The regular session and veto session are both done for Kansas lawmakers, but Governor Laura Kelly is still taking action in several cases.
Governor Kelly signed House Bill 2045, which consolidates existing early childhood programs into the Office of Early Childhood. This involves nearly 20 existing state programs and, according to the governor, could well expand access to child care services.
The governor also signed Senate Bill 186, which makes possession, creation and distribution of artificial intelligence-generated child sex abuse materials a crime. It also sets a 4750,000 minimum bond for people charged with sexually violent crimes if they already have convictions for sexual violence.
In addition, the governor signed Senate Substitute for House Bill 2125, renewing the state’s school finance property tax levy for the next two academic years. She also signed HB 2231, adjusting corporate income tax calculations to make Kansas more competitive with other states across the country.
Other approvals from Governor Kelly:
*Sub Bill for House Bill 2007: Reconciles laws amended throughout the 2025 legislative session
*House Bill 2289: Creates an annual limit and sunset periodfor the Kansas Affordable Housing Tax Credit
*Sub Bill for House Bill 2275: Lets local governments submit local sales tax proposals to voters for various projects
*House Bill 2335: Allows the Hunter Nation license plate
*Senate Bill 98: Authorizes a sales tax exemption for qualifying data center projects
*Senate Bill 156: Increases the Department of Corrections inmate reimbursement amount for personal injury or property damage losses
*Senate Bill 204: Develops a new process for appointing trustees to county law libraries.
*Senate Bill 237: Allows law enforcement officers authority to conduct investigations for Scrap Metal Theft Reduction Act violations
Governor Kelly vetoed Senate Bill 24, designed to have two private, for-profit institutions take part in the Kansas Promise Scholarship Program that offers financial support to people seeking two-year degrees or technical training. The governor says this sets bad precedent by offering state funds to for-profit schools. House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins says the worker shortage underway in Kansas makes that concern irrelevant.
