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Kansas moves closer to updating Children’s Health Insurance Program eligibility stuck in 2008
The federal poverty level from 2008 determines eligibility for Kansas’ program that provides low-cost insurance for children who don’t quite meet Medicaid income requirements. But that could change.
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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 legislators circumvent board allocating state’s opioid settlement funds, stalling distribution process
Members of the Kansas Fights Addiction Board has paused further allocating the state’s opioid settlement funds in response to lawmakers allocating funds without the board’s approval.
Kansas governor allows anti-DEI bill to become law, vetoes anti-abortion and election bills
In her latest round of vetoes, Gov. Laura Kelly on Friday announced she was rejecting bills that would restrict voting in the state and funnel tax dollars to anti-abortion centers.
Kansas lawmakers dangle $36 million for public universities to secure anti-DEI commitments
House and Senate budget negotiators agreed to anchor $36 million to a requirement that university administrators affirm they had abandoned diversity, equity and inclusion programs. KU could lose $8.35 million.
Gov. Laura Kelly vetoes ban on gender-identity health care, abortion coercion and survey bills
Gov. Laura Kelly flexed a veto pen to reject bills Friday prohibiting gender-identity health care for transgender youth, introducing a vague crime of coercing someone to have an abortion and more, certain to trigger veto override attempts.
Kansas pregnancy crisis center funding, anti-abortion measures sent to governor
Limited by the state’s constitutional protection of abortion, Kansas anti-abortion lawmakers have funneled more money into a program encouraging women to give birth, among other such focused measures sent to the governor.
Kansas Legislature brings gavel down on civil asset seizure powers of law enforcement
Before her death, Rep. Gail Finney ruffled state and local police officials and prosecutors by publicly denouncing as unjust the state law allowing civil asset seizure. The Legislature last week voted unanimously in favor of a bill reforming the law.
Kansas Board of Education agrees to expand Indigenous education outreach
The Kansas State Board of Education on Tuesday voted to expand Indigenous education outreach from the K-12 to college level, following debate that touched on mascots and political agendas.
Kansas Medicaid expansion debate to be revived when Legislature returns
In three weeks, senators will decide whether to give Medicaid expansion a full floor debate or block discussion of health insurance coverage for low-income Kansans for another year.
Contributed
Bill named after Lawrence self-advocate Kathy Lobb headed to governor for signature
Gov. Laura Kelly’s signature is now all that’s missing for Kathy’s Bill to become law. It’s been a long time coming for the Lawrence self-advocate who brought it to life, Kathy Lobb.
Kansas Legislature, fearful of dropping ball on tax reform, rushes to $1.57 billion compromise
The Kansas Legislature rebounded from dizzying defeat of a tax bill endorsed by Gov. Laura Kelly and Republican leadership by voting early Saturday for a three-year, $1.57 billion alternative that negotiators promised would deliver a state tax reduction to every Kansan.
Kansas senators shoot down ‘voodoo math’ public education bill
Kansas senators killed a school finance bill that would have guided state education funding for the next three years, heeding warnings from public schools advocates that the bill’s special education provision could have proven disastrous.
Kansas House derails governor-backed tax legislation overwhelmingly approved by Senate
The Kansas House on a voice vote decided Thursday to send a three-year, $1.4 billion tax cut package back to House and Senate negotiators, overriding a call from House Speaker Dan Hawkins to pass the bill and defying guidance of Gov. Laura Kelly.
Gov. Laura Kelly embraces not ‘perfect’ Kansas tax bill crafted by House, Senate negotiators
Gov. Laura Kelly endorsed the tax-relief bill negotiated Wednesday by a committee ending the food sales tax early, exempting from income tax all Social Security benefits, expanding the residential property tax exemption, increasing the standard deduction for income tax purposes and cutting the top income tax rate.
Education advocate: Kansas school finance bill would ‘permanently underfund’ special education
Kansas lawmakers are trying to overhaul special education funding for public schools in a move condemned by public school advocates.
House, Senate negotiators seeking income, sales and property tax bills capable of dodging vetoes
Legislators engaged Tuesday in opening rounds of conversation about using the state’s large revenue surplus to draft legislation delivering property, income and sales tax relief that Gov. Laura Kelly won’t veto.
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