Kansas
Laura Kelly vetoes two election bills, tells Kansas lawmakers to ‘focus on real issues’
Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly on Friday vetoed two election-related bills passed by the Republican-led Legislature.
Kelly vetoed House Bill 2614 and House Bill 2618.
“Restrictive voting legislation of any kind is wrong,” Kelly said in a veto message. “Instead of making it more challenging for Kansans to participate in our democracy or focusing on problems that do not exist, I would urge the legislature to focus on real issues impacting Kansans.”
House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, views it differently.
“We can never rest on our laurels when it comes to the security of Kansas elections,” Hawkins said in a statement. “These common-sense pieces of legislation simply shore up current election laws and ensure the federal government isn’t putting its thumb unfairly on the scale in either direction.”
HB 2614 makes changes to advance voting, adding additional requirements for someone who delivers another voter’s ballot for them. The provisions would make it easier to enforce the state’s relatively new law banning anyone from delivering more than 10 advance ballots.
Supporters of the bill consider such activity to be ballot harvesting, while opponents say it helps certain voters participate in elections, such as those in nursing homes.
“This bill is an attempt to disenfranchise Kansas voters by enacting burdensome and unnecessary requirements that are designed to restrict and suppress advanced voting,” Kelly said. “Kansans have a right to participate in our democracy, but time and again some politicians have tried to interfere in the voting process. I will continue to oppose efforts that place obstacles between voters casting their ballots and making their voices heard.”
HB 2618 would also amend a relatively new state law that is being challenged in court. Republicans believe the change would decrease the chances the law is struck down as unconstitutional. That law criminalizes impersonation of an election official, which civic groups allege effectively criminalizes their voter registration activities.
“There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud or instances of individuals impersonating election officials in Kansas,” Kelly said.
The bill would also ban election offices from using any federal funding for election-related activities, like voter registration, without express permission in both state and federal law.
“Additionally, there is no reason to potentially restrict the use of federal funds for election purposes,” Kelly said. “Kansas is already one of the lowest-ranking states for use of utilizing federal funding. Accepting these dollars helps Kansas ensure smooth administration of our elections.”
HB 2614 didn’t have veto-proof majorities in both chambers. Neither did HB 2618, but it would have supermajorities if previously absent Republicans show up for an override attempt and vote with their caucus.
Hawkins indicated that override attempts will happen.
“House Republicans will continue fighting to keep our elections secure and ensure voter confidence,” he said.
Jason Alatidd is a Statehouse reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@gannett.com. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd.
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Below is a look at the results from Tuesday night’s high school basketball sub-state semifinals in Northeast Kansas.
Editor’s Note: This story will be updated with what schools are hosting when that information becomes readily available.
WIBW Scoreboard
BOYS
5A East Boys: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results
- KC Washington 68, Highland Park 38
- Shawnee Heights 49, De Soto 37 (will play Leavenworth Friday)
5A West Boys: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results
- Topeka West 55, Hutchinson 32 (will play Bishop Carroll Friday)
- Emporia 61, Great Bend 41 (will play Maize South Friday)
- Seaman 73, Valley Center 51 (will play Hays Friday)
3A West Franklin Boys: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results
- Burlington 60, Osage City 35 (will play Baxter Springs Friday)
3A Sabetha Boys: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results
- Hiawatha 73, Oskaloosa 48 (will play Heritage Christian Friday)
- Silver Lake 58, Sabetha 39 (will play Perry-Lecompton Friday 7:30 p.m.)
GIRLS
6A West Girls: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results
- Washburn Rural 60, Wichita South 32 (will play Derby)
- Topeka High 69, Maize 45 (will play Liberal)
- Manhattan 67, Free State 21 (will play Wichita East)
4A East Girls: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results
- Rock Creek 71, Parsons 23 (will play Tonganoxie)
- Wamego 54, Labette County 33 (will play Bishop Miege)
- Hayden 2, Athison 0 (will play Baldwin)
2A Eskridge/Mission Valley Girls: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results
- Rossville 71, KC Christian 49 (will play Maur Hill-Mount Academy)
- Lyndon 61, Jeff. Co. North 31 (will play Valley Heights)
- Valley Heights 65, Doniphan West 41 (will play Lyndon)
Copyright 2026 WIBW. All rights reserved.
In early 2026, the Kansas state legislature passed SB 244, a law which prohibits transgender people from using public restrooms on government property that align with their gender identity and establishes a private right of action that allows anyone who suspects someone is transgender and in violation of the law to sue that person for “damages” totaling $1,000.
The law also invalidates state-issued driver’s licenses with updated gender markers that reflect the carrier’s gender identity. In February 2026, transgender people across the state received letters from the state Department of Revenue’s Division of Vehicles informing them that their driver’s licenses “will no longer be valid,” effective immediately. SB 244 also prohibits transgender Kansans – or those born in Kansas – from updating the gender marker on state-issued birth certificates and driver’s licenses in the future.
The same day SB 244 went into effect, the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Kansas, and Ballard Spahr LLP filed a lawsuit challenging SB 244 in the District Court of Douglas County on behalf of two transgender men who had their driver’s licenses invalidated under the law. The lawsuit charges that SB 244 violates the Kansas Constitution’s protections for personal autonomy, privacy, equality under the law, due process, and freedom of speech.
“The invalidation of state-issued IDs threatens to out transgender people against their will every time they apply for a job, rent an apartment, or interact with police,” said Harper Seldin, Senior Staff Attorney for the ACLU’s LGBTQ & HIV Rights Project. “Taken as a whole, SB 244 is a transparent attempt to deny transgender people autonomy over their own identities and push them out of public life altogether.”
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – A Kansas City man was sentenced in federal court for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy and possession of an illegal firearm.
According to the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, 22-year-old Antoine R. Gillum was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison without parole.
His sentencing stems from a June 2024 incident in a metro gas station. KCPD investigators contacted Gillum inside and found that he had discarded a 9 mm pistol in an aisle between the merchandise. He also discarded a pill bottle containing multiple illegal substances: cocaine base, oxycodone/acetaminophen and oxycodone.
Officers searched the vehicle Gillum had arrived in and found approximately 32 grams of cocaine base.
On May 6, 2025, Gillum pleaded guilty to one count each of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Jennings. It’s a part of ‘Operation Take Back America,’ a nationwide Department of Justice initiative to eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations.
No further information has been released.
Copyright 2026 KCTV. All rights reserved.
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