Kansas lawmakers have extended the state’s COVID-19 disaster declaration — with some adjustments.
The extension from the Legislative Coordinating Council continues the disaster emergency to June 15, two weeks shorter than what Kansas Governor Laura Kelly had proposed. However, it also revokes a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures effective immediately.
Republicans on the committee, including House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins of Wichita, are calling for an exit strategy on COVID-19 disaster policies as soon as possible.
Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes says the state is moving towards an exit strategy, but now is not the time to exit the pandemic response.
Through a spokesperson, the governor said the decision to end the eviction and foreclosure moratorium was poorly-timed. Sykes and other Democrats also say ending the disaster declaration puts federal relief dollars at risk and could lead to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment shouldering the entire financial load for pandemic response.