TAKING THE NEXT STEP
Kansas Legislative News and Analysis from a Catholic Perspective
by Chuck Weber, Kansas Catholic Conference
Dear Reader, the importance of politics and policy pales in comparison to the Passion and Resurrection of Christ we remember and spiritually experience this Holy Week. This is worth further reflection for those of us who are immersed in the work of the Kansas Legislature that wrapped up its regular session for 2026 early Saturday morning.
The words "It is finished" bring relief to those who have been living and breathing committee meetings, bills, debates, amendments, negotiations and much more since January 12. The legislative session is intense. It can become all-consuming.
It is good for us to keep in mind that "It is finished" is the sacred final words uttered by Christ on the Cross. With this sacrifice, He seeks to redeem and save each one of us. The Jesus Journey on earth ending at Calvary—and the Jesus Journey beginning anew for each of us at The Resurrection—should be the primary focus of our hearts and minds this week.
That's not to say legislative work isn't important. It is. In our chaotic, fractured and broken world, responsible legislation and the rule of law can help bring order. Done correctly, it can lead to a better path forward, what Catholics often call "the common good."
All that to say, there is value to participating in the democratic process. Yes, it's messy. For many, the Kansas State Capitol is synonymous with bitter, sometimes personal disagreement and conflict. Nothing comes easy. Legislating is hard work.
Such is the nature of our representative government. We've said this before, but it bears repeating: We have the worst system in the world, except for all the others!
With that in mind, one can understand the sense of relief when dreary-eyed Senators and State Representatives agreed to adjourn the 2026 Kansas Legislative session. But this is not the end. The next step for the Legislature is the Veto Session, scheduled to begin on Thursday, April 9.
For all of us, the next and most important step is embedding ourselves into the Holy Week narrative. Are we Simon of Cyrene who helps carry the Cross? Peter, the one who denies Jesus? Mary and the women of Jerusalem who walk and suffer with the Christ?
Thank you for following our end-of-session report, including an explanation about the upcoming Veto Session (below). Then join me in setting aside all this as much as possible to prepare our hearts for the miracle and mercy of Easter.
HOW DOES THE VETO SESSION WORK?
Much of what will happen in the Veto Session depends on Governor Laura Kelly. The flurry of bills passed by the Senate and House in the closing days of the regular legislative session end up on her desk. She has three options: 1) Sign legislation into law, 2) Veto legislation, or 3) Not take any action on a bill, and after ten days it automatically becomes law.
On appropriation bills—sections of a proposed law passed by the legislature that requires spending tax dollars—the governor can issue a "line item veto." That means other sections of the bill remain, but the expenditure of money on a particular item, or "line" is eliminated.
The legislature can "override" a line item veto and restore what the governor vetoed. A line item veto cannot be made for policy, only items related to spending.
To override or nullify a governor's veto, the legislature must cast a 2/3's "supermajority" of votes from BOTH the House AND the Senate. This requires 84 votes in the House and 27 in the Senate. Even though Republicans have a supermajority membership in both chambers, that does not mean an override vote can be assumed. Not by a long shot.
With that brief civics lesson, we explore legislation of particular interest to the Kansas Catholic Conference, beginning with legislation involving the Kansas Budget.
THE KANSAS BUDGET AND CATHOLIC INTERESTS
There is only one action the Kansas Constitution requires of legislators, and that is to pass a State Budget. Passing a Budget allows government to function.
Are you a policy wonk who loves details? Ever wonder about each and every line of the Kansas Budget? This is your chance to dive deep into the Kansas Budget passed by legislators. Just click HB 2315, to explore the 500-page Budget. Good luck!
FUNDING FOR THE PREGNANCY COMPASSION ACT
It is a painful reality that abortion in Kansas is virtually unregulated, enshrined as a protected right in the State Constitution. Laws cannot be passed that restrict abortion or effectively protect women from the abortion industry.
So legislatively speaking, how can we help women in difficult pregnancies who are facing pressure from the predatory abortion industry but wish to bring their preborn child into the world?
We are grateful that the Kansas Legislature has once again voted to allocate $3 million to support Pregnancy Resource Centers (PRCs) and maternity homes through the Pregnancy Compassion Act. These dollars flow to the Kansas Pregnancy Care Network, which then distributes grants to qualified Pro-Life, Pro-Woman organizations throughout Kansas. The Kansas Catholic Conference supports this measure.
