The following veto message is from Governor Kelly regarding her veto of Senate Bill 269:

“I have proposed and supported tax cuts when they are implemented responsibly and benefit the people of Kansas, especially those who need it most. This bill ignores Kansas families at a time of rising costs and inflation in favor of hundreds of millions of dollars in giveaways to corporations and the wealthy.

“Make no mistake, should this bill become law, it will put the state back on the path toward the failed Brownback tax experiment: the four-day school weeks, the budget cuts, and the crumbling roads and bridges that came with it.

“The income tax cuts made possible by this bill could cost the state up to $1.3 billion annually. The triggers for those tax cuts are such that as soon as the state sees an uptick in revenue, taxes will be automatically cut regardless of any other economic factors or policy and budgetary considerations.

“We’ve been down this road before, and we can’t afford to go back to failed tax experiments and policies that will stifle economic opportunity for everyday Kansans and thwart efforts to ensure a sustainable water supply essential to our rural communities. I sincerely hope the Legislature listens to the people of Kansas and rethinks priorities on tax policy.

“Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto Senate Bill 269.”

The following veto message is from Governor Kelly regarding her veto of Senate Substitute for House Bill 2228:

“As a strong supporter of local control, I believe that decisions around legal services should be handled by the local elected leaders who are on the ground and best know their communities’ needs. I do also believe there are times when the attorney general must work to safeguard the state’s interest in issues that cannot be adequately litigated by a local entity on behalf of the entire state.

“There should be additional work on this legislation to develop clearer language around the attorney general’s engagement. Also, the retroactivity language should be removed to eliminate the perception that this bill is targeted at a specific action rather than sound policy. Until those issues are addressed, I cannot sign this legislation.

“Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto Senate Substitute for House Bill 2228.”

The following veto message is from Governor Kelly regarding her veto of House Bill 2062:

“At first glance, this bill may appear to be a proposal to support pregnant women and families.

“However, this bill is yet another attempt by special interest groups and extremist lawmakers to ignore the will of Kansans and insert themselves into the lives of those making private medical decisions. It is a place where this Legislature has become all too comfortable — particularly for those who espouse freedom from government overreach.

“The motives behind this bill are clear. Instead of helping pregnant women and families, the Legislature chose to pass a bill that connects the issue to a woman’s constitutional rights. This bill is a dismissal of the will of the majority of Kansans who voted overwhelmingly in 2022 to keep politicians out of the private medical decisions made between a woman and her doctor.

“Furthermore, the provisions of this bill are questionable, and it is surprising it has been put forward. There are legitimate worries surrounding its implications, and I encourage special interest groups and their legislative supporters to reflect on the broader impact of their actions.

“Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto House Bill 2062.”

The following veto message is from Governor Kelly regarding her veto of Senate Substitute for House Bill 2240:

“Senate Substitute for House Bill 2240 is an unconstitutional overreach by the Legislature into the executive branch attempting to create an unlawful  administration of the state’s Medicaid program with the legislative branch.

“Our doctrine of independent governmental branches is firmly entrenched in the United States and Kansas constitutional law and significant intrusion by one branch into the duties of another has been held to be unlawful. There is little question in my mind that this represents such an intrusion.

“Additionally, we estimate that the process established in this bill would require hundreds of hours of taxpayer-funded work and research by legislative staff to implement even the most basic of changes. Since the federal government issues various administrative changes almost daily, it jeopardizes the very functioning of the underlying programs.

“Thousands of Kansans rely on these programs, including children, pregnant women, individuals with disabilities, and low-income seniors. This bill and the subsequent backlog that it would create threatens food and medical assistance benefits for our most vulnerable Kansans at a time of increased inflation and overall financial uncertainty.

“Kansas already has very strict eligibility rules and significant verification requirements for these programs. For these reasons and many more, I cannot and will not support this bill.

“Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto Senate Substitute for House Bill 2240.”

The following veto message is from Governor Kelly regarding her veto of Senate Substitute for House Bill 2382:

“This bill is convoluted, manipulative, and wrong for a number of reasons.

“It undermines the authority of the Kansas State Board of Education and local school boards, who are vested with the duty and responsibility to set and enforce curricula for our schools, no matter the subject.

“The Board, teachers, and administrators put in significant effort to create curricula and lesson plans. This legislation undermines their autonomy and replaces the expertise of trained professionals with the desires of special interest groups and the politicians that enable them.

