Kansas House overrides multiple veto decisions

TOPEKA (KSNT) - The Kansas House of Representatives is overriding several bills Monday morning that were previously vetoed by Governor Laura Kelly.

Past bills which Kelly vetoed this Legislative session are back in action thanks to successful veto override votes held in the House on April 29. These bills will now move on to the Kansas State Senate for another round of voting to see if they will become law despite the governor's veto.

House Bill 2648

This bill requires the director of the budget to independently determine the costs of compliance and implementation for all proposed rules and regulations and authorizes the director of the budget to disapprove proposed rules and regulations. Passed 87-38.

"Kansas is highly regulated when it comes to rules and regulations. Many of those rules and regulations, that are put in place by unelected agency bureaucrats, end up costing taxpayers big money. By overriding the governor's misguided veto today, we're putting an extra set of guardrails on the big government spending of the rules and regulations process and standing up for Kansas taxpayers"

House Majority Leader Chris Croft, Speaker of the House Dan Hawkins and Speaker Pro Tempore Blake Carpenter joint statement

Senate Substitute for House Bill 2436

Creates the crime of coercion to obtain an abortion and provides enhanced criminal penalties for offenses committed with the intent to coerce a woman to obtain an abortion. Passed 85-40.

"The governor's veto message falsely equates "concerned conversations" to the strict requirements of what defines coercion in the bill. Because coercing a woman to have an abortion when that is not her choice is always wrong, my colleagues and I are proud to stand together against abuses such as sex trafficking and sexual abuse that accompany abortion coercion and override Laura Kelly's negligent veto."

House Majority Leader Chris Croft, Speaker of the House Dan Hawkins and Speaker Pro Tempore Blake Carpenter joint statement

House Bill 2465

Enacts the adoption savings account act which allows people to set up adoption savings accounts with certain financial institutions. It also allows people to establish eligible expenses, requirements and restrictions for these accounts and more. Passed 85-40.

"By overriding Governor Kelly's veto, Kansas women and families will now have access to tax credits for adoption services and the creation of adoption savings accounts- resources that will go a long way toward opening the possibility of adoption for many. Additionally, the tax credits in this bill for pregnancy resource centers will enable these facilities to stretch their limited funds further to help even more vulnerable women with much-needed resources such as formula, diapers, and clothing."

House Majority Leader Chris Croft, Speaker of the House Dan Hawkins and Speaker Pro Tempore Blake Carpenter joint statement

House Bill 2749

Requires medical care facilities and providers to report the reasons for each abortion performed at facilities or by providers to the secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). Passed 84-41.

"By overriding the Governor's veto of this bill, voluntary and anonymous abortion data will now be made available to KDHE so they can have up-to-date and relevant information. The Governor's unreasonable fear of this data collection is nothing but a roadblock to helping serve these vulnerable women better."

House Majority Leader Chris Croft, Speaker of the House Dan Hawkins and Speaker Pro Tempore Blake Carpenter joint statement

House Bill 2583

Increases the criminal penalties for harming or killing certain dogs and horses and requires restitution for such offense to include certain expenses. Passed 105-20.

House Bill 2618

Criminalizes false representation of an election official engaging in conduct by phone, mail, email, website or other online activity. This would make representation of an election official a level 7 nonperson felony. The bill also prohibits using funds provided by the U.S. government for the conduct of elections and election-related activities unless approved by the Legislature. Passed 84-41.

For more Capitol Bureau news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf