Kansas Governor Kelly vetoes six bills, permits two to become law

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has vetoed six bills, allowing two to become law without her signature. Among the vetoed bills, House Bill 2217 aimed to expand the inspector general's authority to audit state assistance programs, which Kelly criticized as redundant and an infringement on privacy protections already in place. She also vetoed Senate Bill 29, which sought to limit public health officials' powers to manage gatherings during health crises, arguing it contradicts effective health interventions. Additionally, she expressed concerns over House Bill 2291, which proposed creating a regulatory relief division, citing a lack of oversight for its advisory committee. The vetoes have drawn sharp criticism from Republican leaders, who plan to pursue overrides in the upcoming legislative session. Democratic leaders supported the vetoes, highlighting issues of overreach and public health risks in the proposed legislation.