NOW, THE HARD PART.
WE NEED YOU.
Kansas Legislative News and Analysis, March 1, 2026
by Chuck Weber, Kansas Catholic Conference
March is a critical month for the Kansas Legislature. Your voice is needed more than ever before. Please believe me when I say a phone call, email or text from you to your elected official means far more than you know. Legislators represent you and they listen to you. Why? This sign (below) that greets visitors to the Kansas State Capitol just steps after entering says everything.
"The people..." That's YOU!
The great experiment Kansans and all Americans call democracy doesn't work without your involvement. So, how does one do that in an effective way?
Step #1: Find out who represents you in Topeka. We created a convenient tool to help. Just click here: Connect with your State Legislator
Step #2: Know the important issues. We're here to help with this newsletter and website.
It all sounds just that easy. But let's be honest. Getting involved in politics, even the little things like sending an email or making a phone call, aren't at the top of anyone's bucket list. It's a mess out there, politically speaking anyway. So why invest the time and make the effort to connect with your legislator and make your voice heard?
Because as Catholic Christians, we care—or at least we should care. We want what's best for our culture, what we refer to as "the common good." We are called to embrace a long list of concerns that include giving a voice to the voiceless in our culture. It's a long list that includes preborn babies and vulnerable mothers, those who may be subjected to unjust discrimination, the poor, the marginalized and many others. It can be overwhelming. Perhaps you've heard that well-worn idium: "How do you eat an elephant?" Answer: "One bite at a time."
There are many ways to get involved. Take one small step (see above) to begin with. We're not saying political involvement is the most important thing—it's not. But together, we can make real differences through public policy.
Is there a cost? There certainly can be. But let's not forget about our "secret sauce," our "ace in the hole," or maybe more accurately stated, our Great Gift. As Catholics we find our primary identity as a son or daughter of God the Father, as a citizen of heaven. This reality should empower us to act fearlessly here on earth, with the joy of the Lord as our ultimate strength!
An Encouraging Word
Many readers of this newsletter have probably heard about Dr. Scott Hahn. A Catholic convert, he is considered one of the most articulate Catholic voices in the United States today and does a fantastic job of relating Catholic Church Teaching to our daily lives. We recently watched an interview with Dr. Hahn about the connection between the Catholic Faith and politics. We invite you to take a look.
Dr Scott Hahn on what Catholics get wrong about politics
LEGISLATIVE ENGINE RESTARTS
State Legislators returned from a short break that marked "Turnaround Week," the unofficial halfway point of the 2026 Legislative Session. During Turnaround Week, the Senate took up matters passed by the House, and the House took up matters passed by the Senate. This is all part of our political process in Kansas, where a bill must pass both the House and Senate in identical form before being sent to the Governor for signature into law—or a veto.
LOW-INCOME FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP ACT
We've said it many times, but it bears repeating: "Parents are the first and best educators of their children." This does not mean everyone should homeschool their children, but they should be in the driver's seat and making decisions when determining where and how their child is educated. Each student is unique, with unique needs. That is why the Kansas Catholic Conference is working so hard to advocate on behalf of the Kansas Low Income Family Scholarship Act, known as HB 2468.
This past Tuesday, the Senate Education Committee heard testimony on this legislation. We invite you to watch the hearing here. This is legislation that will expand the current state low income tax credit scholarship program, while also adding Kansas as an "Opt In" state for the federal Educational Choice for Children Act.
This bill is poised to be a real game changer for parents and students. Please take a look at why this legislation is so important. We've put together a comprehensive explanation that you can access here: Low Income Family Scholarship Act You can help advocate for this legislation by contacting your Senator by clicking this link:
TAKE ACTION TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL CHOICE FOR ALL KANSANS
"HEALTH SHARE" LEGISLATION EFFORT
Healthcare expenses are skyrocketing. Medical care and insurance policies are costing working families a larger share of their income. One innovative approach to rising healthcare costs is a model called "Health Share." The Kansas Catholic Conference is supporting legislation that makes this option more attractive and affordable. Here is an article that explains the Health Share model in detail: Health Share Model Explained
The Kansas legislation we support is SB 368. It would allow families who use the Health Share model to deduct that expense, much like businesses are now able to deduct the cost of insurance for their employees. There was another hearing on this bill last Thursday. There are a few political challenges yet to overcome, but there is now a path emerging where this legislation will pass the legislature and onto the Governor's desk. We'll keep you updated.
IS IMMIGRATION OUR "KOBAYASHI MARU?"
Readers of a certain vintage will recall a scene from the Star Trek movie The Wrath of Khan where Captain Kirk is confronted with a "no-win scenario," otherwise known as the Kobayashi Maru. The clever and creative Captain becomes the only Star Fleet officer to ever win the Kobayashi Maru challenge, but he has to change the rules of the mission to succeed.