“Additionally, this bill fails to establish standards to ensure the information included in the program is evidence-based. But it is not surprising, as the goal of this bill is not to educate developing and impressionable young minds – it is to push a specific agenda without proper research to back it up.

“As policy makers and parents, we should demand that our children are provided with high-quality, relevant, researched, and age-appropriate educational experiences free from ideological prejudice. Senate Substitute for House Bill 2382 falls short of that goal. For these reasons, I cannot and will not support this bill.

“Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto Senate Substitute for House Bill 2382.”

The following veto message is from Governor Kelly regarding her veto of House Bill 2028:

“While this bill touches on a variety of hunting and fishing issues, I am particularly concerned with how this bill severely limits non-Kansas residents from hunting waterfowl on public lands. More specifically, this prohibition could have a detrimental impact on the prosperity of our communities and businesses by denying the many positive outcomes from the economic activity generated by non-residents coming into our state for hunting purposes.

“I will not support a bill that could harm the economic vitality of rural Kansas communities across the state.

“Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto House Bill 2028.”

The following veto message is from Governor Kelly regarding her veto of Senate Bill 18:

“While the issuance of specialty state license plates for nonprofit organizations rarely produces controversy, Senate Bill 18 was amended to funnel revenue generated by the royalties from these license plates to a 501(c)(4) entity that engages in political and state legislative campaigns.

“Official government-issued license plates should not be used by organizations to generate revenue that can be redirected by organizations for political purposes. Individuals are free to donate to any candidate or cause they choose, but using government-issued license plates for that purpose creates a dangerous precedent and does not serve a valid, justifiable public service. Simply put, it doesn’t pass the smell test, which is why I cannot and will not support it.

“Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto Senate Bill 18.”

The following statement is from Governor Kelly regarding allowing House Bill 2056 to become law without her signature:

“While this bill cleans up some of the ambiguity and uncertainty regarding the crime of impersonating an election official, it is still unclear about what actions are prohibited. It uses the term “engaging in conduct” but only provides one specific example, making it still difficult to discern what is allowed and what could lead to criminal charges.

“Kansans should be given every opportunity to exercise their constitutional right to vote, and I have concerns this bill would have a chilling effect on organizations that support voter engagement.  This is an ambiguity either the courts or the Legislature need to fix.

“This bill will become law without my signature, and I hope in the future the Legislature can provide greater clarity to protect Kansans’ constitutional right to vote.”

The following statement is from Governor Kelly regarding allowing  Senate Bill 250 to become law without her signature:

“This bill gives Kansans with debilitating disease the option to make choices about their medical care. Now I think it’s time for the Legislature to finally legalize medical Marijuana, giving the Kansans suffering from chronic pain or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and children suffering with Dravet’s Syndrome (epilepsy) the choice of the treatment they and their doctors determine best suits their needs.”

Governor Kelly also allowed House Bill 2263 to become law without her signature.

“I have consistently supported reducing barriers for qualified professionals to practice in Kansas,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “This legislation is crucial for strengthening our workforce and creates an environment that attracts talent and fosters economic development.”

The purpose of these compacts is to facilitate the portability of licenses across state lines, benefiting professionals and consumers alike, especially in fields like health care. The passage of this legislation makes Kansas among the first states to enact these compacts. It will go into effect once more states join the compacts.

“House Bill 2069 is an example of the Legislature acting in the best interest of Kansans,” said Representative for House District 10 Suzanne Wikle. “These interstate compact acts will allow professionals, including military spouses, to quickly gain employment when they relocate to Kansas.”

The compacts also reduce administrative burdens while increasing availability of licensed professionals as well as cooperation among member state licensing bodies. The compacts would preserve regulatory authority of states, while also providing license portability for qualifying professionals.

The school psychologist, dietitian, cosmetologist, and physician assistant compacts would also ease the transition of relocating military members and their spouses and would give them privileges by having an unrestricted license when in good standing from a participating state.

“House Bill 2069 is commonsense legislation that will reduce barriers for employment for school psychologists, cosmetologists, physician’s assistants, and dieticians,” said Representative for House District 40 David Buehler. “This is especially important for military family members coming to Kansas, making the state more military-friendly and boosting employment opportunities in our state. I am proud to have supported the passage of this bill.”

