Governor Kelly Signs Four Bipartisan Bills

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly signed four bipartisan bills that expand educational and workforce opportunities; continue certain exceptions to records requests to protect personal medical information and information technology security; amend the law regarding the selection of presidential electors; and clarify the duties and authority of the Governmental Ethics Commission. 

Those four bipartisan bills include: 

HB 2290 - Authorizes the affiliation of Northwest Kansas Technical College and North Central Kansas Technical College with Fort Hays State University. 

HB 2395 - Continues the existence of certain exceptions to the disclosure of public records under the Kansas Open Records Act. 

HB 2087 - Directs political parties to have procedures for the selection of presidential electors, bringing the state into compliance with the federal Electoral County Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act. 

House Substitute for SB 208 – Clarifies provisions relating to the Governmental Ethics Commission's authority to investigate and enforce the Campaign Finance Act and limitations on the receipt and expenditure of contributions. 

Governor Kelly also vetoed HB 2304 and HB 2313. 

The following veto message is from Governor Laura Kelly regarding her veto of House Bill 2304: 

“Kansas law makes it clear that it is the role of local school boards and the State Board of Education to establish curriculum and educational standards for our students.  

“This bill is yet again an act of legislative overreach, an attempt to override our locally elected leaders and insert partisan politics into our children’s education.  

“Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto House Bill 2304.” 

The following veto message is from Governor Laura Kelly regarding her veto of House Bill 2313: 

“This bill is misleading and unnecessary. Federal law already protects newborns, and the procedure being described in this bill does not exist in Kansas in the era of modern medicine. 

“The intent of this bill is to interfere in medical decisions that should remain between doctors and their patients.  

“Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto House Bill 2313.”