Kansas Governor Laura Kelly’s efforts to re-establish a statewide mask mandate have been shot down Thursday.
As expected, the Democratic governor signed an executive order seeking to re-establish the mask mandate recently, exempting local units of government that already have policies in place. The Legislative Coordinating Council chose to revoke that executive order Thursday.
Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson responded to the LCC’s decision saying, “numerous local governments have recently opted to ease or repeal their local mask mandates, and more will surely follow, demonstrating an increased desire to get back to normal — and a refreshing trust in the people of Kansas to make their own decisions. Today’s action by the LCC reflects that trust.”
In all, the governor signed 13 executive orders, with topics involving temporary suspensions of certain rules on selling alcoholic beverages, temporary halts to prohibit certain foreclosures and evictions, requirements for COVID-19 testing in certain adult care homes and provisions related to driver’s licenses and ID cards all addressed. Based on Senate Bill 40, approved by lawmakers and signed by the governor last month, all executive orders will be reviewed by a legislative coordinating council and can be revoked by the full Legislature.
Earlier this week, the governor signed Senate Bill 283, which extends the expanded use of telemedicine through March 2022. It also lets the Board of Healing Arts grant certain temporary emergency licenses, suspends certain requirements related to medical care facilities and grants immunity from civil liability for providers and health care businesses when it comes to COVID-19 claims.
In addition, Governor Kelly has announced free COVID-19 testing will be available to residents through the rest of this year. So far, over 1.3 million residents have been tested at least once and over 3.3 million tests have been administered.
8 am Wednesday CORONAVIRUS: Governor signs executive order approving mask mandate
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has announced numerous steps to continue the state’s response to COVID-19.
As expected, the Democratic governor signed an executive order to re-establish face covering protocols, exempting local units of government that already have policies in place. This is tentatively set to go until further notice or when the current state of disaster emergency ends May 28. Republicans have the majority in both the House and Senate. They have said they will likely overturn any mask mandate approved by the governor.
In all, the governor signed 13 executive orders, with topics involving temporary suspensions of certain rules on selling alcoholic beverages, temporary halts to prohibit certain foreclosures and evictions, requirements for COVID-19 testing in certain adult care homes and provisions related to driver’s licenses and ID cards all addressed. Based on Senate Bill 40, approved by lawmakers and signed by the governor last month, all executive orders will be reviewed by a legislative coordinating council and can be revoked by the full Legislature.
Earlier this week, the governor signed Senate Bill 283, which extends the expanded use of telemedicine through March 2022. It also lets the Board of Healing Arts grant certain temporary emergency licenses, suspends certain requirements related to medical care facilities and grants immunity from civil liability for providers and health care businesses when it comes to COVID-19 claims.
In addition, Governor Kelly has announced free COVID-19 testing will be available to residents through the rest of this year. So far, over 1.3 million residents have been tested at least once and over 3.3 million tests have been administered.
