A BLIZZARD OF BILLS
LEGISLATIVE NEWS AND ANALYSIS BY CHUCK WEBER
KANSAS CATHOLIC CONFERENCE
Kansas taxpayers got their money's worth during a packed week of work at the Kansas Capitol. State Senators and State Representatives debated and voted on close to 150 different pieces of legislation. In most instances, bills passed by one chamber now go to the other chamber for further consideration, and vice versa. This is all part of the legislative process and how bills become law.
Known as "Turnaround Week," the unofficial halfway point in the 2025 Legislative Session has come and gone. There's still a lot of work to do, but there was also real progress.
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Most notably, at least from our perspective, the Senate and House voted to override the Governor's veto on Help Not Harm legislation that will help protect Kansas children from the insidious practices of surgical and/or chemical mutilation in pursuit of "gender transitioning."
Help Not Harm is now the law in Kansas!
Passage of SB 63 Help Not Harm Act makes Kansas the 27th state to pass some form of child protection from the sinister impact of these discredited practices. There were hyperbolic statements made by defenders of gender manipulation, but also great defenders of the truth and health of Kansas children. We explore this in more depth below.
INCLUDED IN THIS NEWSLETTER
- A House Committee heard testimony from the Kansas Catholic Conference and others on a bill designed to protect the Religious Freedom rights of adoptive parents.
- The Kansas Senate voted on a bill that could modestly assist the only educational choice program in Kansas, the low income tax credit scholarship act.
- Trump is wrong on IVF. Catholic Teaching put into action is a better answer.
- The immigration debate continues. Archbishop Nauman speaks out.
Can couples in Kansas looking to adopt a child be denied if they hold deeply held religious beliefs? This question is at the heart of proposed legislation where the Kansas Catholic Conference offered proponent (in favor) testimony last week.
HB 2311 is Religious Freedom legislation that simply says couples looking to adopt or provide foster care cannot be denied a child simply because of their religious beliefs.
This legislation is similar to the Adoption Protection Act that became law in 2018. That law protects the right of adoption and foster care agencies to place children in homes that align with their deeply held religious beliefs. HB 2311 does the same for adoptive couples.
For Catholics, this means the right to place a child in a home with a married mother and a father who share Catholic beliefs. We know that this is the environment where a child best flourishes. Now we are trying to extend this basic Religious Freedom right to adoptive parents.
This legislative effort seeks to protect adoptive and foster parents in Kansas before they are overtly discriminated against for their beliefs. This type of discrimination is happening elsewhere and may well come to Kansas unless we take action. You can read about one couple's experience here: Story of Washington State foster care couple facing gender ideology backlash
Lance Kinzer
Lance Kinzer, a Kansas attorney with the 1st Amendment Partnership and friend of the Kansas Catholic Conference who specializes in Religious Freedom case law, said it this way:
"Kansas should not make the mistake other states have, by excluding otherwise qualified parents from adopting or fostering at all, simply because of their religious beliefs."
We invite you to watch the entire hearing here. Lucrecia Nold from the Kansas Catholic Conference provided this written proponent testimony. Here is where you can read All testimony on HB 2311, including that of opponents. This legislation passed favorably out of committee, and then passed on the floor of the House by an overwhelming margin of 86-37. Every Republican Representative except Rep. Schreiber of Emporia, voted YES. Every Democrat present voted NO.
MORE LEGISLATION PROTECTING WOMEN, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
SB 76, the Given Name Act, passed the Senate, 26-14. If this measure becomes law, it will provide teachers in public schools the protection they need when a student wants to be called one name at school, (their "transition" name), but another name when communicating with that child's parents. This legislation now moves to the House for possible action.
SB 71, a measure increasing penalties for buying sexual relations, passed the Senate unanimously, 40-0. You can read our testimony here: Kansas Catholic Conference testimony for SB 71. This legislation now moves to the House for possible action.
