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Kansas marijuana laws remain unchanged, despite Trump promoting looser regulations
President Donald Trump took the first step Thursday to reclassify marijuana, but the move won’t affect Kansans unless the state changes its laws, a law enforcement professional said.
Kansas marijuana laws remain unchanged, despite Trump promoting looser regulations
President Donald Trump took the first step Thursday to reclassify marijuana, but the move won’t affect Kansans unless the state changes its laws, a law enforcement professional said.
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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
Abortion remains hotly contested in Kansas heading into the 2024 legislative session
From an influx of patients to evolving state restrictions, 2023 brought changes to abortion access in Kansas — and more could be on the way in 2024.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Looking ahead in Lawrence: Big changes coming in 2024
From major updates to Lawrence’s public transportation system to the election of every seat in the legislature, 2024 is going to be a big year for Lawrence and for Kansas as a whole. Here’s a roundup of big changes to know about, dates to mark and more.
Next phase of Kansas’ gradual repeal of state sales tax on food to yield savings of $150 million
Gov. Laura Kelly said the next scheduled reduction in the state’s sales tax on groceries Jan. 1 will cut the rate in half to 2% and enable shoppers in Kansas to avoid $150 million annually in food costs.
Kansas school leaders say the shift to open enrollment next fall won’t be simple or easy
A new state law that goes into effect next fall lets Kansas students attend schools outside the districts where they live, as long as there is space available.
Kansas governor not drawn to horse-trade compromise on school choice to win Medicaid expansion
Top priorities of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and Republican Senate President Ty Masterson collide in January when the Kansas Legislature convenes for the 2024 session.
GOP leaders reject Kansas governor’s proposal for Medicaid expansion
GOP leadership in the Legislature rejected Gov. Laura Kelly’s latest proposal for Medicaid expansion, questioning whether federal regulators would allow a work requirement and calling for alternate reforms without offering their own plan.
House, Senate panel embraces potential reform of Kansas’ civil asset seizure law
Members of a Kansas Legislature committee agreed to recommend reform of the system relied upon by law enforcement agencies to seize millions of dollars annually in cash and property from people suspected, but not convicted, of crimes.
Kansas Democrats push property tax relief as alternative to GOP’s ‘political extortion’
As House Democrats unveiled a proposal to save homeowners $500 million on property taxes, House Minority Leader Vic Miller brayed at GOP leaders who play “stupid games” to try to secure income tax cuts that primarily favor the wealthiest Kansans.
A third of Kansas election officials have quit because of harassment and conspiracy theories
Douglas County Clerk Jamie Shew has had three different deputy clerks since shortly after the 2020 election, when the previous deputy clerk left the job amid unsubstantiated voter fraud claims and conspiracy theories.
‘Why would I trust the government?’: Kansas conservatives speak against death penalty
No one has been executed in Kansas since 1965. Citing anti-abortion beliefs and love for Jesus Christ, several Kansas conservatives affirmed Saturday their commitment to making sure that status continues.
Gov. Kelly’s Medicaid tour highlights need to deepen reach of Kansas’ mental health services
Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly brought her campaign for Medicaid expansion Tuesday to a nonprofit behavioral health facility to raise awareness of the potential if the Legislature expanded eligibility for Medicaid to about 150,000 people.
‘Disproven and unsupportable’: Kansas judge blocks junk science abortion restrictions
A Kansas judge on Monday blocked a combination of long-standing and newly implemented abortion restrictions in the state in what abortion providers described as a “hard-fought” win against misinformation.
Kansans want legal marijuana but a few Republican leaders keep blocking it
A new poll again shows Kansans broadly support legalizing marijuana for medicinal or recreational use, but it seems as unlikely as ever that lawmakers will launch a new cannabis industry.
Most Kansans support expanding Medicaid, abortion rights, new survey finds
A significant majority of Kansans support expanding Medicaid — including more than half of Republicans — according to the 2023 Kansas Speaks public opinion survey.
Kansas organizations lobby to restrain use of eminent domain on solar, wind projects
A renewable energy pessimist urged a special legislative committee to build support for changing Kansas law to tip the scale in favor of property owners opposed to development of wind and solar generation projects and electricity transmission lines.
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