Laura Kelly

Kansas’ Ogallala Aquifer has been losing water for decades. And while dedicating funding to a strategic water plan was a priority of Kelly’s during the 2026 legislative session, no measure passed. But she’s optimistic the state will continue to make progress after she leaves office in January.

The deadline to file as a candidate for governor of Kansas was Monday, June 1. A last-minute filing shook up the Democratic field, while there's a clear frontrunner among the seven Republicans in the running.

The Kansas Supreme Court chief justice announced the raises last week after the Legislature adjourned the 2026 session without appropriating money for them.

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.