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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 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.
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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
Academic achievement measures at Kansas schools drop during pandemic
In the first year and a half of the pandemic, Kansas schools have seen a decrease in enrollment and attendance and an increase in truancy and chronic absenteeism.
Kansas rep. celebrates ‘Columbus Day’; Native American lawmakers eager to rename holiday as Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Lawrence Rep. Christina Haswood, a Democratic member of the House Water Committee, said she found it curious that Rep. Ron Highland hosted an event intentionally labeled to bring attention to Columbus Day.
Audit: Inadequate IT security at Kansas schools leaves vital information exposed
A legislative audit revealing many school districts are not practicing basic security measures for information technology systems raised eyebrows Tuesday from a panel of legislators.
Kansans create special chamber of commerce to advance business of medical cannabis
Advocates of legalizing marijuana sales formed the Kansas Cannabis Chamber of Commerce to move the political, business and health debate forward in a state bordered by dispensaries in Colorado, Oklahoma and Missouri and a renewed push to open markets in Nebraska.
Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector
Kansas strikes deal to bring state into compliance with federal voter registration law
The administration of Gov. Laura Kelly reached agreement with a coalition of civil rights organizations to provide additional voter registration information to people on public assistance and bring the state into compliance with the National Voter Registration Act.
Kansas legislative leaders create special committee to rebuff federal COVID-19 mandates
Top House and Senate lawmakers agreed Monday to establish a special committee to examine options for thwarting federal policy layered with COVID-19 government mandates tied to the pandemic that so far killed more than 6,000 residents of Kansas.
Blaise Mesa / Kansas News Service
LGBTQ foster kids in Kansas have no guarantee they’ll land in homes that accept their identity
The Kansas Department for Children and Families says it works to make sure gay, lesbian and transgender foster children end up in welcoming homes, but nothing in state law requires special consideration.
Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector
Kansas House member takes plea deal in Wellsville school case
State Rep. Mark Samsel negotiated a deal with Franklin County prosecutors resulting in probation for guilty pleas to three counts of misdemeanor disorderly conduct emerging from strange physical and verbal encounters with students at Wellsville High School.
Brian Grimmett / Kansas News Service
Groups worry Kansas criminalized voter drives, but Republicans say they’ll prove otherwise
Voter registration drives in Kansas have slowed to a trickle while a new election law is challenged in court, but Republicans are undeterred.
Kansas legislator navigates personal journey from hesitancy to acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine
Salina Rep. Steven Howe was among Republican conservatives in the Kansas House skeptical about COVID-19 vaccines, but encouragement of trusted friends and family convinced him to accept Pfizer’s vaccine in August.
Photo by MChe Lee on Unsplash
Lawrence school district declines to give details on students, staff in quarantines
As COVID-19 case counts rise just a week into the school year, students in Lawrence schools have been directed to isolate after potential exposure to the virus. That’s problematic for learning — and for students who need meals.
Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector
Lawrence redistricting town hall participants object to racial, prison gerrymandering
People testifying to 20 legislators Friday at the University of Kansas’ business school requested congressional maps not be recast by the Republican-led Legislature for the purpose of unseating U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, and they asked for lawmakers to turn aside map proposals that harmed representation in communities of color.
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
Kansas lawmakers to hold redistricting public hearing on KU campus Friday; here’s what to know
A group of Kansas lawmakers will be in Lawrence on Friday to hold a public hearing and gather community input ahead of efforts to redraw legislative districts before the 2022 election.
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
State senate president says Kansans want freedom, not ‘Faucism’ on COVID-19 masking front
Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson warned state and federal guidance aimed at countering spread of a more hostile variant of COVID-19 could damage the state’s economic recovery and unnecessarily confuse Kansans who managed to reclaim normalcy in their lives.
Despite Douglas County DA refusing to prosecute, nonprofits still wary to resume voter registration
Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez said Tuesday that she won’t prosecute anyone under a new state law that caused nonprofits to halt voter registration efforts at the start of July, but the groups won’t immediately resume engaging with voters.
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