Kansas House

Kansas Republicans have a veto-proof supermajority in both the House and Senate, meaning they can steamroll Democrats on any issue — and override the governor's veto — if they stand united. But Democrats could change that by flipping seats in Johnson County.

Johnson County has a number of competitive down-ballot races, including elections for sheriff and district attorney. But the county also has competitive races in the Kansas House and Senate, which could determine if Republicans preserve their total control of the legislature.

Some GOP lawmakers from Johnson County are no longer talking about their votes championing anti-abortion bills in the Kansas Legislature, and saying they respect the 2022 vote defeating an anti-abortion constitutional amendment.

It’s been almost two weeks since the Kansas Legislature adjourned, after a tumultuous session where the GOP-led House and Senate frequently clashed with Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly over everything from abortion rights and gender-affirming health care to how the state raises money and spends it. What did the 2024 session accomplish?

The bill crafted by Republican Rep. Steven Howe wouldn’t apply to private or parochial colleges and universities in Kansas. Originally, the financial penalty was $100,000 per offense. Critics say the measure is vague and violates academic freedom.

The Kansas legislature has taken up several bills this session that the ACLU says would make casting ballots harder. The House Committee on Elections' chair says the goal is to improve Kansans' confidence in elections, and that many of the measures won't make it to a vote on the floor.

With an election year underway, Kansas' 2024 legislative session is gearing up to be a big one. Medicaid expansion, school choice and tax cuts are expected to take up space as the Republican supermajorities in the House and Senate push back against Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s priorities.

Missouri's 2024 legislative session is already underway in Jefferson City, and Kansas lawmakers are set to convene in Topeka next week. Here's what to expect from state legislators this year.

Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody initiated the Aug. 11 raid of the newspaper office, the publisher’s home, and the home of a city councilwoman under the pretense that a reporter committed identity theft by looking at public records. First Amendment attorneys say the reporter committed no crime and Magistrate Judge Laura Viar should have known the search warrants were unconstitutional when she signed them.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has seen some of her vetoes of culture wars legislation and others overridden by conservative Republicans who control the Kansas Legislature.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly survived override attempts on several high-profile bills, even as Republicans pushed to reverse her vetoes on other legislation.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a plan for hundreds of millions of dollars in tax relief over her objection to a dramatic shift to a flat income tax rate. But her veto also halts two tax-relief proposals she championed.