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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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We post many, but not all, stories from the Kansas Reflector. Read more of their coverage here.
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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
Mackenzie Clark / The Lawrence Times
Douglas County DA will not prosecute violations of new law that criminalizes looking like an election worker
Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez announced Tuesday that she would not prosecute violations of a newly effective law in the state of Kansas that makes it a felony for individuals to engage in conduct that would make a person think they are an elections worker.
Noah Tabora/Kansas Reflector
New Kansas law cracks down on sexual extortion, spousal abuse, fleeing police
Kansas lawmakers are praising a new law that creates the crime of sexual extortion and removes a spousal exemption to sexual battery. It also prohibits a court from ordering a victim of a crime to undergo a psychological evaluation.
Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector
Jessica Huseman: Here’s how Kansas Republicans could actually make elections more secure (Column)
“The state has long prided itself on its status as the home to the voter roll police, but it has among the worst list maintenance procedures in the country given its failure to use any technology that allows it to check its rolls against the rolls of other states — a far cry from the state’s public image,” Jessica Huseman writes.
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
No need for term limits: Legislature’s turnover rate tops 80% in past decade
Only 27 of 165 Kansas legislators holding office in 2010 — a mere 16% — have been able to harness the desire, persuasiveness, money or luck to still hold seats in the House or Senate.
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector (file)
Kansas COVID-19 emergency will expire after GOP leaders refuse to meet
TOPEKA — Senate President Ty Masterson announced Tuesday that GOP legislative leaders would force an […]
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
Kelly rescinding handful of executive orders, seeks extension of disaster declaration
TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly prepared to issue directives rescinding seven executive orders tied to […]
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
Lawmakers celebrate ‘biggest change in mental health in Kansas in 30 years’
Lawmakers gathered Thursday to celebrate the passage in April of House Bill 2208, one section of which requires state agencies to certify 26 community-based mental health centers as behavioral health clinics within 3 years and set new rates for the services they provide.
After story of autistic boy’s death brings attention, foster mom urges Kansans to call legislators
Tina Miller, a Comanche County resident who has provided foster care to dozens of kids and adopted three, is telling concerned foster parents to call their state representatives and senators and ask if they are willing to help.
State board lets Kansas high schools count computer course for math or science credit
The Kansas State Board of Education on Tuesday voted to allow school districts to count computer science as a math or science credit for high school graduation requirements.
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
With Kansas eviction moratorium lifted, advocates prepare for surge in homelessness
Homeless shelters in Kansas metro areas are already seeing more requests for housing in the days after legislative leaders lifted a statewide ban on evictions.
August Rudisell/The Lawrence Times
After state lawmaker asks questions, KU says only 1 class teaches Critical Race Theory
Only one course at the University of Kansas describes its curriculum as guided by Critical […]
Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector
Coalition of Kansas organizations challenge constitutionality of Kansas election laws
The League of Women Voters of Kansas and three other organizations Tuesday filed a lawsuit challenging constitutionality of election reforms described by plaintiffs as a brazen attempt to suppress participation by minority, disabled and elderly voters.
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
Legislative leadership extends disaster declaration through June 15, ends block on evictions
Kansas legislative leaders moved Friday to extend the state of emergency for the pandemic through June 15, while ending the block on evictions, despite requests from the governor for a 30-day extension.
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
Kansas lawmakers fail to override veto of ‘junk’ insurance expansion, urge end to unemployment boost
TOPEKA — Republicans in the Senate and House punctuated the close of the 2021 legislative […]
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
Kansas GOP lawmaker describes peculiar school incident as potential ‘psychotic episode’
State Rep. Mark Samsel allegedly abused Wellsville High School teenagers while working as a substitute art teacher by kicking one in the groin and intimidating others by grabbing students and ranting about religion, music and sex.
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