In addition to House Bill 2069, Governor Kelly also signed the following bipartisan bills:

Senate Bill 227: Provides for different credit percentages for the tax credit for the restoration and preservation of historic structures based on city populations and the amount of the expenditures.

House Bill 2022: Requires special elections be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March or on the same day as a primary or general election.

House Bill 2039: Adds maternity center to the definition of health care provider for purposes of the Health Care Provider Insurance Availability Act, amends definitions in the Kansas Credentialing Act, and makes changes to emergency medical services statutes

Senate Substitute for House Bill 2060: Clarifies expense and reimbursement processes for certain travel and activities by state officials.

House Bill 2075: Requires law enforcement to explore options to ensure a child’s safety prior to taking the child into custody. It also specifies that the secretary must provide support to these officers. Additionally, it mandates that the court review the child’s involvement in permanency planning, and a permanency hearing must be held within nine months of the child’s removal. Subsequent hearings should take place every six months thereafter.

House Substitute for Senate Bill 9: Establishes protections to ensure the security of Kansas military installations by limiting the ability of foreign adversaries to acquire land in proximity to those installations. The bill also ensures drone technology used in Kansas does not originate from a foreign adversary.

Senate Bill 35: Reduces state property tax for Kansans by discontinuing the mill levies for the Kansas educational building fund and the state institutions building fund.

House Bill 2088: Enacts the Fast Track Permits Act, which will establish standards to ensure the timely review of permits for building single-family residences, helping lower costs for developers and homeowners alike by limiting delays in the permit application process.

House Bill 2155: Specifies that sheriffs have liability for official acts related to charge and custody of jails.

“Kansas is no stranger to the risks and impacts of wildfires,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The changes included in this bill will help better prepare utility companies to identify and mitigate wildfire risks. By taking reasonable measures, we can better protect Kansans and provide a path to recover from the financial impacts of wildfires.”

House Bill 2107 establishes a strong but fair legal structure to allow Kansans to pursue compensation for damages from a wildfire or fire event determined to be caused by a utility provider. Claims under the bill must be brought forth within two years of the date of damage.

“House Bill 2107 will ensure that utilities will be able to identify cost-effective strategies for wildfire preparedness and implement solutions that protect Kansas communities while maintaining affordable energy for consumers,” said Representative for District 94 Leo Delperdang. “Like any other business, utility companies must be able to operate with a strong but fair legal climate that provides recourse for those damaged but also protects against excessive verdicts that could negatively impact the financial health of an industry crucial to Kansas residents, businesses, and industry. House Bill 2107 effectively balances those interests.”

In an effort to better prepare the state and Kansas communities for wildfires, the bill also requires the Kansas Corporation Commission to convene a workshop on wildfire risks, utility readiness to mitigate wildfires, risk mitigation strategies, and cost recovery for the impacts caused by wildfires.

“House Bill 2107 is a smart, commonsense bill that better prepares our state for wildfires, before and after they may happen,” said Representative for District 89 KC Ohaebosim. “I am pleased to support practical legislation that works in the best interest of Kansas and thank Governor Kelly for signing this bill.”

In addition to House Bill 2107, Governor Kelly also signed the following bipartisan bills:

House Bill 2120: Authorizes the State Board of Regents to sell and convey certain real property on behalf of Kansas State University and Kansas State University Veterinary Medical Center.

House Bill 2109: Exempts public utilities from civil liability relating to the attachment, access, operation, maintenance, or removal of law enforcement equipment on any structures owned by the utility.

House Bill 2052: Streamlines the process for an individual with a provisional concealed carry license to request a standard license and addresses requirements that specifically identify off duty law enforcement officers that are conceal carrying.

House Bill 2040: Extends the time in which the state corporation commission shall make a final order on a transmission line siting application, allowing time for additional landowner and stakeholder input.

House Bill 2037: Updates the membership of the council on travel and tourism and modernizes grant requirements to allow the council to award funding to the most feasible projects in the application process.

The following veto message is from Governor Kelly regarding her veto of House Bill 2217:

“It is very unclear what problem, if any, this bill is attempting to solve. Expanding the inspector general’s authority to audit and investigate all state cash, food, and health assistance programs is completely redundant, inefficient, and a waste of taxpayer dollars.