DEFUNDING BIG ABORTION
There is a one-year provision or "proviso" approved in the Kansas Budget that defunds and/or will not allow state taxpayer dollars to go to any Kansas facility that promotes abortion, counsels women to have an abortion or provides abortions. This proviso, supported by the Kansas Catholic Conference, helps safeguard taxpayer dollars from subsidizing the abortion industry.
Governor Kelly is expected to veto these two items in the Kansas Budget and a veto override by the legislature will be needed to make sure they stand.
SPEAKING OF VETO OVERRIDES—THIS JUST IN!
Last week we told you about legislation designed to protect Pregnancy Resource Centers and maternity homes from being compelled to offer abortion services to women seeking life-affirming help. (Yes, this has actually happened in other states!)
We are pleased to report two positive developments on this important issue. A few weeks ago, the Kansas Legislature passed what's called the CARES Act, which is HB 2635 and presented it to the Governor. Ten days later, on Friday, March 27, Governor Kelly vetoed this legislation.
Fortunately, the Legislature was still in session. So just a few short hours later, the House successfully overrode her veto, 87-35, followed by the Senate with a vote of 30-9.
This means the CARES Act will now be the law of Kansas! It gives the great people who operate Pregnancy Resource Centers and maternity homes in Kansas one less thing to worry about as they go about the critical work of providing compassionate care and real-life services to women facing a difficult pregnancy. Thank you, Kansas Legislature!
LEGAL TOOLS FOR MOMS AGAINST THE ABORTION INDUSTRY
The abortion industry likes to make legal arguments whenever possible to frustrate efforts to protect moms and their vulnerable preborn babies. But two can play that legal game. Here are two legally creative Pro-Life bills the Kansas Catholic Conference supported that passed the Kansas Legislature and now await action from the Governor.
HB 2727 is legislation that streamlines the process for statutory damages a woman has acquired due to the lack of information provided to her leading up to or at the time of her abortion. You can read our Kansas Catholic Conference testimony in favor here: HB 2727 - In Support
HB 2729 is legislation that amends and strengthens the Woman's Right to Know Act by creating a standardized consent form from the KDHE and providing it in electronic form. You can read our Kansas Catholic Conference testimony in support here: HB 2729 - In Support
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR CATHOLIC CHILDREN
The need for mental health services, particularly for children, knows no demographic boundary. A state program called MHIT, short for Mental Health Intervention Team, has received funds over the past three years to provide counselors and mental health professionals for mental health services in Catholic schools in the Diocese of Wichita and the Diocese of Salina.
When those funds were in danger of being eliminated, the Kansas Catholic Conference joined other allies to keep MHIT alive. We were mostly successful, saving MHIT from elimination, but at a lower rate, from an estimated $1.5 million a year to about $1 million. We are grateful for these funds, even at a reduced level. These resources are being targeted for hard-to-serve rural school children and high-risk inner-city school children. Reminder: Catholics pay taxes and our kids need services, no matter where they go to school!
A VETO OVERRIDE VICTORY FOR KANSAS FAMILIES!
We're happy to report good news about legislation—and a veto override—for a measure supported by the Kansas Catholic Conference that helps Kansas families with rising healthcare coverage expenses.
SB 368, is the Health Care Sharing Ministry's Tax Deduction Act. This legislation will help families who use the HealthCare Sharing Model as an alternative or assistance for skyrocketing healthcare costs. You can learn more about this creative model here: HealthCare Sharing Ministries Model Explained.
Under their legislation, participants using this model deduct most expenses, ultimately reducing the tax burden of the participating family. This benefit is similar to healthcare expenses that are deductible for businesses.
This bill passed both the House and Senate and was opposed by groups like this one: American Atheists Opposition Testimony The Kansas Catholic Conference supported the bill with this testimony: SB 368 - Health Care
This past Thursday, the Governor vetoed the bill. The House and Senate promptly took up an override vote on Friday and succeeded! The HealthCare Sharing Ministry model isn't for everyone, but for a growing number of Kansas families, it helps blunt the blow of rising insurance costs. Every little bit helps.
PROTECTING FREEDOM OF SPEECH ON CAMPUS
The Kansas House (85-39) and Senate (28-12), have passed freedom of campus speech protection legislation with veto-proof margins that invokes the name of a well-known public figure who was recently assassinated while speaking on a college campus.
