State Government

Kansas Senate, House pass budget bill that pegs raises at 1% for most state employees

TOPEKA — The Kansas Legislature approved a state budget bill early Friday by working around bipartisan opposition that even lawmakers voting for it could echo. The Senate passed the bill 23-17 and the House followed at 67-53, but dissenting Republicans and Democrats in both chambers made ...

Douglas County judge sets hearing over Kansas anti-trans ‘bathroom bill’ for Sept. 29

TOPEKA — A lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Kansas’ new law regulating bathroom use in government buildings and forcing Kansans to hold documents reflecting their biological sex at birth won’t have its next hearing until September. A Douglas County judge scheduled a Sept. 29 ...

Senate takes shot at coaxing House to endorse 23-hour alcohol sales for World Cup

TOPEKA — A bipartisan majority of the Kansas Senate made a legislatively tricky shot on goal before passing the ball to the team in the Kansas House. On a 21-19 vote Thursday, the Senate approved a bill allowing cities or counties to use a temporary law enabling licensed restaurants and ...

Kansas House passes bill that targets renter protections in ‘crazy’ Lawrence

TOPEKA — Conflicting housing bills passed the Kansas House on Wednesday, promoting expedited processes for new housing developments and potentially restricting options for low-income renters. Senate Bill 418 earned bipartisan support for encouraging easier processes for building “middle ...