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Kansas will carve out religious vaccine exemptions as it eases some child care regulations
Gov. Laura Kelly says she will sign a bill aimed at improving access to child care and other early childhood services. But some health experts are concerned about a provision codifying religious exemptions for vaccines required at day cares.
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Civil rights • Voter rights • Anti-trans legislation • Abortion • Immigration • Municipalities’ local control • Kansas State Board of Education
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Kansas House bills would impose stricter penalties for domestic battery, fleeing police
Roberta Jackson was physically abused by a man who had an extensive history of hurting women in at least seven other states. She testified Monday about legislation that would strengthen penalties for repeat offenders of domestic violence.

Kansas university leaders condemn bill abolishing property rights of faculty tenure
Academic leaders of KU and K-State said legislation retroactively abolishing property rights inherent in tenure would run off distinguished educators, undercut faculty recruiting, destroy research programs, trigger an exodus of students and deliver a devastating blow to the state’s economy.

Kansas governor vetoes gender-affirming care ban for minors; Republicans ready for override
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed Republican-led legislation Tuesday that attempts to ban gender-affirming care for minors, a move a top GOP lawmaker called “reckless and senseless.”

Arts, entertainment, business converge in attempt to secure Kansas film production incentives
Film and television production professionals are hoping this is the year incentives become law so Kansas can attract talent to grow the local media industry.

Child welfare advocates split with law enforcement on distinguishing neglect from poverty in Kansas
Testimony over a proposal to redefine “neglect” for the child welfare system showed a divide between social workers and law enforcement.

Attorney General Kris Kobach seeks to profoundly limit filing of ineffective counsel motions
AG Kris Kobach is the driving force behind a Kansas Senate bill placing stringent limits on the ability of people convicted of a crime to file multiple petitions claiming ineffective legal representation.

Kansas legislation transfers certified school teachers to financially preferable retirement plan
A proposal examined by a House committee would shift certified teachers — but not all school employees — from the modest tier 3 plan in the Kansas Public Employee Retirement System to the more robust tier 2 plan in KPERS.

Kansas Democrats propose minimum wage hike in response to Republicans’ plan for no taxes on tips
Top Democrats, including the governor, proposed Wednesday raising Kansas’ hourly minimum wage to $15 in response to Republicans’ plan to eliminate taxes on tips.

Buying candy, soda with food stamps banned under proposed Kansas bill
Purchasing soda and candy with food stamps would no longer be permitted under a proposed Kansas bill, but whether the federal government would accept the move is unclear.

Kansas advocacy organizations offer strategy for curtailing waitlist for disability services
A Kansas House committee has been gathering testimony on a wide range of reform options for Kansans with disabilities. That includes a four-year plan endorsed by advocates to invest $13.6 million to help people with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Kansas lawmakers want to cut property taxes and still fund schools. Can they do both?
Republicans and Democrats want to cut Kansas property taxes this year. But they can’t decide on the best way to do it — and some worry that core local services like schools, roads and law enforcement could suffer as a result.

Kansas GOP senators promoting bill to exempt tips from state income tax
State and federal lawmakers from Kansas convened Monday at the Celtic Fox pub in Topeka to celebrate legislation to exempt tipped earnings of service and hospitality workers from income taxation.

Judge threw out civil rights lawsuit against KCKPD, but 5 women will appeal
Five women who filed a civil rights lawsuit against Wyandotte County and a list of former KCK police brass say they will appeal a federal judge’s dismissal of their case.

Kansas bill attempts to establish fetal personhood with child support from conception
Legislation that would cement child support payments for pregnancy-related costs before birth turned into a debate at a hearing Wednesday over whether the bill would establish “fetal personhood” in Kansas law.

Kansas House a step closer to sending anti-transgender bill to Democratic governor
House Republicans dispatched eight amendments proposed by Democrats on Thursday before granting first-round approval of a bill preventing Kansas health professionals from providing individuals under the age of 18 with gender-affirming care.
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