As the 2021 legislative session comes to an end, and with municipal elections quickly approaching, our office is hard at work assisting voters, training local election officials, and providing resources to Kansas businesses.
This session, the Kansas Legislature passed a bill introduced by our office to update the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) exemptions to protect election infrastructure. This bill (HB2390), which received overwhelming bipartisan support, adds cybersecurity definitions and procedures to the list of open records exemptions to prevent the disclosure of information that could be used by bad actors to penetrate our election systems.
Additionally, we also secured passage of HB2391 which allows for biannual business filings for Kansas businesses starting January 1, 2023. This business-friendly legislation will allow Kansas business owners to file their reports every two years, rather than the existing yearly requirement.
As we look towards 2022, our office will continue to work with policymakers to bolster election laws that put necessary precautions in place to secure our voting equipment, systems, and processes. Our office remains committed to ensuring Kansas elections remain safe, secure, and trustworthy.
Finally, we would be remiss if we did not address H.R. 1/S. 1, known as the For the People Act. This legislation would federalize election administration, repeal our voter ID laws, and diminish the hard work and expertise of our election officials. We strongly oppose this legislation and encourage you to join us in contacting our federal delegation to express your opposition to this dramatic takeover of our election systems.
Thank you for the privilege of serving as your Kansas Secretary of State.
|