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Kansas champions of administrative reform at public universities offer concessions to calm skeptics
The Republican majority leader of the Kansas House and the governor’s chief of staff worked Thursday to resolve objections to a bill designed to make the state’s three largest public universities more financially efficient by removing layers of administrative red tape.
Kansas champions of administrative reform at public universities offer concessions to calm skeptics
The Republican majority leader of the Kansas House and the governor’s chief of staff worked Thursday to resolve objections to a bill designed to make the state’s three largest public universities more financially efficient by removing layers of administrative red tape.
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MORe STATE GOVERNMENT NEWS
Kansas Senate panel advances constitutional amendment to cap property value increases
A Senate committee endorsed a proposed constitutional amendment that would cap annual increases to appraised property values at 3%, and roll back the clock to 2022 assessments.
KBI director urges mandatory background checks for school employees to fill public safety gaps
KBI director Tony Mattivi urged approval of a bill that would require state and national fingerprint-based criminal history background checks for all employees and volunteers at public and private schools every five years.
Kansas adopts faculty workload, post-tenure review system for public universities
The Kansas Board of Regents ordered state public universities to implement faculty workload and tenure review policies aiming to bring underperforming professors to remediation, with termination as a potential consequence.
Projected electricity usage expected to strain Kansas grid unless transmission, generation added
Projected increases in electricity load growth are as high as 99% by 2035, a data point that pushed regional energy regulators to create a plan to stabilize and expand grid capacity and transmission, a legislative committee learned.
Kansas legislators hear divided testimony on proposed school cellphone ban
A bipartisan Kansas bill that aims to implement a bell-to-bell cellphone ban beginning next school year would override local rules and establish one of the nation’s most restrictive policies.
‘America is showing its dark underbelly’: Protesters condemn ICE in rally at Kansas Statehouse
Hundreds of Kansans chanted “f*** ICE,” carried pointed and sometimes profane signs, and sang protest songs Wednesday as they flooded the second floor of the Statehouse to rally for human rights.
Proposed bill bans gender changes on Kansas driver’s licenses, birth certificates
A bill that would ban gender changes on Kansas driver’s licenses and birth certificates drew hundreds of opponent comments despite appearing on a committee agenda just 24 hours before the Tuesday hearing.
Kansas House Speaker touts Republican supermajority’s ‘people-first agenda’
Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins underscored the force of the Republican supermajority and its 2025 policy wins in his response to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s final State of the State address.
Kansas governor revels in triumphs, warns against succumbing to ‘uncivilized’ D.C. politics
Gov. Laura Kelly said during her State of the State speech that Kansas would have suffered in managing the government, advancing economic activity and elevating the quality of life if voters had chosen a governor who confused toxicity for leadership.
Kansas Supreme Court chief justice pleads for investments in specialty courts, rural attorneys
Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Eric Rosen pressed the Legislature on Tuesday to expand funding for specialty courts and asked lawmakers to collaborate on solutions to the shortage of attorneys in rural Kansas.
Kansas Legislature jolts to life with newcomers and generation of new policy agendas
The 2026 session of the Kansas Legislature burst to life Monday as Republicans and Democrats staked out public policy priorities, welcomed members to fill unexpired terms and awaited Gov. Kelly’s final State of the State speech.
Kansas Legislature launches 2026 session with Democrat Laura Kelly in final year as governor
The Kansas Legislature convenes Monday for the final session with Gov. Laura Kelly amid uncertainty about potential redrawing of the state’s congressional map to disenfranchise voters who elected U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids.
GOP legislative leaders enlist former Emporia State president to slash Kansas university budgets
Republican legislative leaders agreed to pay former Emporia State University president Ken Hush $50,000 to spearhead their efforts to slash spending at public universities.
Hugo Phan / KMUW
Kansas lawmakers want to ban cell phones in K-12 schools
A bipartisan bill introduced in Kansas would prohibit students across the state from using cell phones during school hours.
Kansas governor’s legislative priorities in 2026 center on budget, water and children
Gov. Laura Kelly said developing a budget would be her primary quest for 2026. Other priorities center on water resources and early childhood programs.
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