Kansas Lawmakers Override Governor's Vetoes, Enact New Laws

Kansas lawmakers successfully overrode several vetoes from Governor Laura Kelly during the legislative veto session, allowing multiple bills to become law. Key measures include child support obligations beginning at conception, which has drawn criticism from Kelly as an intrusion into personal medical decisions. The legislature also passed bills prohibiting the Kansas Department for Children and Families from adopting policies conflicting with religious beliefs regarding sexual orientation and gender identity. Republican leaders praised the overrides as a victory for families and children, while Democrats expressed concerns about the implications of the legislation. The session has seen limited progress on property tax reform, leading to bipartisan frustration among lawmakers. As the session closes, Governor Kelly's vetoes of various bills, including those related to tax cuts and educational content, were also overridden.