Laura Kelly

Kansas lawmakers have promised for years to fix sky-high property tax bills. But the 2026 session ended with both Democrats and Republicans disappointed and vowing to try again next year.

Property taxes dominated the conversation in this year's Kansas legislative session — but infighting mean that lawmakers left without delivering any of their promised reforms. However, the GOP-dominated legislature managed to pass some big bills, sometimes over the veto of Gov. Laura Kelly.

Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed dozens of bills, but Republicans overrode a majority to force the measures into law — including restrictions on student protesters, funding for anti-abortion centers, and more power for landlords.

Gov. Laura Kelly criticized the proposed raise for state legislators, who got a 93% pay increase just two years ago. “The 1% pay increase for state employees in this budget is nothing but an afterthought," Kelly said.

Kansas lawmakers wrapped up most of their annual work at the end of March, including passing a number of bills related to schools. Legislators return to the capital this week to vote on an override of the governor's vetoes.

Kansas lawmakers are returning this week to vote on potentially overriding the governor's vetoes. One bill would end in-state tuition for certain high school graduates who are immigrants without documented legal status.

Opponents of a bill heading to the governor say passing it would mean fewer kids can sue for mistreatment while in foster care.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly on Thursday signed a bipartisan law requiring students to store their phones in a secure, inaccessible location until dismissal. It's part of a recent push to reconsider the effects of devices on the developing minds of kids.

The state will use candy and soda definitions that are already set in its food and sales tax laws.

Gov. Laura Kelly originally refused to hand over the data, leading the federal government to threaten withholding SNAP funds. The governor said she received additional privacy guarantees for how the data will be used.

Between Kansas City's six games, multiple base camps, and an influx of an estimated 650,000 visitors, Kansas is expecting a strain on public safety, emergency and transportation services. The disaster declaration sets up Kansas to receive federal assistance.

Republican lawmakers will try to override the Democratic governor’s veto and put the ban into law. It penalizes individuals who use restrooms that don’t match the sex they were assigned at birth.