4.11.25 – KVOE
Whether it was budget line items or full bills, the Kansas Legislature was busy for the first day of the 2025 veto session.
Thursday saw the Republican led Senate override over 40 vetoes from Democrat Governor Laura Kelly, 30 of which were line items for the fiscal 2026 budget. Overridden in both chambers Thursday:
- *Senate Bill 4, which means the end of the end of the three-day grace period for advance mail ballots after a given Election Day
- *Senate Bill 5, ending the use of federal funds for elections and related activities unless approved at the state level
- *Senate Bill 14, designed to allow for “continuous budgets until amended, lapsed or eliminated” by lawmakers
- *Senate Bill 29, which Republicans say preserves the freedom to assemble but Democrats say ignores evidence-based practices in cases of public health emergencies
- *Senate Bill 63, disallowing health care providers from providing gender-affirming care to minors
- *Senate Bill 269, the “income tax trigger” bill designed to lower individual and corporate income tax levels to as low as 4 percent based on several budgetary factors
- *House Bill 2033, dealing with non-profit organizations dealing with certain at-risk educational programs
- *House Bill 2062, starting child support for unborn children at conception
- *House Bill 2217, expanding the investigative authority of the Inspector General
- *House Bill 2284, developed to have the Department of Administration follow certain policies when it comes to negotiating with KanCare’s managed care entities
- *House Bill 2291, starting the Office of Attorney General regulatory relief division
- *House Bill 2311, saying the secretary for the Department for Children and Families cannot adopt or enforce placement, custody or appointment of a child custodian that may counter “sincerely-held religious or moral beliefs regarding sexual orientation or gender identity”
- *Senate Substitute for House Bill 2240, mandating legislative approval before state agencies can start “public assistance program waivers” expanding eligibility for said programs
- *Senate Substitute for House Bill 2382, mandating fetal development presentations as part school curricula in any courses dealing with human growth, development or sexuality
Lawmakers continue the veto session Friday. The session is tentatively set to end Saturday.