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Kansas BOE names Jake Steel as state’s next education commissioner
Kansas public schools will soon have a new chief administrator. The Kansas State Board of Education has named Jake Steel as the state’s next education commissioner.
Kansas BOE names Jake Steel as state’s next education commissioner
Kansas public schools will soon have a new chief administrator. The Kansas State Board of Education has named Jake Steel as the state’s next education commissioner.
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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
Here’s where some key education bills stand ahead of the Kansas Legislature’s veto session
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.
Kansas creates new sports authority to oversee multibillion dollar stadium deal for Chiefs
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.
Chloe Anderson/Lawrence Times
Speaker to discuss amendment that would change Kansas Supreme Court justice selection process
A speaker at a Lawrence event this week will offer info about a constitutional amendment coming up on voters’ primary election ballots that would change how Kansas Supreme Court justices are selected.
Trans Liberty leader defies Kansas law by using Statehouse bathroom, without complaint or arrest
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.
Bill gives 10% of voters power to knock down property tax increases
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.”
Kansas district attorney, sheriff raise alarm about implications of Legislature’s bail mandate
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.
Some Kansas lawmakers use AI chatbots in the Statehouse — with no guidelines on responsible use
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.
Kansas Legislature imposes overhaul of state nursing board, voids 20 years of disciplinary actions
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.
Kansas Legislature’s debate exposes bitter dissent, and buried treasure, in the spending bill
Thin majorities in the Kansas Legislature early Friday passed a budget bill around bipartisan opposition. The bill spends vastly more than anticipated tax revenue.
Kansas Legislature overrides governor’s veto of tax breaks for nontraditional health plan users
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.
Legislature sends Kansas governor bill enticing World Cup soccer fans with booze, housing
The Kansas Legislature has passed a bill giving municipalities the opportunity to allow liquor stores, restaurants and bars to remain open 23 hours a day and allowing people to open their homes for lodging during the World Cup.
Senate embraces, House blocks bill on age-verification, parental consent for app downloads
The Kansas House rebuffed legislation easily approved by the Kansas Senate on Wednesday that would require app store providers to verify the age of Kansas customers and confirm minors had consent of an adult before purchasing or downloading an app.
Kansas Legislature allows cities and counties to give no-bid contracts for projects up to $100K
Kansas city and county governments could award no-bid construction contracts up to $100,000 under a bill that seeks to raise the ceiling for mandatory public bidding processes.
Maya Smith/Lawrence Times
Lawrence community members, area activists rally and march for trans rights
Community members gathered Monday evening at South Park and marched down Massachusetts Street to protest for transgender rights amid the recent passage of anti-trans legislation.
Douglas County judge sets hearing over Kansas anti-trans ‘bathroom bill’ for Sept. 29
A lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Kansas’ new law regulating bathroom use in government buildings and forcing Kansans to hold documents reflecting their biological sex at birth won’t have its next hearing until September.
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