Is immigration the Kansas Kobayashi Maru? Unlike a Hollywood movie, there are no easy answers to the many issues arising from America's immigration dilemma. But we must seek solutions. At a high level, the Kansas Catholic Conference position is that we support and stand with migrants, and we support the law. These two positions are not in conflict.
The current administration in Washington, D.C. was swept into office with the promise of "fixing" the immigration crisis that was decades in the making. While most people agree that the U.S. border is now secure, or at least much more secure than it has been in the recent past, border security is only one piece of a complex, confusing and confounding political and cultural puzzle.
While primarily a federal-level responsibility, questions and debates surrounding immigration policy and its impact on migrants in Kansas have emerged at the State Capitol. Kansas Catholic Conference positions and efforts flow from pastoral statements issued by the Kansas Catholic Bishops, including Kansas Bishops Pastoral Statement Regarding Minnesota
IN-STATE TUITION FOR KANSAS DREAMERS
SB 254 is immigration-related legislation with many moving parts. The Senate and the House have passed different versions of this legislation. Legislative leaders from both chambers are trying to resolve their differences in what's called a Conference Committee.
If passed into law, SB 254 would prohibit any undocumented person from receiving any state or local public benefit. It would also stop the 20+ year-old practice (law) in Kansas of allowing in-state tuition rates at state schools (Community Colleges and State Universities) for Kansas residents who are undocumented but spent at least three years in a Kansas high school and are seeking legal status and/or citizenship. These young people, sometimes called DREAMERS, were typically brought into the United States by an adult and really, had no choice but to be here illegally.
Across the political spectrum, there is general agreement and support for legislation to help solve the DREAMERS situation. If so, why make life more difficult and expensive for young people who are seeking an education and a path to the American Dream?
Last Thursday, the SB 254 Conference Committee met and discussed this legislation, but were unable to come to an agreement. At least for now, the in-state tuition provision is still in place, but there are more discussions, debates and votes pending. Stand by for updates.
ICE LEGISLATION IN KANSAS
The recent violence in Minnesota surrounding Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity is one driving factor behind proposed legislation known as SB 452, which had a hearing on Thursday, February 12. Among the multiple elements of this proposed legislation, proponents want to create a legal "halo" of protection around ICE officers working in the field with hopes it will prevent physical interference from demonstrators.
Opponents say the legislation "...does not demonstrably protect Kansans. Instead, it expands federal authority, reduces accountability, weakens constitutional safeguards, and risks criminalizing community members who seek transparency." (Karla Juarez Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation.) If you wish to see the stark flash point and differences between ICE supporters and opponents in Kansas, we invite you to read the testimony here: SB 452 Testimony
HB 2771 is proposed legislation also related to immigration law enforcement, with a specific eye at providing legal support to local law enforcement officers who may be asked to help provide immigration law enforcement. This bill had a hearing in the House Federal and State Affairs Committee last week on Wednesday, February 25. Again, we invite you to read the testimony with each side painting a very different picture of the effects of this legislation. HB 2771 Testimony
COMING UP THIS WEEK
PROTECTING PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTERS
This coming Tuesday, March 3, there will be a hearing in the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee on legislation known as HB 2635, the CARE Act. This is legislation that has already passed the House and will prevent government entities from harassing and intimidating Pregnancy Resource Centers in Kansas. We expect some PRC leaders to be at the Capitol to offer testimony. The Kansas Catholic Conference supports the CARE Act!
APP STORE ACCOUNTABILITY ACT
On Tuesday and Wednesday of this coming week there will be two days of testimony on the SB 372- App Store Accountability Act. This proposed legislation, which the Kansas Catholic Conference supports, will require that parents have the final say in many situations before their children download an APP on their smartphone.
WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND KANSAS
We invite you to explore what's happening in the Catholic world outside your home parish. Here are some Facebook links you may find interesting.
Facebook page for Archbishop McKnight
Facebook page for Salina Bishop Vincke
Facebook page for Diocese of Wichita and Bishop Kemme
Facebook page for Diocese of Dodge City and Bishop Brungardt
Thank you for following our weekly newsletter. What we present here is just a small sample of what is happening in Topeka at the Kansas Statehouse. The one thing that legislators are obligated to complete and sign into law each year is a Budget for Kansas. Although we have not touched on budget items in this issue, there are many important "money matters" on our radar screen. Mental health services for students in Catholic schools and grant funding for Pregnancy Resource Centers are just two of the many budget items we follow throughout the legislative session.
Please be sure to pray for our elected officials. They need it!
If you have a question or comment about something in this newsletter, or about a piece of legislation you may have heard about in Topeka, please don't hesitate to drop me an email and I will do my best to get back to you with an answer in a timely manner.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
On behalf of KCC Policy Specialist Lucrecia Nold, thank you for keeping up with Kansas policy matters. Until next time, we persevere!
Chuck Weber
Kansas Catholic Conference