Policy shifts under KS Gov. Laura Kelly's administration

The articles highlight shifts in Kansas's policy landscape under Governor Laura Kelly's administration through legislation and executive actions. They cover topics such as changes in judicial elections, tax policy, Supreme Court appointments, background checks, and economic investments.

Kansas voters face a choice on whether to elect state Supreme Court justices, potentially politicizing the judiciary. GOP lawmakers support this as a move towards voter empowerment, while Democrats warn it threatens judicial independence. The Kansas Legislature, with strengthened Republican majorities, prepares for a session centered on property tax cuts. This sets up a conflict with Governor Kelly over budget priorities and potential impacts on state funding. In response to a failure in pre-employment screening, Kansas enacts a new law requiring background checks for state employees handling sensitive financial information, seeking to prevent future oversights. Economic growth in Kansas receives a boost with Merck's announcement to expand in Johnson County, one of the largest private investments in Kansas, promising job creation and renewal of local infrastructure.

NO. 1: 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

NO. 2: 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

Justice Evelyn Wilson plans to resign her seat on the Kansas Supreme Court July 4, 2025, after being diagnosed with ALS. By Courtesy of Kansas Courts

NO. 3: KS SUPREME COURT JUSTICE TO RETIRE AFTER ALS DIAGNOSIS. GOV. KELLY WILL NAME REPLACEMENT

“My tenure as a Supreme Court justice has been a rare gift, and I know it,” Wilson wrote in her resignation letter to Gov. Laura Kelly, who will name her successor. | Published March 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Matthew Kelly

Jonathan Clayton’s role in a grant awarded to the Mullinville Community Foundation has come under scrutiny. By Neil Nakahodo

NO. 4: KANSAS HAS A NEW LAW ON BACKGROUND CHECKS AFTER STATE MISSED EX-OFFICIAL’S FRAUD

A December state audit found that the Department of Commerce does not perform background checks on job applicants. | Published April 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Matthew Kelly

NO. 5: MERCK’S $895M EXPANSION IS LATEST IN WAVE OF WESTERN JOHNSON COUNTY DEVELOPMENTS

The project is the second largest private investment in Kansas history. | Published May 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Taylor O’Connor

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.