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Kansas lawmakers pass trio of crime bills dealing with juvenile justice, fentanyl
New bills passed in the last frenzied days of the legislative session would allow Kansans to seek potentially life-saving drug overdose treatment without fear of arrest, expand parameters for teenagers held in state custody and increase penalties for fentanyl-related crimes.
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MORe STATE GOVERNMENT NEWS
This Kansas teacher retired 23 years ago — and her pension payment is frozen in time
Thousands of retired public employees in Kansas have never seen an increase to their pension pay, and inflation is eating away the value of the those payments. Advocates argue the Legislature owes them a boost.
Kansas property tax increases have homeowners objecting and legislators looking at new laws
Taxpayers are lining up at public meetings to voice frustration over increasing property taxes. State lawmakers are taking notice and could consider new restrictions on tax increases.
Kansas awards $2 million unplanned-pregnancy contract to group moored in anti-abortion politics
Kansas awarded a $2 million contract to start a state program aimed at influencing women with unplanned pregnancies to give birth and to accept guidance of a nonprofit directed by some of the state’s most vocal opponents of abortion rights.
Federal judge upends court order allowing transgender Kansans to alter birth certificates
A judge granted AG Kris Kobach’s request to significantly undermine provisions of a 2019 consent judgment granting transgender people born in Kansas the right to amend birth certificates to match their gender identities.
State official on Kansas Medicaid unwinding: ‘We probably could’ve done a better job’
After describing long wait times, sluggish mail returns and unprecedented call center volumes, state officials announced — two weeks after their initial update — that they are trying to turn things around in the beleaguered department’s Medicaid renewal system.
Kansas foster care providers and staff debate ways to reduce racism in system
In Kansas, disparities in treatment of Black children appear to start before birth. Black children are also consistently overrepresented in foster care.
Kansas lawmakers press state’s child advocate for foster care solutions
With increased rates of children in the foster care system sleeping in offices and social workers spending their time “shuttling kids” from place to place, advocates say lawmakers and government officials need to step up before the state faces another lawsuit.