Love him or hate him, the late Charlie Kirk was a master at bringing energetic debate to college campuses. Kirk and many other speakers across the country have been denied access to public college campuses, prompting legislation like SB 419, which then became HB 2333, ultimately known as the Charlie Kirk Act.
To get a comprehensive understanding of this legislation, we invite you to read testimony from our friends at the 1st Amendment Partnership: 1st Amendment Partnership Testimony on SB 419 If you're interested in opponent testimony, there is an example here: ACLU Opponent Testimony Here is Kansas Catholic Conference testimony in favor of this legislation: SB 419 - Kirk Act
This legislation is on the Governor's desk, and we are prepared for a veto and veto override vote.
PROTECTING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND ASSEMBLY
Governor Kelly has yet another bill on her desk. This one also passed by veto-proof margins. The legislation deals with protecting religious freedom and assembly.
Originally filed as SB 520, this legislation became S. Sub HB 2018, and creates the crime of interference with religious assembly. The measure was advanced in response to an incident in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where ICE protesters entered a church uninvited and disrupted the service.
This bill passed the Senate with a strong, bipartisan vote of 34-6, and in the House Yea: 106 Nay: 14. The Kansas Catholic Conference supports this legislation. You can read our testimony here: KCC support testimony for Religious Assembly Protection
The ranking minority member (Democrat) of the House Federal and State Affairs Committee spoke in favor of the bill, noting that it could be used to protect Wiccan, Pagan and Satanic groups. Her comments can be found at this link, House Chamber Proceedings 03/26/2026 (2/2), starting at 1:36:59.
We are prepared for a veto from the Governor.
APP STORE ACCOUNTABILITY ACT DIES
It is a little known fact that children with smartphones can download apps without their parents knowing what's happening. Many of these apps include tracking and other features that may put children in harm's way.
The Kansas Catholic Conference worked hard to pass legislation that would simply require parents to know about such activity and approve it ahead of time.
Known as the App Store Accountability Act, this legislation had a rocky road in the Kansas legislature this year and ultimately died in the House. We will continue to follow this issue in the interests of empowering parents and protecting children.
GETTING KANSAS KIDS THE EDUCATIONAL TOOLS THEY NEED
It appears as though Kansas Catholic Conference efforts to expand educational choice for families and students will net "half a loaf," at least legislatively speaking. We explain.
One of the worst kept secrets at the Kansas Statehouse is the stagnant or declining achievement scores of Kansas school students. Students from low-income households are most at risk. They need and deserve more and better tools to help them get a better education and help break the cycle of poverty. These tools include different school options and more educational assistance like tutoring and other specialized services.
We were at the forefront of an ambitious, two-part plan to expand educational opportunities for not only Catholic kids, but ALL Kansas students.
HB 2468 was legislation that would have expanded and strengthened the current low income tax credit scholarship program in Kansas. The current program, now 10+ years old, is funded by private donations to Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs). These donations qualify for a 75% state tax credit.
The statewide cap on these donations has been $10 million yearly ever since the program began. For the first time ever, that cap was met, and tax credit eligible donations were no longer being accepted.
After modifications and amendments, our proposal sought to increase that cap to $15 million, so more donations could be accepted. This would have allowed more low-income families and students to take advantage of scholarships to non-public schools.
The other key element of HB 2468 was a proposal to "Opt In" the State of Kansas to the new federal tax credit program passed by Congress late last year. That program would allow Kansas taxpayers to donate up to $1700 to a SGO—even one operated by a public school — then a federal tax credit would kick in at 100%.
The program and its many details are explained here: https://www.kansascatholic.org/issues/active-campaigns
By the end of the session, legislators had agreed, with veto-proof margins, to the federal "Opt In" program, but not expansion of the state scholarship program. The federal program doesn't begin until January 1, 2027.
We still need to override the expected veto from Governor Kelly on the federal "Opt In" program, but we are fairly confident of the votes to do that.
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
Here is the link to a video recap of the week by our own Lucrecia Nold, Public Policy Specialist for the Kansas Catholic Conference.
Our good friend Andy Comiskey of Desert Stream Ministries in Kansas City was a recent guest on the Lila Rose Show. We invite you to check it out.
This past Friday, Father Timothy Skoch from the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas led the House of Representatives in prayer to start off their day. You can watch him in action here, starting at minute 1:40.