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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.
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MORe STATE GOVERNMENT NEWS
Governor signs bipartisan bill establishing Kansas suicide prevention hotline
Gov. Laura Kelly signed a bill hailed by Republicans and Democrats to provide funding and regulation for a statewide 24/7 suicide prevention hotline scheduled to be operational in mid-July.
Final Kansas budget locks in public university tuition freeze, fee hikes still on table
Kansas public university students uneasy about the cost of their education dodged a tuition hike this fall, but won’t know until mid-June whether they’ll be dinged with higher campus fees.
Kansas Action for Children focuses on early education, food security and health insurance
Kansas Action for Children’s Adrienne Olejnik knows the look of kids enduring without a sustainable food source, quality early childhood education and benefit of routine medical care.
Kelly pivots increasingly to veto powers, winning two-thirds of showdowns with Legislature
Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed legislation three times as often in the past two years compared to the first half of the Democrat’s term as governor.
Immigrants face new reality and old fears under a Kansas law banning ‘sanctuary’ cities
Immigrants are reeling from a new state law and the far reaching effects it could have on their communities, even beyond those with welcoming ordinances. With a growing immigrant population, advocates warn of economic and criminal fallout from the legislative action.
With Roe doomed, the Kansas fight over abortion takes on a new urgency
After a leaked U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning the landmark case that promised women the right to abortion, an August vote to amend the Kansas Constitution over abortion has taken on heightened importance.
Kansas House Speaker Ron Ryckman, other reps join list of retiring lawmakers
House Speaker Ron Ryckman confirmed Monday he would not seek reelection, along with nearly a dozen other representatives who announced plans to step away from the Legislature.
Kansas Legislature overrides veto, extends Medicaid contracts past election
Republicans in the Kansas Legislature on Monday blocked Gov. Laura Kelly from reworking contracts for the state-run Medicaid program, downplaying concerns from Democrats about political motivations and clandestine deal-making involved in extending the $3.9 billion deals.
Kansas legislative session closes with pair of overrides, calls for better drug policy
Kansas lawmakers wrapped the 2022 legislative session Monday by overturning a series of vetoes from the governor, tying up loose ends on remaining bills and debating a resolution taking issue with proposed Word Health Organization regulations.
Legislature sends governor tax bill with $50 million for small businesses hurt by COVID-19
The Legislature voted Monday to send tax-reform legislation to Gov. Laura Kelly, but not before a Senate Republican supporting the bill insisted the governor receive no credit for earmarking $50 million to reimburse small businesses that suffered in early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kansas Legislature’s final day of 2022 session may involve more than ceremonial activities
State lawmakers have urged action on fentanyl, taxes and automated vehicle issues during their return on Monday.
Want to run for office this year? Here are the filing deadlines
Some, but not all, election filing deadlines are different this year because of the delay caused by redistricting.
Kansas preservation group raises objections to Docking building reconfiguration
The historic preservation group Plains Modern wants to secure a court order requiring reconsideration of the partial demolition of Docking State Office Building and construction of three floors of office and meeting space costing no more than $120 million.
New state House, Senate maps receive Kansas Supreme Court approval
The Kansas Supreme Court affirmed the validity Wednesday of the newly drawn boundaries for state House and Senate districts.
Kelly signs education budget and policy bundle, asks Legislature to fully fund special education
Gov. Laura Kelly signed Monday a bill providing more than $6 billion for K-12 education and making several policy changes, including a controversial provision allowing students to openly transfer to districts around Kansas.
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