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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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Civil rights • Voter rights • Anti-trans legislation • Abortion • Immigration • Municipalities’ local control • Kansas State Board of Education
MORe STATE GOVERNMENT NEWS
Kansas lawmakers propose state funding of anti-abortion advocacy programs
A new bill would divert an estimated $1.7 million in state funding away from low-income families and into programs that promote childbirth, in an effort to reduce abortions statewide.
A Kansas bill hopes to weed out bad cops by sharing job applications
A proposed bill would require law enforcement agencies to share information used on job applications and, more importantly, share information on why a candidate was rejected.
Kansas state representative calls rainbow drawings proof of indoctrination at Leavenworth school
A Leavenworth parent was outraged when she opened up her state rep’s February newsletter and found her daughter’s rainbow drawing published as an example of indoctrination in the school system.
Kansas House panel bundles voucher-like program with teacher, special education spending
The Republican majority on the Kansas House K-12 budget committee bundled into one bill controversial diversion of state tax dollars to private schools with an expansion in state aid for special education in public schools and a mandate half of public school budget increases tied to an inflation index be devoted to raising teacher salaries.
As Kansas lawmakers target abortion rights, opposition unites at Statehouse
If Lila and Margaret Bhattarai had their way, they would replace “incredibly misogynistic” legislation floating around the Statehouse with laws that protect people’s rights to do what they want with their own bodies. The sisters from Lawrence joined a coalition of people from across the state who gathered Monday at the Capitol to leverage their voices against a multitude of anti-abortion and anti-transgender proposals.
Transgender Kansans alarmed by bills seeking to undermine constitutional rights
Adam Kellog says the transgender community in Kansas is terrified by bills advancing through the Legislature this session that include efforts to criminalize gender-affirming care, ban transgender athletes from competing with cisgender athletes, and narrowly define what it means to be a woman.
Kansas business interests eager to expand statutory shield against ‘abusive’ ADA lawsuits
Advocates say a bill in the hands of the House Judiciary Committee would protect businesses unfairly targeted by “abusive” lawsuits alleging Americans with Disabilities Act compliance issues.
As Kansas governor emphasizes funding for special education, lawmakers focus on private schools
Kansas government officials clashed this week over education, with Gov. Laura Kelly promoting the full funding of special education and other politicians emphasizing private schools as a way to educate Kansas youths.
Local public health officials fear a Kansas bill would undercut work to contain diseases
The Kansas Legislature is considering a bill that would strip powers from local public health officials to contain disease outbreaks.
Jared Wolsey / Contributed Photo
Kansas plan to penalize homeless people for sleeping on public property draws sharp criticism
A bill that drew sharp opposition Thursday would let the Kansas AG penalize cities that don’t enforce no-camping rules and let the state deny non-compliant cities money to combat homelessness.
Single side heard during Kansas senate committee’s marijuana discussion
During a second round of testimony about medical marijuana, opponents spoke of cannabis-induced suicides, marijuana poisoning and spiking crime rates, in what some have called a blatant attempt at halting the legislation.
Kansas House agrees to raise legal smoking age to 21
The Kansas House passed legislation Thursday to raise the legal age for tobacco products from 18 to 21.
Despite high hopes, success of Kansas marijuana legislation remains unclear
The future of marijuana in Kansas is still dubious. Sen. Mike Thompson said he wasn’t willing to rush forward with any form of marijuana legislation.
‘They call us gay for a reason’: Kansas LGBTQ activists talk about embracing a policy of love
Melissa Stiehler remembers her experience as the first girl to come out at her high school, back in 2006, at the height of “don’t ask, don’t tell.”
“It was incredibly lonely,” Stiehler said. “I started LGBT activism at that point in time, basically, to make other gay friends, so I knew I wasn’t alone.”
Kansas Senate supports elimination of state, local food sales tax
The Kansas Senate voted to remove all state and local sales taxes on food next year, in a last-minute reversal of an earlier proposal to curtail sales tax reductions for unhealthy food.
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