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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
Want more young Kansans to run for office? A coming pay raise in the Statehouse might help
Kansas lawmakers are set to receive a substantial pay raise next year. Some say that’s key to recruiting more young and working class people to run for office.
Lawrence school district superintendent denounces bill banning gender-affirming care for youths
The Lawrence school district superintendent has spoken out against state legislation that would block transgender youths’ access to gender-affirming health care in Kansas.
Kansas Legislature sends Democratic governor bill banning under-18 transgender health care
The Kansas Legislature voted to send an intensely divisive bill Wednesday to Gov. Laura Kelly forbidding gender transition surgery, prescribing of puberty blockers and delivery of other gender-affirming care by medical professionals in Kansas to people younger than 18.
Kansas senators vote on police dog bill, pass plastic bag ban that would nullify Lawrence order
Republican lawmakers in Topeka are trying to snuff out liberal Lawrence’s reign as a plastic bag-free city. If history is a guide, the GOP likely won’t have enough votes to overturn a veto from the governor.
Kansas bill limiting privacy advances as lawmakers opine on ‘regret and emptiness’ of abortion
Senate Republicans say 11 questions proposed to survey pregnant people in the state before they can receive an abortion will help lawmakers make better decisions. Critics say the proposed survey is overly invasive, offensive and a blatant attempt to push an anti-abortion agenda.
GOP lawmakers tie care for disabled Kansans to their opposition of Medicaid expansion
Several Republican lawmakers have sworn against expanding state health care coverage, arguing that they are “laser-focused” on fixing long wait times for thousands of the state’s disabled residents in need of health care first.
Despite overwhelming Kansas public support, Medicaid expansion bill shot down
Republican lawmakers on Thursday brought a Medicaid expansion bill to a halt, after one day of discussion, 900 testimonies in support of expansion and dozens of statewide rallies held by Kansans desperate for more health care coverage.
House bill imposes $10,000 fine on Kansas public colleges, universities for misuse of DEI policy
The Kansas House tentatively approved legislation Wednesday imposing a $10,000 fine for every instance in which a public university or college tied student admissions or faculty hiring to an ideological pledge or statement related to diversity, equity and inclusion.
First Medicaid expansion hearing held in years yields many Kansas supporters
Kansas lawmakers, health care advocates and lobbyists packed two committee rooms Wednesday, wearing buttons and slogan-emblazoned shirts to showcase public approval of Medicaid expansion.
$40 million Kansas homeless shelter proposal comes with catch: enforcing bans in public spaces
Kansas communities are on track to receive state money to create more shelter for people under a new proposal — but a built-in provision could mean these people are criminalized for living outside first.
Kansas Senate clears flat tax plan after heated discussion
Late Thursday, following fiery speeches on both sides of the aisle and lengthy debate, Kansas senators approved a new iteration of a flat tax plan that favors the state’s top earners and would cost the state nearly $650 million annually once phased in.
‘Hungry for control’: Kansas House advances ban on gender-affirming care for trans minors
State employees would no longer be able to so much as call transgender children by their chosen pronouns under a bill blocking transgender minors in the state from receiving gender-affirming care. The legislation is barreling toward the governor’s desk.
Kansas bill banning affirming care for trans kids headed toward fight with governor
Kansas House lawmakers advanced a wide-ranging bill Tuesday that includes Republican plans to ban trans children from getting gender-affirming medical care amid outcry from worried parents.
Kansas House committee considers abortion coercion bill, funding for anti-abortion services
The House Federal and State Affairs Committee heard testimony on a bill creating a felony of coercion for persuading someone to terminate a pregnancy against their will and a bill designed to funnel $5.8 million into efforts to pressure women not to terminate a pregnancy.
Kansas court upholds AG Kobach’s argument in transgender driver’s license case
A district court has sided with Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach on a temporary block to keep Kansas residents from changing the gender listed on their drivers’ licenses.
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