The governor said she received additional privacy guarantees from the federal government. Republicans say she folded under pressure.
Blaise Mesa
Blaise Mesa is The Beacon’s former Kansas Statehouse reporter. He covered the Kansas Statehouse for The Beacon from 2023 to 2026 after reporting on social services for the Kansas News Service and crime and local government for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He has a bachelor’s degree in multimedia journalism with a concentration in radio from Columbia College Chicago.
Posted inState Government
Kansas lawmakers are advancing property tax relief. Here are the major proposals
Caps on valuations and spending by local governments headline property tax relief packages.
Posted inState Government
Kansas pushes more jail time for problematic youth. Research says that will lead to more crime
Legislation sent to the governor allows more children to be locked up and for longer. It also requires new, previously unsuccessful treatment options to be funded.
Posted inState Government
Kansas Republicans override governor’s veto of transgender bathroom ban
The law requires people use bathrooms that align with their sex at birth.
Posted inState Government
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly vetoes bill on transgender bathroom restrictions, driver’s license sex changes. GOP has votes to override
Kelly vetoed the bill, but Republicans currently have the votes to override the veto. The bill is expected to be tied up in lawsuits if approved.
Posted inState Government
Kansas version of Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act might come in 2026
A bill would add multiple new requirements for social service programs. State staff and experts in food and medical assistance say it won’t help anyone.
Posted inElections
Cryptocurrency might make its way into local election campaigns as lawmakers consider new bill
Republican Sen. Craig Bowser is pushing the bill. A 2022 report by the state’s Governmental Ethics Commission said lawmakers should regulate the practice.
Posted inLocal Government
Unified Government approves up to $450 million in local sales taxes for Chiefs stadium
The deal will divert future sales tax revenue to help support a $3.3 billion stadium and entertainment district.
Posted inKansas
Kansas Republicans want citizenship status listed on driver’s licenses
Supporters say the proposal would reduce noncitizen voting, even though that is very rare. One study says it happens 0.0001% of the time.
Posted inState Government
A course on sexual assault is helping catch predators across the country, but Kansas doesn’t require schools to teach it
Kansas is one of 12 states that haven’t passed Erin’s Law. Advocates want that to change.