Any woman who has been pregnant, most especially those who have experienced an unplanned pregnancy, knows there are many challenges and expenses BEFORE the child is ever born. That is why HB 2062 is so important. If passed into law, this legislation would allow a judge to consider child support payments from the biological father of a child dating back to the time of conception. Yes, the father's parenthood would need to be confirmed, but if DNA testing proves it is his child, he MUST share the financial responsibilities from day one. This measure passed the House 85-34, with all Republicans voting YES, except Rep. Schreiber of Emporia, and all Democrats present voted NO.
Billy Weber
Our son Billy (pictured above) was born with Down Syndrome. He has been a blessing to our family and those who know him beyond comprehension. But Billy also brought with him special challenges and questions. Those answers and solutions didn't always come easily. If HB 2307 becomes law, resources for a prenatal/postnatal disability diagnosis will be made available. to parents. This measure passed the House unanimously, 122-0. The Kansas Catholic Conference supported this bill with the following testimony:HB 2307- Providing resources to parents who receive a prenatal or postnatal disability diagnosis
HB 2359, is long-overdue legislation updating Kansas laws regarding guardianship for the intellectually disabled or delayed and decisions at the end of life. The Kansas Catholic Conference partnered with the Disability Rights Council of Kansas and Kansans For Life on this measure. You can read our testimony here: HB 2359- Guardianship care for end of life This measure passed the House 89-34 and now goes to the Senate.
CATHOLICS AND THE EDUCATIONAL CHOICE DEBATE
We've said this before, but it bears repeating. Catholics care so much about the education of children that most Kansas Catholic parishioners support both their local public school system AND a nearby (or diocesan) Catholic grade school or high school.
Today, as it has been for centuries, the Catholic focus is on those who may not have the means to access an education that best fits each individual child's needs. This is why we support the low-income tax credit scholarship program in Kansas. It helps low and middle-income families who desire a non-public school education for their child but cannot afford it.
This past week, the Kansas Senate approved SB 87, which will moderately expand eligibility for the Scholarship Program. The vote was 24-16 and now moves to the House for action.
Here's how the Scholarship Program works. Through this program, individuals or companies make a donation to a non-profit Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO). The donor then earns a state tax credit in the amount of 75% of the donation. The SGO then distributes or "grants" the scholarships to eligible families and students. Eligible families must have an income of 250% of the federal poverty line or less. This is the same income level of eligibility for subsidized health insurance from the U.S. Government, known as the Affordable Care Act, sometimes called "ObamaCare."
Here is a short video from Ed Choice that explains How Tax Credit Scholarships Work
You can find out more on this page from the Kansas State Department of Education: Tax Credit for Low Income Students Scholarship Program
It is important to note that the money used for the Scholarship Program is not "public tax dollars."
Many public school advocates greatly dislike the Low Income Scholarship Program in Kansas. They perceive that it is an attack on public schools. IT IS NOT. It simply allows families with lower incomes to access educational options they would otherwise not be able to access. The Kansas Catholic Conference supports strong, fully-funded public schools. We also believe that the focus should be on the child, and what's best for him or her.
While it is quite true that dollars donated to the SGO (currently 75% of those dollars) do not go into the state general fund, the amount of money (last year, about $8.3 million) is a tiny, tiny fraction of the entire amount of tax dollars spent on education in Kansas, or approximately 1/10th of 1% of the total tax dollars spent on education of K-12 students in Kansas. Data from the Kansas Department of Education shows that school districts across the state averaged $18,324 per student during the 2023-24 school year.
Here is the bottom line about the education debate. It's all about the mission. If parents want a better classroom match for their child, they should have a way to get there. If Catholic schools can do a better job of educating low-income, high-risk students--and they do: How high risk low income students perform in non public schools, then let's do what we can to give them that opportunity.
TRUMP IS WRONG ABOUT IVF
Trump is WRONG about IVF.
The Kansas Catholic Conference is deeply disturbed by an executive order signed by President Trump https://www.whitehouse.gov/.../fact-sheet-president.../ designed to increase access to in-vitro fertilization or IVF.
The desire to have children is good, and natural and holy. But IVF is NOT the way to achieve this worthy goal. And make no mistake, Mother Catholic Church views EVERY child as a beautiful miracle, deserving of human dignity and respect. But the WAY we bring these children into the world is deeply problematic and immoral.