“Within the Kansas Department for Children and Families, there already exists a Fraud Investigations Unit that conducts this work with experts who have specific knowledge of how these programs work and what federal and state laws require. This bill also removes statutory protections for participants’ data and health privacy.

“It makes no sense from a legal, policy, or fiscal standpoint to make this change.

“Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto House Bill 2217.”

The following veto message is from Governor Kelly regarding her veto of House Bill 2291:

“Although I support the intent of this bill to foster an environment where our businesses can thrive, I have concerns regarding the lawmaking power of the advisory committee established in this legislation. Granting an advisory committee the authority to overrule existing law without proper oversight could lead to problematic decision-making and open the door to special interests doing an end-run around the legislative process.

“Additionally, this bill blocks any transparency in relation to the applications submitted for review which further exacerbates my concerns regarding the role of special interests.

“Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto House Bill 2291.”

The following veto message is from Governor Kelly regarding her veto of House Bill 2284:

“The bill, in its original form, contained several helpful provisions that I supported and would have improved transparency and accountability overall. However, as amended, this bill is now unworkable and opens the state up to costly and protracted litigation.

“Additionally, this bill is a dramatic overreach by the Legislature into the role of the Executive branch, which is charged with administering and executing policy. It also overreaches into the Judicial branch by removing the courts from the process entirely and vesting that duty squarely with the Legislature’s ad hoc “appeals committee” — a move that calls into question the very constitutionality of this bill by denying the rights of ‘judicial review’ to those involved.

“However, most alarmingly, this bill creates a haphazard procurement process that does nothing to mitigate conflicts of interest among legislators and creates an environment that is rife for exploitation and graft — exactly the opposite of what the existing process, overseen by the Department of Administration, is designed to do. I am happy to work with the Legislature next year on a clean bill that addresses some of the underlying concerns without creating all the legal, ethical and constitutional challenges of this current version of the bill.

“Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto House Bill 2284.”

The following veto message is from Governor Kelly regarding her veto of House Bill 2033:

“While I believe that we must do everything possible to support at-risk students, this legislation is unnecessary because its goal has already been achieved by the State Board of Education. In February, the Kansas State Board of Education added programs provided by the proponents of this bill to the list of approved at-risk evidence-based programs.

“Additionally, in K.S.A 72-5153, the Legislature has explicitly provided the authority to identify and approve these programs to the State Board of Education. Thus, it is the job of the Board to vet and approve at-risk programs and service providers. If program providers want to serve at-risk students, they should work in partnership with the Board.

“Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto House Bill 2033.”

The following veto message is from Governor Kelly regarding her veto of Senate Bill 79:

“This bill is simply wrong. Not only would it make it more difficult for Kansans to access the food they need to feed their families, it would also harm Kansas businesses.

“The waiver required by this bill is confusing and will cause problems for our grocers and small businesses. Under the definition in that waiver, Kansas businesses would be mandated to stop accepting food assistance benefits for protein bars, trail mix, and other food products many would consider “healthy.” Meanwhile, items like Twix, Kit Kat, and Twizzlers would still be eligible for purchase using food assistance benefits. It’s nonsensical.

“I support the idea that Kansans should eat healthier. However, changes to the SNAP food assistance program should be made at the federal level, not on a patchwork, state-by-state basis.

“Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto Senate Bill 79.”

The following veto message is from Governor Kelly regarding her veto of Senate Bill 29:

“Taking away the authority of public health officials to prohibit public gatherings and issue quarantines when necessary for the control of infectious or contagious disease directly contradicts effective, evidence-based health intervention advice and would put the health and safety of Kansans at unnecessary risk.

“While this legislation is likely motivated by the politics coming out of the recent pandemic, it would cause actual harm in efforts to mitigate current outbreaks related to measles, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases.

“I will not sign legislation that hampers public health professionals’ ability to take reasonable, measured steps to limit the spread of dangerous infections and protect the health of the communities they are entrusted to serve.

“Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto Senate Bill 29.”

The following statement is from Governor Kelly regarding allowing House Bill 2101 to become law without her signature:

“I have long been a proponent of local control, allowing local elected officials to make decisions for the communities they live in and were elected to represent.

“However, I am concerned that a guaranteed income program would exacerbate the current problem of disproportionately high local property taxes.

“Therefore, I will allow House Bill 2101 to become law without my signature.”

