WASHINGTON — Just a month into the first legislative session of the year, Kansas GOP lawmakers are advancing harmful legislation that threatens the safety and privacy of Kansas residents. Three anti-abortion bills and one dangerous gun bill were introduced.
- HB 2789 would divert millions annually to an anti-abortion program intended to steer women with unplanned pregnancies away from abortion and toward forced childbirth.
- HB 2653 would allow for child support orders from “the date of conception” by redefining “child” to include a fetus.
- HB 2749 would add the burdensome and invasive requirement that Kansans give their doctor and state officials a reason why they want an abortion.
- HB 2803 would prevent state resources from being used to enforce federal gun laws in Kansas – even though Kansas has some of the nation’s weakest gun laws.
This dangerous proposal comes just days after the deadly shooting just across the state border in Kansas City, Missouri last week, which killed one person and injured at least 22. The anti-abortion proposals are also especially egregious given voters affirmed support for reproductive freedom in 2022, when Kansas became the first state to reject an anti-abortion amendment in the wake of Roe falling.
GOP legislators across the country are wielding their power to advance dangerous abortion bans. The Republican supermajorities in Kansas are no different and have continued to prioritize extreme, dangerous MAGA policies, which is why breaking the Republican supermajorities and defending Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto is a priority for the DLCC in 2024.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee National Press Secretary Sam Paisley issued the following statement:
“Kansans are sick and tired of Republicans trampling on reproductive freedoms and making their communities more dangerous with reckless gun laws. Even in the wake of last week’s deadly shooting in Kansas City, Missouri, Republicans are still working to weaken common sense gun laws.
“Kansas Republicans are also pushing extreme anti-abortion bills that fly in the face of the 2022 referendum to protect abortion access. The will of the people isn’t stopping Kansas Republicans from moving ahead with vigor on their agenda of extremism. Kansans deserve state leaders who prioritize gun violence prevention and trust women to make their own reproductive decisions, which is why the DLCC is focused on breaking the MAGA Republican supermajorities in the Kansas legislature.”
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) is the official Democratic Party committee dedicated to winning America’s state legislatures and building state infrastructure. Over the last decade, we have fought cycle-over-cycle to gain a dozen new legislative chamber majorities and we are leading the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and have the closest connections to Americans’ day-to-day lives. From protecting fundamental freedoms and voting rights to growing the middle class, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.
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