Laura Kelly

Kansas Attorney General Kobach issued a legal opinion in May 2026 exempting certain state facilities from compliance with the state's bathroom law requiring individuals to use facilities designated for their biological sex at birth. The opinion addressed the application of the law to specific state-operated facilities. Kobach had previously defended the bathroom law in court proceedings earlier that year.

Kelly vetoed a Kansas property tax relief bill passed by state lawmakers. The legislation would have provided property tax relief measures to Kansas residents. Kelly's veto marked another instance of the state's efforts to enact property tax relief legislation failing to advance into law.

Kansas Republicans overrode dozens of vetoes issued by Kelly during the 2026 legislative session, allowing multiple bills to become law despite her rejection. The overridden measures included legislation restricting student protests, providing funding for anti-abortion centers, and expanding landlord authority. Kelly's vetoes were overridden by Republican majorities in the state legislature.

Kelly vetoed two anti-abortion bills passed by the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature. The first bill would have required doctors to provide specific information to patients seeking abortion services, while the second bill would have expanded legal standing for individuals to bring civil suits against abortion providers. Kelly stated that the legislation represented government intrusion into private medical decisions.

Governor Kelly blocked implementation of Senate Bill 254, legislation that would have ended in-state tuition rates at Kansas colleges and universities for immigrants who graduated from Kansas high schools. The bill had passed the Kansas Senate with support from a slim Republican majority. Kelly's action prevented the measure from taking effect.

Kansas Gov. Kelly vetoed legislation designed to protect crisis pregnancy centers from regulation and disclosure requirements. Republican lawmakers subsequently overrode Kelly's veto, allowing the bill to become law. The legislation established protections for crisis pregnancy centers, which provide services and counseling related to pregnancy options.

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly agreed to provide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipient data to the Trump administration following a prolonged dispute over the request. Kelly had initially declined to release the data, prompting federal authorities to threaten withholding of funds. The governor ultimately complied with the federal demand for the SNAP recipient information.

Kansas implemented a state law that invalidated identification documents held by transgender residents, effective immediately without a transition period for compliance by individuals or state agencies. The law required affected transgender Kansans to request replacement identification documents that did not align with their gender identity. The sudden implementation created confusion among both residents and state agencies unprepared to process the required documentation changes.

Kelly vetoed legislation that would have restricted bathroom access for transgender individuals in Kansas schools. The bill would have required students to use facilities designated according to their biological sex rather than gender identity. Republican lawmakers announced plans to attempt an override of Kelly's veto in subsequent legislative proceedings.

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly appointed Leawood attorney Larkin Walsh to fill a vacancy on the Kansas Supreme Court. The appointment occurred amid ongoing legislative discussion about changing the method of selecting Kansas Supreme Court justices from gubernatorial appointment to election. Kelly's appointment may represent one of the final opportunities for a governor to fill a court vacancy through the current appointment process if proposed changes to the selection method are enacted.

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced her intention to sign legislation that eases certain child care regulations while establishing a religious exemption from vaccine requirements for child care facilities. The bill modifies licensing standards for child care providers in the state. The measure addresses both regulatory requirements for child care access and vaccine exemption procedures for families with religious objections.

Kansas Governor Kelly vetoed a proposed bill that would have eliminated the three-day grace period for mail-in ballots. The bill would have changed the deadline for mail-in ballot receipt in the state. Kelly's veto prevented the measure from becoming law.

Governor Kelly vetoed legislation that would ban gender-affirming health care for minors in Kansas. The bill had previously been vetoed by Kelly in past legislative sessions. Democrats and the American Civil Liberties Union contended that such a ban would violate constitutional rights, while Republicans held sufficient votes in the legislature to potentially override the governor's veto.

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly introduced legislation in February 2025 that would expand Medicaid to an additional 150,000 Kansans. The bill represents Kelly's renewed effort to extend healthcare coverage through the state's Medicaid program. The specific provisions and legislative status of the proposal were not detailed in the available reporting.

Kelly ordered flags throughout Kansas to be lowered to half mast following a deadly plane crash that occurred on Wednesday. The order applied to flags across state facilities in response to the aviation incident. Kelly's directive was issued as state and federal officials began monitoring the ongoing investigation into the crash.

Governor Kelly requested that Kansas lawmakers limit new spending in the 2026 state budget during a presentation by Budget Director Adam Proffitt to legislators in January 2025. The proposal included a request to expand Medicaid eligibility in the state. Kelly's budget request reflected guidance to constrain discretionary spending increases for the upcoming fiscal year.