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Kansas champions of administrative reform at public universities offer concessions to calm skeptics
The Republican majority leader of the Kansas House and the governor’s chief of staff worked Thursday to resolve objections to a bill designed to make the state’s three largest public universities more financially efficient by removing layers of administrative red tape.
Kansas champions of administrative reform at public universities offer concessions to calm skeptics
The Republican majority leader of the Kansas House and the governor’s chief of staff worked Thursday to resolve objections to a bill designed to make the state’s three largest public universities more financially efficient by removing layers of administrative red tape.
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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 senator holds one-sided hearing to urge compliance with Trump immigration efforts
Sen. Mike Thompson’s hearing on symbolic legislation about immigration laws featured one-sided testimony with dehumanizing language, unsupported speculation about a sex trafficking ring in Wichita, and a comparison between being in the country illegally and robbing a bank.
Kansas election official asks for state law to deter threats against poll workers
Kansas’ top election official urged the Legislature to increase the penalty for threatening a poll worker, impose a ban on political parties nominating candidates without their consent and to compel counties to securely deploy ballot drop boxes.
Kansas Senate considers constitutional amendment to cap taxable property values
The Senate tax committee heard testimony today on a resolution that would cap the annual increases in appraised property values at 3%.
Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly presents new state budget to Republican-led House, Senate
The proposed state budget crafted by Gov. Laura Kelly features a 2.5% pay raise for state employees, expands Medicaid eligibility for 150,000 lower-income Kansans and fully finances K-12 public education.
Gov. Laura Kelly vows to focus on lasting future of Kansans, not quick political gains
Gov. Laura Kelly’s seventh State of the State speech on Wednesday called for investments in water resources and public schools, streamlining early childhood regulation, pursuit of sustainable tax policy and expansion of Medicaid eligibility.
Kansas Senate president promises bipartisanship — while ‘drawing the line’ on ‘radical policies’
Senate President Ty Masterson promised to reduce property taxes, streamline government processes and enact anti-abortion and anti-trans legislation in his Wednesday rebuttal to Gov. Laura Kelly’s State of the State address.
Kansas Supreme Court chief justice warns of ‘all-out crisis’ in access to legal services
Kansas Supreme Court Justice Marla Luckert told lawmakers Wednesday about her “grim” vision of a future where the rule of law is threatened by a lack of legal representation.
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.
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.
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