Kansas legislative flashpoints: Kelly vs. GOP supermajority

Kansas politics continue to be shaped by tense power struggles between Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and a confident Republican supermajority.

Legislative overrides on issues like gender-affirming care for trans minors and the elimination of the three-day grace period for mail-in ballots reveal how often the legislature bypasses Kelly's vetoes.

Meanwhile, ongoing debates over property tax relief and concerns about a looming state budget shortfall cloud negotiations, with Kelly urging caution as legislators eye further tax cuts.

The legislature’s push to let voters directly elect state Supreme Court justices—potentially politicizing the judiciary—adds another flashpoint.

These developments underscore how Kansas lawmakers flex their muscles, frequently testing gubernatorial authority and shifting major policy decisions further from the governor’s control.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly speaks during an event at Hillcrest Transitional Housing Clothing Bank on Wednesday in Lenexa. Kelly spoke about her plan to eliminate the state sales tax on food. By Emily Curiel

NO. 1: KANSAS’ STATE SALES TAX ON FOOD IS ENDING. HOW MUCH COULD YOU SAVE AT THE GROCERY STORE?

The final phase of the state’s food tax elimination goes into effect on New Year’s Day, reducing the cost of most grocery items. | Published January 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Natalie Wallington

NO. 2: PROPERTY TAX, BUDGET CLASHES LOOM AHEAD OF KANSAS LEGISLATURE’S 2025 SESSION

Emboldened Republicans have vowed to slash property taxes, setting up a clash with Gov. Laura Kelly over whether Kansas can afford another round of cuts. | Published January 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Matthew Kelly

Kansas lawmakers are weighing changes to property taxes, including a constitutional amendment that would limit annual valuation increases. By Jaime Green

NO. 3: STRUGGLING JOCO, WYCO HOMEOWNERS AWAIT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AS KS REPUBLICANS REMAIN DIVIDED

House and Senate Republicans who vowed to deliver property tax relief have yet to agree on a tax reform proposal to bring to the voters. | Published February 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Matthew Kelly

Protesters demonstrate outside the Kansas Capitol on Feb. 5. Numerous protesters voiced objections to the Kansas Legislature’s efforts to enact a ban on gender-affirming care for minors. That bill will now become law after lawmakers successfully voted to override Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto. By Matthew Kelly

NO. 4: TRANS MINORS IN KANSAS WILL NO LONGER HAVE ACCESS TO CARE AFTER LEGISLATURE OVERRIDES VETO

Physicians currently administering gender-affirming care to minors will have until Dec. 31 to cease treatment or risk losing their medical licenses. | Published February 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Matthew Kelly

Melissa Etheridge, who sang the National Anthem last year at the NWSL Championship at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, is the recipient of the prestigious 2025 Governor’s Award from Kansas governor Laura Kelly. By Emily Curiel

NO. 5: KANSAS ARTS AWARD HONORS MELISSA ETHERIDGE FOR SHARING STATE’S GREATNESS WITH THE WORLD

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and the Kansas Arts Commission announced recipients of the 2025 Kansas Governor’s Arts Awards at a ceremony in Topeka. | Published March 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Lisa Gutierrez

NO. 6: WE SATANISTS HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO USE THE KANSAS CAPITOL, JUST LIKE CATHOLIC PROTESTERS | OPINION

Gov. Laura Kelly’s office denied the Satanic Grotto its legal permit to use the rotunda for a Black Mass. The church intends to do it anyway. | Opinion | Published March 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michael Stewart

NO. 7: KANSAS WILL VOTE ON ELECTING STATE SUPREME COURT. IT’S AN OPENING FOR ABORTION OPPONENTS

Kansas voters will decide in August 2026 whether to approve a constitutional amendment to elect state Supreme Court justices. | Published March 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jonathan Shorman Matthew Kelly

Mail-in ballot envelopes at the Johnson County Election Office in Olathe. By Jill Toyoshiba

NO. 8: KANSAS TO ELIMINATE 3-DAY GRACE PERIOD FOR MAIL-IN BALLOTS AFTER GOP OVERRIDES GOV. KELLY

If one more House Republican had voted with Democrats, Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto would have been sustained. | Published March 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Matthew Kelly

NO. 9: LAURA KELLY WARNS OF ANOTHER BUDGET DISASTER AS KANSAS RISKS A 2028 SHORTFALL | OPINION

After years of surpluses, the GOP-dominated Legislature is on track for a return to the Sam Brownback years. | Opinion | Published April 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Joel Mathis

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.