Kansas Legislature

Wagers are well underway in Kansas under the state's new sports betting system. But taxable revenues from the industry have nearly disappeared, thanks to questionable deductions and the state's comparably small share of the profits.

To expand sports betting across the U.S., gambling industry lobbyists used questionable arguments and lavished gifts and donations on state lawmakers — notably in Kansas. Meanwhile, the taxable revenue from those sports bets has nearly disappeared.

The short-term loans are available immediately and are simple to get. But interest rates are typically very high — with an APR of up to 391% in Kansas and 371% in Missouri. Critics say payday lenders are profiting from people in need, and trap them in debt.

The proposed amendment failed by less than 10,000 votes in the initial ballot count. It would have allowed the Kansas Legislature to take away some policy-making capabilities from the governor's administration.

Following Derek Schmidt's narrow loss to Gov. Laura Kelly, the Kansas GOP will flex its organizational muscle by invoking provisions of the party’s “loyalty clause” to oust from party committees any Republican lawmakers who signed a candidate petition for independent Dennis Pyle.

Supermajorities in the House and Senate mean Republicans have greater opportunity to block or impose laws on taxation, abortion, education, budgets, guns, medical or recreational marijuana and health care, including Kelly’s quest to expand eligibility for Medicaid.

Votes were still being counted to sort out whether a change to the Kansas Constitution will prevail.

Kansas polling places are open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 8. See results as they come in for the governor's race, U.S. Senate, U.S. House and constitutional amendment questions.

Kansas Constitutional Amendment 1, also known as the "Legislative Veto or Suspension of Executive Agency Regulations Amendment," would increase the power of the legislature while weakening the governor's office.

A Kansas law passed in 2021 made it illegal for one person to deliver more than 10 advance voting ballots on behalf of other voters, and puts additional restrictions on handling and verifying advanced ballots.

The law doesn’t go as far as a proposed Parents' Bill of Rights that Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed last spring. But it's raising similar questions and fears among teachers that routine classroom discussions might now be illegal.

The proposed state constitutional amendment would create a legislative veto in Kansas, giving state lawmakers the ability to change rules and regulations set by the governor. Critics say it’s a power grab by Kansas Republicans.