IVF begins with an act of masturbation and the potentially harmful hyper-stimulation of a woman's ovaries to extract eggs which are then fertilized by a clinician in a lab. This is how human life begins with the IVF process. By its very nature, IVF produces "extra" living, growing human lives at the embryonic stage of development. These human embryos are either stored in a frozen state or used for unproven experiments. This is morally troublesome.
Time, money and effort would be much better expended on researching WHY infertility in America is skyrocketing, rather than treating symptoms with the expensive and largely unsuccessful IVF protocols.
There is a much better way. Some resources:
https://bloomcyclecare.com/health.../is-ivf-the-only-option
https://bloomcyclecare.com/about
Here is an excellent analysis from the National Catholic Bioethics Center and the problems of IVF, with a special nod to a new pastoral letter from Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington, Virginia. Catholic bioethics and IVF. Bishop Burbidge also has a short video that is worth a look: Bishop Burbidge on IVF video. Our friend, Father Tad Pacholczyk, Ph.D., also has wise words on the IVF question in this interview: Father Tad discusses IVF on EWTN
THE IMMIGRATION DEBATE CONTINUES
There are no easy or simple answers to the current debate about immigration in the United States. What was basically an open border for the past four years (or more) is causing problems throughout the United States and beyond. The Catholic response is likewise complicated and nuanced. We must defend the integrity and humanity of each person. We will clothe the naked, feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, as best we are able, no matter their country of origin or citizen status. At the same time, we support the enforcement of our immigration laws and the right of the United States government to secure our borders.
Recently, the Kansas Catholic Conference offered our qualified support for SCR 1602, which calls for "Encouraging the governor to fully cooperate with federal enforcement of immigration laws." Our office took calls and emails from BOTH sides of this debate, and it seems no one was happy. Here is our written testimony: SCR 1602- Immigration
We have been reaching out to law enforcement leaders across the state of Kansas. By and large, yes, they are aware they may be called upon to assist federal officials with immigration enforcement. But they quickly point out that they prefer not to be involved, since other law enforcement priorities may well suffer. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation may also be utilized to enforce immigration laws, but has not yet been asked to do that. Here is a news release from the Kansas Attorney General on that topic: KBI may assist in immigration enforcement.
Archbishop Naumann of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
The Catholic Bishops of Kansas recognize that border enforcement has been lax for many years, particularly the past four years. Now that the border is becoming secure, we are urging our federal officials to find real solutions to address the immigration situation, including a legitimate path to citizenship for those here illegally; perhaps a process similar to that taken by those who become naturalized citizens in the United States.
Archbishop Joseph Naumann of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas appeared on EWTN this past week to discuss the immigration question. You can watch his interview here: Archbishop Naumann discusses immigration on EWTN. Let us pray for a viable solution!
State legislators took last Friday off, as well as tomorrow (Monday, February 24), to mark the halfway point in the 2025 Session. They will be back in session on Tuesday, hearing bills and moving legislation.
One major issue that will be discussed is the question of changing the way Kansas picks State Supreme Court justices. This issue, commonly called "Judicial Selection," will be taken up on Tuesday, February 25, when the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee will have a hearing on SCR1611. This is an important issue, the details of which we will more fully unpack in future newsletters.
We invite you to follow what's happening at the Kansas Statehouse. Here are links to help you stay connected with and follow the Kansas Legislature:
Kansas Legislature YouTube – Here you can follow the legislature live as it happens, or access archives of past sessions and committee meetings.
Kansas Legislature Audio – Here you can listen in on session or committees when they are in session, or access prior committee meetings, as well.
Kansas Legislature Website – Find extensive information on legislators, committees, bills, and past sessions.
There is a lot of work left to do in Topeka. Please pray for your elected officials so they make wise decisions that serve the common good. If you have questions about Kansas policies or politics, please feel free to reach out.
My email address is: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
We may not have the answer you seek, but we will do our best.
Until next time, we persevere!
Chuck Weber
Kansas Catholic Conference