Thursday afternoon the Kansas Legislature passed a bill (S Sub for HB2138) that will allow local broadcasters to video stream all post-season high school events, regardless of exclusive agreements entered into by the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA).

The House voted 85-39 and the Senate 30-9. The legislation will come into effect July 1 of this year.

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly signed a wide-ranging child welfare bill that establishes a foster care bill of rights and a baby box drop-off system, legislation meant to patch up some of the cracks within the state’s child welfare system.

Kelly announced the bill’s signing, along with three other bipartisan bills Monday, hours after she vetoed a Republican-backed flat tax proposal. 

Gov. Laura Kelly on Thursday signed a bill into law exempting streaming services from local franchise taxes that could have been passed on to cable television cord-cutters.

The bill, backed by Dish Network and DirecTV, is likely to end a class-action lawsuit brought by the city of Fort Scott against Netflix and Hulu in an effort to force them to pay a franchise tax that could be shouldered by consumers.

WASHINGTON, DC (April 10, 2023) — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) signed into law bipartisan legislation establishing that advanced recycling operations are properly regulated as manufacturing facilities. These innovative recycling operations enable hard-to-recycle plastics such as agricultural sheeting to be remade into valuable new plastics.

RIVERSIDE, Mo., Nov. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Orange EV, the electric vehicle (EV) industry-leading manufacturer with the most heavy-duty, zero-emission trucks in operation in the United States, today announced it will establish its new corporate headquarters and manufacturing operations in the Turner Logistics Center, an industrial park under construction by Kansas City-based NorthPoint Development in Kansas City, Kansas. 

De Soto, Kan. - Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd., a Panasonic Group company, began construction on a new lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility in De Soto, KS, following the approval by Panasonic Holdings Corporation Board of Directors. The project will drive significant economic activity and opportunities for the local Kansas economy making the state a key player in the domestic electric vehicle (EV) industry. 

Dorothy might have left Kansas on her trip to Oz, but if she enjoys sports betting, she is going to want to get back soon.

In 1918, a survey crew determined that Lebanon, Kan., is the geographic center of the contiguous United States. So if you have not been, the time to visit Kansas is coming.

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly signed Monday a bill providing more than $6 billion for K-12 education and making several policy changes, including a controversial provision allowing students to openly transfer to districts around Kansas.

House Bill 2567 fully funds public education, according to the Gannon school finance settlement, Kelly noted in signing the bill. The Democratic governor also said the measure would provide significant investments in mental health, safety and other educational initiatives.

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has signed a bill to help address the state’s ongoing housing shortage - especially in rural communities.

On Thursday, May 5, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly says she signed House Bill 2237 to help address the state’s housing shortage with investments and incentives for residential development - especially in rural areas.

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - In a 73-49 vote, the Kansas House on Thursday passed a sports betting bill. Specifically, lawmakers in Topeka voted to pass House Substitute for Senate Bill 84, which would legalize sports betting under the Kansas expanded lottery act. This is the version of the legislation where most of the revenue from sports betting would go toward attracting a professional sports team to the state.

Kansas students could enroll in any public district in the state that has room for them, regardless of where they live, under a policy headed to the governor’s desk. Kansas lawmakers passed a school funding bill Thursday that provides money for K-12 schools according to the formula approved by the Kansas Supreme Court. It increases funding for virtual students. And it requires that school districts with space allow out-of-district students to enroll. The bill did not include $30 million in additional funds for special education requested by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.

Gov. Laura Kelly on Tuesday signed six more bills, including one that could settle a legal dispute over regulations of the practice of eyebrow threading.

Kelly signed a bill backed by the legal arm of the Kansas Policy Institute that exempts the practice of eyebrow threading from the regulations of the state Cosmetology Board.

The bill would allow someone to practice eyebrow threading without being a certified cosmetologist. The bill was amended in the Senate to add electric needles to the list of
items excluded from the definition of threading.

State employees in Kansas can now choose to take longer paid parental leave after Gov. Laura Kelly issued an executive order Tuesday to expand the benefits.

“Supporting working parents in our workforce is not only the right thing to do – it’s good for our economy,” Kelly said in a statement. “We’re committed to recruiting and keeping talented Kansans in our state and creating a supportive environment for our families.”

Executive Order 21-24 increases the number of weeks of paid leave that primary and secondary caregivers can take. It also allows foster parents to take advantage of the leave policy.

A new law now in effect gives Kansans with suspended driver’s licenses a clearer avenue to get back on the road.

Under the law, Kansans who are struggling to pay fines and fees can ask a Judge to reduce or waive the charges based on hardships. The law also removes a 90-day suspension or revocation period that drivers had to meet after satisfying the terms of the original suspension. Now, once those fees are paid the driver’s license is reinstated.

A criminal justice bill passed by the House and Senate makes sexual extortion a crime, enforces stronger penalties for attempting to elude a police officer and allows a spouse to be charged with sexual battery.

“It is important to recognize that blackmail, coercion, and abuse of power are often used in cases of domestic violence and sexual violence to compel a victim to comply with the desires of the perpetrator,” said Sarah Rust-Martin, legal and policy director for KCSDV. “All victims deserve to be safe from this type of blackmail or intrusion.”