The following statement is from Governor Kelly regarding allowing House Bill 2020 to become law without her signature:

“While I strongly support processes to ensure that our voter rolls are regularly updated to ensure accuracy and eligibility, I am concerned that this legislation does not specifically address possible conflict between federal and state law with regard to the potential removal of individuals by the secretary of state.

“Specifically, this bill creates a system for regular removal of people on the voter rolls but fails to carve out protections provided under federal law and could disenfranchise eligible voters by not giving them enough time to remedy the issue.

“Given my concerns regarding potential conflicts with federal law, this bill will become law without my signature.”

“By allowing health care providers to practice the full extent of their qualifications and capabilities, we are expanding opportunities for both providers and patients,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “This legislation will help address our health care workforce shortage and increase access to care.”

Current law authorizes certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) to perform certain functions only upon the order of a physician or dentist. This bill will amend law pertaining to a CRNA’s prescription authority to prescribe durable medical equipment, as well as prescribe and administer any drug consistent with a CRNA’s qualifications, among other clarifications. This new law will remove barriers to accessing health care professionals and reduce wait times for patients in need of care across Kansas, particularly in rural areas.

“Health care providers work hard to obtain the training and certification necessary to provide high-quality care,” said Senator for District 8 Cindy Holscher. “Through this legislation, we are empowering more providers to treat patients across the state in a timely and appropriate manner, which is a win for all.”

This bill was amended in the Senate to limit the privileges of CRNAs to be similar to other categories of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to ensure appropriate prescription and administrative power.

“I am honored to support our CRNAs as they work to serve more Kansans. By allowing their scope of practice to expand, we increase access in rural Kansas where anesthesiologists are hard to come by,” said Senator for District 31 Stephen Owens. “This bill will support rural doctors, dentists, and other practitioners, saving Kansans from extended travel and long wait times. This is yet another step in supporting the heart of Kansas to be more prosperous.”

In addition to Senate Bill 67, Governor Kelly also signed the following bipartisan bills:

House Bill 2152: Shifts Kansas’ investment strategy for public funds to encourage those funds be deposited in Kansas financial institutions. This change will help ensure taxpayer dollars are invested in local communities, increase economic activity in the state, and provide Kansans access to additional capital to finance investments in their home, business, or community.

Senate Bill 97: Clarifies that vehicle dealers must apply for a dealer inventory-only title for certain used nonhighway vehicles.

Senate Bill 89: Allows the Kansas Department of Agriculture to assess a participant fee for poultry producers that wish to voluntarily participate in the National Poultry Improvement Plan, a state-federal cooperative testing and certification program that seeks to eradicate disease in the poultry industry.

House Bill 2359: Simplifies interstate recognition of guardianship orders and increases opportunities for individuals subject to guardianship or conservatorship to be involved in decision-making.

House Bill 2338: Authorizes the board of cosmetology to issue temporary permits for guest artists.

House Bill 2307: Transfers the prenatal and postnatal diagnosed conditions awareness programs from the Department of Health and Environment to the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities.

“I am always looking for ways to make our government more efficient for the people of Kansas,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I’m pleased to sign bills into law that do just that.”

Governor Kelly signed the following bipartisan bills:

Senate Bill 104: Provides flexibility to the Shawnee County board of county commissioners to create a citizens commission on local government, giving local officials the discretion to create such a commission.

Senate Bill 77: Streamlines processes by removing state agencies that no longer exist from Kansas Administrative Regulations and establishing standards for public notice for the repeal of certain regulations.

Senate Bill 13: Reduces requirements for filings, registrations, and licenses certain businesses and organizations must submit to the secretary of state.

House Bill 2222: Requires ignition interlock device manufacturers to compensate the state for the administration of the ignition interlock program.

House Bill 2221: Transfers the alcohol and drug abuse treatment fund from the Department of Corrections to the Department for Aging and Disability Services, allowing for more efficient administration of the program and easier access to services for Kansans.

House Bill 2215: Modifies the definition of public-private partnership to increase the allowable cost-share for certain Department of Corrections projects, providing the ability for the Career Campus project to move forward.

House Bill 2110: Facilitates the State 911 Board’s transition to a state agency by establishing necessary budget funds and providing flexibility to ensure the agency can provide sufficient grant funding to public safety partners.