Research & Publications

We are almost a third of the way through the legislative session! As turnaround approaches at the end of this week (February 20th), committees crammed in many bill hearings on a variety of different areas to keep bills from dying in committee (this would happen if the bill did not receive a committee hearing before February 20th), which would end the bill’s life for this year’s session. Monday (2/17) was the final day non-exempt committees met before turnaround, which means only a handful of committees will continue to meet throughout the coming weeks. If a bill did not receive a hearing, but is moved to an exempt committee, the bill is still considered alive for this session and has a chance to continue through the legislative process. We hope you find this legislative update helpful in knowing which bills of interest will continue to move through the legislative process and which bills will die in committee.

Many of you took action a few weeks ago by asking lawmakers to vote NO on SB 63 and protect parents’ rights to make decisions that are best for their kids. Check out how your legislators voted on the KS legislature website. Despite hearing from countless Kansans like you who oppose this extremist and harmful law, both the House and Senate voted to pass SB 63, which would ban gender affirming care for trans youth.

As of February 9, 2025, the Kansas Legislature is approaching the "turnaround" deadline on February 20, 2025. This critical date requires most bills to pass out of their initial committees to remain active for the session. As this deadline approaches, committee schedules are rapidly evolving, making it challenging to predict which bills will advance.

During week three of the Kansas legislative session, civil liberties continued to be the target of the legislature. This remains a multi-front assault. Attacks on voting access, abortion bans, and singling out immigrant communities have all been on the docket this week. A gender-affirming care ban passed and is on its way to the Governor’s desk, where we expect the bill to be vetoed. It remains to be seen whether Republicans will have enough votes for a veto-override. But there was good news as well. A bill to ban juvenile fines and fees was introduced, along with a bill that would help restore voting rights for people who have completed their sentences. The ACLU of Kansas will continue to fight for the civil rights and liberties of all Kansans’ this session.

Probation, the legal practice that allows an individual to remain in their community for all or part of the sentence for a criminal conviction, dates back as far as the early 19th century. Originally, the practice may have been intended to allow the court to punish an offender without punishing those who relied upon his support, or perhaps in the face of a harsh sentence to “let the punishment fit the crime.” It may be that the judges who originally meted out probation instead of prison or other harsh punishments intended to do a service to offenders and their communities. But in the 21st century, we see that probation can do more harm than good, especially when it permanently subjects poor Kansas and particularly Kansans of color to repugnant, Reconstruction era-like restrictions.

After two weeks of the legislative session, civil liberties remain heavily under attack. Attacks have come from all angles during week two, from decreasing voting access, to reintroducing abortion bans, to banning gender affirming care for minors. Yet, the ACLU of Kansas remains vigilant in defending the rights of Kansas under the capitol dome.

The 2024 elections marked a significant turning point in Kansas politics. Under newly drawn district maps designed to consolidate Republican power, the party emerged with a supermajority in both the House (70%) and Senate (78%). This dominance grants Republicans the ability to override any veto by the Democratic governor without significant bipartisan support. Only five Republican legislators in either chamber would need to join Democrats to block legislation. This unparalleled power raises questions about whether Republicans will use this opportunity for bold reforms or repeat past experiments, such as the controversial Brownback tax policies that led to severe fiscal challenges.

As we look back at 2024, we’re celebrating the local and statewide victories we’ve accomplished in the sunflower state. This year, we focused on three issue campaigns—expanding voting rights to make elections safe and available to all eligible Kansans, reforming our broken criminal legal system, and fighting for a more inclusive Kansas for LGBTQ+ constituents. Here are just some of the highlights:

Recently, many of us may be feeling disappointed and frustrated in our national politics. In times like these, when our faith in government institutions and higher systems of power is wavering, our local community resources remain steadfast in their commitment towards progressive advocacy. Here are some local resources for you to plug into.