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TOPEKA (KSNT) — On Friday, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly issued vetoes for six measures while permitting two other bills to become effective without requiring her signature.

In a press statement, Kelly announced that she had overridden six bills on April 4. She provided explanations for each of her decisions through separate communications. In reaction to these vetoes, Republican legislators published their own remarks.

Veto Decisions

House Bill 2217

Broadens the authority of the inspector general to examine and probe all state funds allocated for cash, food, or health support initiatives. Additionally, this amendment empowers the inspector general with the ability to issue subpoenas, swear witnesses under oath, and carry out search warrants related to these investigations.

It remains ambiguous as to which issue, if at all one exists, this bill aims to address. Widening the scope of the inspector general’s power to review and probe every aspect of state-funded aid initiatives for cash, food, and healthcare is entirely superfluous, ineffective, and an unjustifiable expenditure of public funds.

In the Kansas Department for Children and Families, there is an existing Fraud Investigations Unit that carries out this task using specialists familiar with program operations as well as federal and state legal requirements. The proposed legislation would eliminate certain statutory safeguards protecting participants' data and health privacy rights.

There is no logical rationale for this alteration when considering legal, policy, or financial perspectives.
Governor Laura Kelly's statement regarding House Bill 2217.

Following the massive $700 million unemployment fraud scandal during her tenure, one might expect her to draw lessons from previous errors and strive to eliminate waste, fraud, and misuse within the welfare system—ensuring aid reaches those genuinely in need. The Republican Party refuses to tolerate the wastage of public funds and is prepared to overturn this veto, ushering in practical reforms and transparency into our welfare framework.
Joint statement from Republican Senate President Ty Masterson and Republican House Speaker Dan Hawkins regarding Senate Bill and House Bill 2217

House Bill 2291

Establishes the Regulatory Relief Division inside the Kansas Attorney General’s office and introduces the General Regulatory Sandbox initiative aimed at waiving or suspending regulations for participating entities.

“I back the aim of this bill, which seeks to create conditions for business success. However, I am worried about giving the advisory committee set up under this act the ability to override current laws without sufficient checks. This might result in poor decisions and allow outside influences to bypass standard legislative procedures.”

Furthermore, this legislation prevents any openness concerning the applications being reviewed, which intensifies my worries about the influence of special interest groups."
Governor Laura Kelly's statement regarding House Bill 2291

Reducing unnecessary governmental bureaucracy to encourage innovation and business development is a sensible approach for boosting economic and employment opportunities. Unfortunately, the governor’s rigid stance isn’t appreciated by everyone. Since the governor aligns herself with the bureaucratic system, we as Republicans will support our small enterprises and job generators by overriding her veto.
Joint statement from Republican Senate President Ty Masterson and Republican House Speaker Dan Hawkins regarding Senate Bill and House Bill 2291

House Bill 2284

Instructs the Kansas Department of Administration to create formal guidelines for negotiating contracts with managed care organizations involved in providing state Medicaid services under an agreement with the Kansas Program of Medical Assistance.

The initial version of the bill included various beneficial measures that I endorsed and which would have enhanced transparency and accountability generally. Nonetheless, after revisions, this legislation has become impractical and exposes the state to potentially expensive and drawn-out legal battles.

Furthermore, this legislation represents an unprecedented intrusion by the Legislative body into the responsibilities of the Executive branch, which is tasked with implementing and enforcing policies. The bill also encroaches upon the authority of the Judiciary by excluding the courts from the process altogether and assigning that responsibility exclusively to the Legislative branch’s temporary "appeals committee." This action raises serious doubts about the constitutional validity of the bill due to its denial of individuals' right to judicial oversight.

Yet, the most disturbing aspect of this bill is its creation of a disorganized procurement procedure. This fails utterly to address potential conflicts of interest amongst lawmakers and instead fosters an atmosphere ripe for manipulation and corruption—precisely contrary to the intentions of the present system managed by the Department of Administration. I look forward to collaborating with the Legislature next year on a revised bill aimed at tackling these core issues without introducing myriad legal, ethical, and constitutional hurdles presented by the current iteration of the legislation.
Governor Laura Kelly's statement regarding House Bill 2284

We're uncertain about the reasoning behind opposition to a clearer bidding procedure in governmental contracts. However, taxpayers have a right to expect transparency rather than encountering misplaced documents, secretive agreements, and hastily created regulations. The Republicans aim to overturn this veto to guarantee an equitable system accessible to all citizens, not merely those with political connections.
Joint statement from Republican Senate President Ty Masterson and Republican House Speaker Dan Hawkins regarding Senate Bill and House Bill 2284

House Bill 2033

Encompasses offerings delivered by nonprofit entities certified by the International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council, recognized as sanctioned at-risk educational initiatives.

