The Legislature adjourned late Thursday night, and we’ve spent the last few days assessing where our issues stand and determining where our focus will be when legislators return for a three-day veto session on April 10. Attention now turns to Governor Laura Kelly as she will now consider signing or vetoing bills passed out of the legislature. Here’s what we’re watching:
Federal advocacy needed!
We are deeply alarmed by federal proposals that threaten vital safety net programs. Congress is considering harmful cuts to essential nutrition programs like school meals and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which would undoubtedly increase food insecurity for tens of thousands of Kansans. Among the most damaging proposals: approximately 30,000 Kansas children could lose access to free school meals through the Community Eligibility Provision, and SNAP participants would see their benefits reduced by $1.40 per day. These potential cuts come on top of the federal government’s cancellation of contracts that provide commodities to our nation’s food banks. These efforts not only strain already tight household budgets, but also withhold food from families who need it most.
Contact your representatives today and demand they protect school meals and SNAP.
Bills we are watching
These bills made it out of the legislature and now await action from Governor Kelly:
- HB 2311, prohibiting the secretary from adopting and enforcing policies for placement, custody and appointment of a custodian that may conflict with sincerely held religious or moral beliefs regarding sexual orientation or gender identity and creating a right of action for violations. We oppose this bill due to the harm it presents to LGBTQ+ foster youth and we urge Governor Kelly to veto HB 2311.
- HB 2075, which originally increased the frequency of permanency hearing from twelve months to nine months for the initial hearing, and then six months for any following hearings, was worked on in conference committee where language was added on police protective custody to determine when law enforcement can remove a child as a child in need of care. The committee report for the new version of HB 2075, which you can read here, has been adopted by both chambers. We urge Governor Kelly to sign HB 2075.
- SB 79, directing DCF to request a waiver from SNAP rules that would allow the state to prohibit the purchase of candy and soft drinks with food assistance. We urge Governor Kelly to veto SB 79.
- HB 2240, requiring legislative approval prior to any state agency seeking or implementing a public assistance program waiver or other authorization from the federal government that expands eligibility for any public assistance program or increases cost to the state. We urge Governor Kelly to veto HB 2240.
A Bright Spot: Our Voter Suppression Lawsuit Moves Forward
Last week,we received favorable news about our voter suppression lawsuit. As you might recall, Kansas Appleseed, along with the League of Women Voters, Loud Light, and the Topeka Independent Living Resource Center filed challenges to statutes enacted by the legislature that attempt to make it more difficult for organizations to register voters and engage in get out the vote activities, and take steps to try to throw out legitimately cast ballots. Plaintiffs brought a lawsuit against Defendants Scott Schwab as the Secretary of State, and Kris Kobach as the Attorney General.
The Kansas Supreme Court heard challenges to this lawsuit, and remanded the case to the trial court for proceedings on the merits of the claims regarding signature matching and impersonation of an election official. After the case was remanded, the state agreed to a permanent injunction blocking the election official statute, which would have prevented or intimidated those trying to register voters or engage in political campaigns because they might be mistaken as election officials, from being enforced. However, the State Defendants then filed a motion to dismiss the signature matching claims, which would allow ballots to be thrown out because an election official didn’t think the signature on the ballot matched the registration signature. The state argued that the Plaintiffs did not have standing to bring those claims, despite the fact that the Supreme Court had ruled that Plaintiffs did have standing.
On March 27, in a win for Kansas Appleseed and the other Plaintiffs, the trial court denied Defendants’ motion to dismiss, and the case will now move forward, allowing Plaintiffs the opportunity to prove that the signature matching statute can disenfranchise legitimate voters.
The session had a few highs and a lot more lows, with the legislature choosing not to advance legislation that would positively impact Kansans in every corner of the state. Despite this, we remain committed to continuing our advocacy to eliminate youth fines and fees, end shackling of justice-involved youth, funding the reduced-price copay, ending the SNAP drug felony ban, and so much more. All of these items remain on our 2026 agenda.
Our work isn’t done for 2025, though! We will send a legislative session wrap up email after Sine Die (the last day of session), and you might get some emails and texts from us in the meantime asking you to take action on a bill when legislators return to Topeka. We are working until the bitter end to ensure every Kansan can live in a thriving, just, and inclusive state, and you are an important part of that work. Thanks for advocating with us!
