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Kansas legislative leadership wobbly on redistricting as January session draws near
Kansas legislators’ messaging has teetered between confident and uncertain as they approach a possible attempt at drawing new Congressional lines in January.
Kansas legislative leadership wobbly on redistricting as January session draws near
Kansas legislators’ messaging has teetered between confident and uncertain as they approach a possible attempt at drawing new Congressional lines in January.
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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 LGBTQ+ foster kids’ rights in jeopardy under new law protecting religious parents
The way Kansas LGBTQ+ youths in foster care are placed into homes could change after lawmakers forced a bill into law that permits foster children to be placed with families who don’t affirm a child’s sexual orientation or gender identity based on the parents’ religious or moral beliefs.
Kansas is getting controversial new laws for fetal tax exemptions and ultrasound videos in schools
New legislation concerning fetal tax exemptions and fetal development education are coming to Kansas this summer, garnering praise from anti-abortion advocates and criticism from abortion rights supporters.
Kansas families with SNAP can still buy soda, candy, but new law adds red tape to assistance
A bill barring Kansans who use food benefits from buying soda and candy failed to move forward last week, while another bill passed that opponents said would stall stage agencies’ ability to react to changes in assistance programs and disability services.
GOP, Democrats blast Legislature for failure to meaningfully lower property taxes in 2025 session
Promises were made by Republicans and Democrats to address property tax reform during this legislative session. The end of the annual session last week offered evidence the performance of lawmakers on property tax relief was underwhelming.
On reflection, Kansas House reverses course to override governor on 15 budget vetoes
Three Republicans and three Democrats in the House dropped their opposition Friday to overriding Gov. Laura Kelly on 15 budget vetoes to meet the Senate halfway toward restoration of spending earmarks on the verge of being deleted from the appropriations bill.
Senate rejects all of governor’s budget vetoes; House takes starkly different approach
It was all or nothing as the Senate and House considered the tidal wave of budget vetoes generated by Gov. Laura Kelly.
Kansas Legislature votes to remove county health officials’ power to ban public gatherings
The Kansas Legislature overturned the governor’s veto of a bill that opens state and county health officials to civil action for decisions about quarantines and takes away their authority to ban public gatherings in situations of infectious disease.
Kansas House overrides vetoes of fetal child support, mandatory school video bills
Kansas House lawmakers overrode Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s vetoes of two anti-abortion bills Thursday, sending the measures on to the Senate.
Gov. Laura Kelly signs budget bill, issues dozens of line-item vetoes, asks Legislature to try again
Gov. Laura Kelly made an end-of-session plea to the Kansas Legislature after signing a massive state budget bill investing in economic development, water resources and disability services while triggering more than 35 vetoes of provisions labeled as unwarranted earmarks, power grabs or financial gaffes.
Kelly signs popular bill to help law enforcement stock naloxone for opioid overdose cases
Gov. Laura Kelly signed a bill unanimously approved by the Kansas Legislature repealing a statute inhibiting the ability of law enforcement to obtain naloxone, a medication to reverse the effects of opioid overdoses.
Dozens of health organizations urge Kansas governor to veto Medicaid eligibility changes
Nearly 50 health organizations signed a letter urging the Kansas governor to veto a budget provision that would end continuous eligibility in the state’s Medicaid program, which allows public health insurance enrollees to consistently access health care.
‘Let Kansans live free’: Leaked emails to efficiency portal call for abortion rights, school funding
Top suggestions to Kansas’ Committee on Government Efficiency included maintaining abortion rights, leaving vouchers out of school funding, expanding Medicaid, focusing on substantial policy issues instead of laws targeting trans kids, and legalizing marijuana.
Property taxes are squeezing Kansans. Lawmakers can’t agree how to help
Lawmakers promised major property tax cuts this year, but they’re running out of time. The Kansas House and Senate are at odds on how to do it.
Kansas governor vetoes six bills, drawing GOP condemnation for Friday news dump
Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed six bills Friday afternoon, drawing the ire of Republican leadership who promised veto overrides when the Legislature reconvenes April 10.
Kansas mental health providers brace for impact of anti-trans laws
With gender-affirming care for minors now banned in Kansas, the weight of their transgender care falls largely on mental health providers. Nobody can police what a therapist talks to their client about.
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