A compromise COVID-19 recovery bill passed through the Kansas Senate Thursday afternoon.
The final vote in the senate was 26 to 12 in favor of the bill’s passage after the Kansas House of Representatives approved the bill with a final vote of 107-12 Wednesday. The new bill replaces House Bill 2054, which lawmakers passed after a 24-hour veto session late last month.
Governor Laura Kelly vetoed the bill, mentioning constitutional concerns and possible limits on how disaster declarations are processed. The new bill now extends the state’s current disaster declaration to Sept. 15, far beyond the original deadline of next Wednesday.
Governor Kelly would need to receive a 15-day extension through the state Finance Council if the declaration needed to go longer than Sept. 15. Additionally, Kelly will need Finance Council approval to spend any of the $1.25 billion in coronavirus relief money coming to Kansas and will require permission from the Kansas State Board of Education to close schools by executive order.
76th District Representative Eric Smith of Burlington says his main concern with the new bill is the potential for misunderstanding of “what the bill involves.” He says recent “rhetoric” has given the impression that the Legislature is giving Governor Kelly unbridled control until Sept. 15.
The bill now awaits Governor Kelly’s signature.
