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Kansas House Speaker touts Republican supermajority’s ‘people-first agenda’
Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins underscored the force of the Republican supermajority and its 2025 policy wins in his response to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s final State of the State address.
Kansas House Speaker touts Republican supermajority’s ‘people-first agenda’
Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins underscored the force of the Republican supermajority and its 2025 policy wins in his response to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s final State of the State address.
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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 Supreme Court ends five-year hold on jurisdiction of public school funding case
The Kansas Supreme Court issued a two-page order Tuesday releasing jurisdiction of the Gannon v. State school finance case after concluding the Legislature complied with mandates to resolve violations of the Kansas Constitution by suitably funding public education.
Wave of opposition hits Kansas House bill inviting challenges to public school accreditation
A renewed assault on public education, defended Monday by Republicans on the House K-12 Budget Committee, would set the stage for districts to be stripped of accreditation. The bill wouldn’t hold private schools to comparable accreditation standards.
Kansas bill ending municipal regulation of plastic bags, containers raises constitutional issue
A bill aggressively promoted by the Kansas Chamber would forbid municipal bans on plastic straws and the thin, cheap plastic shopping bags often given consumers by stores and restaurants.
Kansas GOP leaders: House — not Senate — possesses votes to override Kelly’s tax veto
Republican leaders of the Kansas Legislature said a two-thirds majority of House members were committed to overriding Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of a tax reduction bill but a supermajority hadn’t crystalized in the Senate to complete the maneuver.
Kansas governor vetoes ‘reckless’ flat tax proposal
Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly announced her veto of a sprawling flat tax proposal Friday, calling the plan “reckless,” and one reminiscent of former Gov. Sam Brownback’s disastrous tax cuts.
Bill blocks Kansas counties from sending unsolicited advance ballot applications to voters
The organization of Kansas county election officers told legislators they opposed a Republican-sponsored bill that would prohibit counties from continuing the practice of mailing unsolicited advance ballot applications to registered voters.
Kansas GOP leaders tout flat tax plan that would save Charles Koch $875K annually
A plan by Republican legislative leaders to flatten income tax rates would save billionaire political donor Charles Koch an estimated $875,000, while most of the state’s workers would save between $37 and $84 annually.
Lawrence school district adds class requirements, increases number of credits to graduate
Beginning with next year’s freshmen, Lawrence school district high schoolers must pass an additional STEM credit and a financial planning course to graduate, among other new requirements.
Carter Gaskins/Lawrence Times
Lawrence school board to consider new high school graduation requirements
The Lawrence school board on Monday will consider approving new high school graduation requirements that would add a required STEM credit and a financial planning course, as well as an MOU to address surging mental health needs.
A year of celebrating joy and resilience in Lawrence’s trans community
From protests and a Pride parade to working against anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and more, the transgender community in Lawrence celebrated joy and resilience in many ways throughout 2023.
Kansas lawmakers propose new restrictions on abortion providers
The Kansas Legislature will consider bills that would amend the state’s ‘born alive’ law and prevent abortion providers from purchasing liability insurance from a state fund.
Kansas House sends flat income tax bill to the governor for a possible veto
The Republican-controlled Kansas House of Representatives on Thursday approved legislation that would set a single rate on state income taxes, setting up a likely veto from the Democratic governor.
Kansas GOP’s proposed platform condemns same-sex marriage, abortion, gun control
Citing God’s guidance, the Kansas Republican Party has declared itself against same-sex marriage in an early unreleased version of its proposed 2024 platform.
Panasonic answers concern Kansans to pay for electricity infrastructure serving De Soto plant
Panasonic executives involved in construction of the $4 billion electric vehicle battery plant at De Soto said Tuesday the facility would begin production in early 2025 and negotiations continued with Evergy on delivery of electricity to manufacturing space occupying 4.7 million square feet.
Driver’s license gender needs to match sex assigned at birth, Kansas AG Kris Kobach argues in court
Civil rights advocates argued in court this week that drivers’ licenses should not lead to “forced outing,” leaving a district judge to decide how a divisive law will impact the day-to-day lives of transgender Kansans.
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