners by local law enforcement agencies to speed reporting of accidents.
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