“I agree that supporting at-risk students should be prioritized; however, this legislation is redundant since the State Board of Education has already accomplished its objectives. Back in February, the Kansas State Board of Education included the initiatives supported by this bill’s advocates within their roster of recognized at-risk evidence-based programs.”

Moreover, according to K.S.A 72-5153, the Legislature has clearly granted the authority to recognize and endorse these programs to the State Board of Education. Consequently, it falls upon the Board to review and sanction at-risk programs and their service providers. Should program providers wish to cater to at-risk students, they ought to collaborate closely with the Board.
Governor Laura Kelly's statement regarding House Bill 2033

Republicans prioritize student education, with programs under IMSLEC undergoing rigorous accreditation to maintain high standards. It's disheartening that the governor has decided to veto such pioneering initiatives aimed at supporting our students struggling with reading and writing.
Joint statement from Republican Senate President Ty Masterson and Republican House Speaker Dan Hawkins regarding Senate Bill and House Bill 2033

Senate Bill 79

Instructs the Secretary of the Kansas Department of Children and Families to seek a waiver from the guidelines of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This waiver aims to enable the state to ban the use of food assistance benefits for purchasing candies and soft drinks.

This legislation is entirely misguided. It wouldn’t just complicate things for Kansans trying to get the food necessary to support their households; it would also hurt business operations across Kansas.

This bill includes a confusing waiver that could create issues for grocery stores and small enterprises. According to the terms of this waiver, businesses in Kansas would have to halt acceptance of food aid funds for healthy options such as protein bars and trail mixes. Yet, treats like Twix, Kit Kat, and Twizzlers would remain purchasable through these same benefits. This makes little sense.

I agree with the notion that residents of Kansas ought to adopt healthier eating habits. Nonetheless, modifications to the SNAP food assistance program should occur at the national level rather than through inconsistent, state-specific approaches.
Governor Laura Kelly's statement on Senate Bill 79

It's simply logical that nutritional aid should concentrate on foods that offer genuine nourishment. Research shows that obesity affects low-income children the most—so it's disheartening that the governor reinforced her unrestricted stance on welfare benefits.
Joint statement from Republican Senate President Ty Masterson and Republican House Speaker Dan Hawkins regarding Senate Bill 79

Senate Bill 29

Revokes the power of the county or joint board of health and the local health officer to restrict public assemblies when such measures are required to prevent the spread of infectious or contagious diseases.

Removing the power of public health officials to restrict public events and enforce quarantines whenever needed for controlling infectious diseases goes against proven, science-driven healthcare recommendations and could unnecessarily endanger the well-being of Kansas residents.

Although this bill may be driven by the political climate following the recent pandemic, it could result in significant damage to ongoing initiatives aimed at controlling outbreaks of measles, tuberculosis, and other contagious diseases.

I refuse to approve laws that hinder public health officials from taking sensible actions to curb the spread of hazardous diseases and safeguard the well-being of the populations they are responsible for protecting.
Governor Laura Kelly's statement on Senate Bill 29

“A Fauci-style approach—with its unlawful limitations and nightmarish regulations—should be consigned to the dustbin of history. This legislation safeguards the freedom to gather—at places like churches, funerals, and weddings—and strengthens fundamental procedural protections. By exercising his veto power, the governor is once more committing herself to ineffective COVID measures and reinforcing her image as the quarantine governor; however, we stand prepared to overridden her actions and defend the constitutional liberties of Kansas residents.”
Joint statement from Republican Senate President Ty Masterson and Republican House Speaker Dan Hawkins regarding Senate Bill 29

Laws enacted without the governor’s approval

House Bill 2101

Prevents cities from establishing and carrying out a guaranteed income initiative.

I have consistently supported local governance, advocating for locally-elected representatives to make choices that benefit their own communities which entrusted them with leadership.

“I am worried that implementing a guaranteed income program might worsen the existing issue of excessively high local property taxes.”
Governor Laura Kelly's statement regarding House Bill 2101

House Bill 2020

Mandates a quarterly report from the head of the Kansas Division of Vehicles, which includes the names, addresses, and alien registration numbers of specific non-citizens who have received a driver’s license.

“I fully endorse procedures aimed at maintaining up-to-date and accurate voter registration lists to guarantee eligibility; however, I have reservations about this bill as it fails to explicitly tackle the potential conflicts between federal and state laws concerning the possible removal of voters by the secretary of state.”

This legislation establishes a routine process for removing individuals from voter registration lists; however, it lacks provisions safeguarding federal laws. As such, it risks disqualifying qualified voters who may not be granted sufficient opportunity to rectify the situation."
Governor Laura Kelly's statement on House Bill 2020

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