Governor Kelly Vetoes House Bill 2285 and
Senate Bill 8

“The field of public health was pioneered here in Kansas, yet lawmakers continue trying to undermine the advancements that have saved lives in every corner of our state.   

“That’s most recently evidenced by this bill, an effort by politicians in Topeka to win political points in the short-term while threatening the long-term health and safety of all Kansans and of our economy. There’s no question: Preventing Kansas’ local and state health officials from providing even basic testing for contagious human and zoonotic diseases – including measles, meningitis, Ebola, and polio – will hurt our ability to stop unnecessary outbreaks in the future. 

“Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto House Bill 2285.” 

“After years of fiscal mismanagement and budget deficits, I am proud that we have balanced the budget four years in a row. As a result, we have seen record economic growth and have delivered over $1 billion in tax cuts for working families, property owners, veterans, farmers, and ranchers. Instead of sticking with this fiscally responsible and bipartisan path, this bill prioritizes tax breaks for big businesses over everyday Kansans and would harm the budgets of local governments and schools. 

“While Senate Bill 8 includes tax cuts and personal property tax reforms that I support, by bundling 12 bills together the legislature has made it impossible to sort out the bad from the good. 

“Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto Senate Bill 8.”