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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 House bill invites chaplains to deliver Godly counseling to public school students, staff
Rep. Bill Rhiley proposed the Kansas House pass a bill granting public school districts the opportunity to hire unlicensed chaplains to serve as trusted Biblical advisors and counselors to students, teachers and staff in school buildings.
KHP, KDOT laud Senate bill altering ‘move-over’ law to cover all vehicles along Kansas roads
A Kansas Senate bill would amend the state law to require motorists to move over a lane or significantly slow down when passing any vehicles stopped on the side of a road with signs of distress, not just emergency responder vehicles.
Kansas Senate eager to alter state laws on internet porn, death benefit, train travel
The Kansas Senate voted to support a 50% increase in the lump-sum death payment for retirees in KPERS and elevation to 20% the maximum amount of the pension system’s portfolio tied to alternative private equity or infrastructure investments.
Kansas lawmakers want school library books rated for ‘appropriateness’
Though he wouldn’t name the specific books, Rep. Adam Thomas knows objectionable material lurks on the shelves of Kansas’ public school libraries.
Kansas bill would require abortion seekers be asked for reasons before terminating pregnancy
Kansas abortion providers would have to ask patients why they are terminating pregnancies under legislation critics argue represents an effort to “harass, intimidate and shame” abortion seekers.
Lawmakers talk banning soft drinks, candy for Kansans receiving food assistance
Legislation that would prevent Kansans from purchasing soft drinks and candy with food stamps met resistance Tuesday, continuing a series of hearings over what changes are needed to help the state’s most vulnerable residents.
House panel passes bill altering county commission elections when boards go to 5 members
Controversy in Pottawatomie and Douglas counties about expansion of county commissions to 5 members surfaced Monday with a Kansas House committee backing a bill mandating new seats be filled at the next general election.
Kansas prosecutors seek right to enter evidence of prior bad acts in domestic violence trials
Prosecutor Will Hurst said the scourge of domestic violence was so alarming that Kansas lawmakers ought to allow admission of evidence of a defendant’s prior bad acts to better hold domestic abusers accountable.
Kelly signs bill boosting job prospects for people with disabilities with tax credits, wage grants
Gov. Laura Kelly signed legislation expanding a tax credit to incentivize purchase of services or goods from vendors employing people with disabilities and creating a program to help businesses pay people with disabilities at least minimum wage.
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.
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