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Kansas Supreme Court chief justice pleads for investments in specialty courts, rural attorneys
Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Eric Rosen pressed the Legislature on Tuesday to expand funding for specialty courts and asked lawmakers to collaborate on solutions to the shortage of attorneys in rural Kansas.
Kansas Supreme Court chief justice pleads for investments in specialty courts, rural attorneys
Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Eric Rosen pressed the Legislature on Tuesday to expand funding for specialty courts and asked lawmakers to collaborate on solutions to the shortage of attorneys in rural Kansas.
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Civil rights • Voter rights • Anti-trans legislation • Abortion • Immigration • Municipalities’ local control • Kansas State Board of Education
MORe STATE GOVERNMENT NEWS
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.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence trans community, supporters send message to elected officials: ‘You cannot get rid of us’
Lawrence community members at a rally Saturday committed to resisting any and all upcoming efforts to suppress transgender and gender-nonconforming folks.
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 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.
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.
State sales tax on groceries drops to zero Jan. 1
On Jan. 1, 2025, Kansans will no longer pay state sales tax on groceries. They will still pay city- and county-imposed taxes, but the current state tax of 2% will be reduced to zero.
Kansas audit sounds alarm on security flaws at Osawatomie State Hospital
Inadequate physical security systems, erosion of workplace culture and persistently high staff turnover jeopardizes the safety of Osawatomie State Hospital employees serving adults with acute mental illness, a state audit said.
Lawrence Public Schools sees losses with open enrollment transfers
Lawrence Public Schools gained five students through open enrollment but lost at least 20 more to the three districts closest to the city.
Kansas Board of Education accepts policy report recommending phone bans, sends to local districts
School districts across Kansas will receive a 20-page report containing guidance on cell phones that recommends daytime cell phone bans, mental health awareness and bolstered parental oversight.
Kansas’ smallest school district to dissolve following voter, state board approval
Two students are enrolled this year at the Healy Public Schools district in western Kansas, a decrease from 20 students the previous year.
Thousands of Kansans are Missouri medical marijuana patients
Thousands of Kansans are crossing the Missouri border with medical marijuana cards in hand, and that’s unlikely to change as Kansas lawmakers resist medical legalization in 2025.
Kansas House Republicans, Democrats nominate leadership teams for 2025 session
Politicians elected to serve in the Kansas House in the 2025 legislative session endorsed Monday retention of three top Republicans in leadership posts and the nomination of a Democrat to assume responsibility for shepherding the minority party.
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