State government
Latest
![](https://i0.wp.com/lawrencekstimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/plannedparenthood.jpg?fit=657%2C438&ssl=1)
New abortion laws take effect in Kansas, but doctors are challenging one in court
A Kansas judge allowed a group of abortion providers to expand an existing lawsuit and challenge a new law requiring them to collect information about their patients’ reasons for ending their pregnancies.
Want more state government news? You can read Associated Press coverage of Kansas stories and more online for free here.
We post many, but not all, stories from the Kansas Reflector. Read more of their coverage here.
We also frequently post stories from the Kansas News Service. Read more of their coverage here.
MORe STATE GOVERNMENT NEWS
![](https://i0.wp.com/lawrencekstimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Board-of-education-vote-sped-min.png?resize=670%2C446&ssl=1)
Kansas Board of Education seeks 4-year, $346 million funding hike for special education
The Kansas State Board of Education voted unanimously to recommend a four-year initiative raising state aid to special education by $86.6 million annually to bring Kansas into compliance with the law.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lawrencekstimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/P9010520-2048x1152-1.jpg?resize=670%2C446&ssl=1)
Kansas judge affirms restraining order stopping issuance of driver’s licenses with gender changes
A judge rejected Wednesday a request to lift a temporary restraining order prohibiting the state from issuing driver’s licenses amended to reflect gender marker changes for transgender people.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lawrencekstimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/P2023029-1024x576-1.jpg?resize=670%2C446&ssl=1)
ACLU, Kelly challenge judge’s order to halt gender changes on Kansas driver’s licenses
The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas filed a motion Tuesday on behalf of transgender Kansans to intervene in a lawsuit initiated by Attorney General Kris Kobach to prohibit a state agency from processing requests to change gender markers on driver’s licenses.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lawrencekstimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Kobach-listens-Kelly-2-1024x768-1.jpg?resize=670%2C446&ssl=1)
Shawnee County judge suspends Kansas policy allowing gender changes to driver’s licenses
A Shawnee County District Court judge issued a temporary restraining order Monday to prevent Kansans from amending gender declarations on driver’s licenses pending further consideration of a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Kris Kobach.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lawrencekstimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/kobach.jpg?resize=670%2C446&ssl=1)
Kobach sues governor for letting trans Kansans change the gender on their IDs and birth certificates
Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach filed a lawsuit against Gov. Laura Kelly Friday over what gender people can have on their birth certificates and state-issued IDs.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lawrencekstimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Tarwater-post-audit-2048x1536-1.jpg?resize=670%2C446&ssl=1)
Kansas audit of election security exposes strengths, weaknesses of voting systems
The auditing division of the Kansas Legislature reported Thursday election officials in more than a dozen counties studied maintained adequate overall security practices and management of election computers but raised questions about the security of ballots and vote tabulation machines.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lawrencekstimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/P5051430.jpg?resize=670%2C446&ssl=1)
‘What is a woman?’ Here’s how a new Kansas anti-trans law skews the meaning of gender and sex
The Republican-dominated Legislature legally defined women by reproductive ability, using an extreme right-wing group’s explanations of gender and sex to classify Kansans as either women, men or, in a third category, disabled under a new anti-trans law.