Some folks are born made to wave the flag,
Ooh, they’re red, white, and blue.
And when the band plays “Hail to the Chief,”
Ooh, they point the cannon at you.

Fortunate Son, Creedence Clearwater Revival

Table of Contents

• 1 prediction confirmed, 7 to go

• Which Truth Do You Want?

• Staying Healthy

• Introducing DataHive!

• Final Thoughts: Bills to Watch

  • SB14: Establishing a Continuous State Budget

  • SB19: “Right to Refuse”

  • HB2009 / HB2010: Transformative Abortion Restricti …

    • Overview and Scope

    • Enforcement Mechanisms and Civil Liability

    • Structural Implications for Kansas Governance and …

  • BONUS: SCR1603: Property Tax Valuation Limits

    • Overview and Mechanisms

    • Structural Implications for Governance

    • Economic and Social Impact

1 prediction confirmed, 7 to go

In last week’s Capitol Bee, I put a few 2025 predictions out into the universe. After last week’s barrage of draft legislation in Topeka, I’m going to go ahead and call Prediction #3 completed ✅:

If you’ve been reading our daily updates from last week, you might be wondering where to even start. There are already 87 bills filed and published, and they run the full gamut of the Project 2025 agenda:

The broad sweep of these proposals illustrates a well-coordinated strategy to reshape Kansas's political landscape. From election regulations that tighten ballot access to bills preempting federal influence on state governance, the filing frenzy leaves no doubt about the ambitions of the expanded conservative supermajority.

For those closely watching Kansas politics, this legislative surge is both a confirmation of campaign promises and a signal of the battles ahead. It mirrors the national playbook, where rapid action capitalizes on newly won political momentum. (I write this as I watch for the initial barrage of executive orders from the new Trump administration…)

What remains to be seen is whether there is such as thing as “going too far.” Is there an issue or proposal that will galvanize a public response? If so, will the supermajority care? Time will tell.

Which Truth Do You Want?

I have readers on both sides of the arguments hinted at by the above. It’s important to me to stay rooted in the facts of the moment–to do my part to create opportunities for a shared understanding of our culture. That’s not always easy, because (just like you) I have my own personal beliefs and values that I’d like to see reflected in my world.

When I ran for office, I communicated using those values. I also lost. At first, it was easier to believe that the winner in an election has the better argument and wins through those values. The truth, unfortunately, is more difficult: now more than ever, campaigns are won by creating the larger Universe of Truth.

As we’ve seen in recent weeks, the digital marketplace of ideas no longer has a shared definition of¹  truth² . Our beliefs are defined by our information diet, the diet of those around us, our actions, and the real-life experiences that we allow ourselves to enjoy. The rapid erosion of a shared truth has been extremely discomfiting for some: it’s why that lifelong friend of yours uninstalled Facebook, or why we seem to be constantly searching for new platforms that better align with our beliefs.

This problem will accelerate over the next few years. Even within the same platform, you only see what you invite into your world; TikTok is both woke and MAGA. We all get to choose our truths now; the candidate, cause, or community that can claim the most truths shared with the most people is now the “in” group.

Staying Healthy

In the face of a relentless news cycle and the rising tide of polarizing information, staying informed while safeguarding your mental health requires intentional strategies. Below, I’ve outlined a few approaches that can help you stay current without becoming overwhelmed:

• Curate Your News Sources: Choose 2-3 trusted news outlets that align with factual reporting, and make them your primary sources of information.

• Set Boundaries for News Consumption: Dedicate specific times of the day to check the news, and avoid doomscrolling. (I’m laughing at myself as I type this one, I could certainly be a better role model here…)

• Engage, but Wisely: While it’s important to stay involved, avoid getting drawn into unproductive debates.

• Practice Digital Detoxing: Schedule regular breaks from digital platforms. If you need a break, take a break! The doomscrolling will always be there.

• Use Summaries and Analysis Tools: Services like newsletters, podcasts, or briefings that condense complex issues into digestible summaries can reduce the emotional and cognitive load of staying informed. (shameless plug: that’s what Capitol Bee is trying do! It’s OK for you to delete one of these as unread every once in a while, just try not to unsubscribe.)

• Protect Your Emotional Energy: If a particular issue feels overwhelming, limit how much you read about it at one time.

It’s a marathon, not a sprint. And whatever your political beliefs are–whether you’re energized by what’s to come or shocked–there will be things for you to love or hate.

Introducing DataHive!

If a picture is worth 1,000 words, then a map is worth 1,000 election reports. I’m pleased to introduce DataHive, a resource for visualizing and sharing election data.

The system is still coming together, but there’s enough “there” there that it made sense to share it. Our vision for this tool is to make it fast and easy for anyone (that includes you, readers!) to quickly build a map that displays political data in a way that’s easy to understand and share with others.

Right now, we just have the Johnson County, Kansas election data loaded in and a few preconfigured maps, but in time you’ll be able to do things like:

• See how state legislators voted on a specific bill

• Explore changes in voting patterns between election cycles

• Find precincts with “split ballot” voting

Some of these ideas depend on getting more data, though. If you have an interest in helping us source the structured data we need to be able to cover additional counties, please contact us!

Final Thoughts: Bills to Watch

As we look forward to the next week’s action in Topeka (and in DC), here are the three existing bill drafts (and one resolution) that I think would have the greatest impact on Kansas in the long term. (I’m ignoring the budget bill, because it’s 300+ pages long and of course it will be impactful…but not systemic like these):

SB14: Establishing a Continuous State Budget

Senate Bill 14 establishes a continuous state budget for Kansas, fundamentally altering how the state approaches fiscal governance. By allowing existing appropriations to remain in effect indefinitely until explicitly amended, lapsed, or eliminated by the legislature, the bill mitigates risks associated with legislative gridlock. This eliminates the need for emergency budget sessions, ensuring uninterrupted funding for state agencies and programs. However, this continuous model represents a structural departure from traditional budget cycles, where budgets are negotiated and approved biennially or annually, which has been the primary mechanism through which the minority party has been able to participate in the governing process.

SB19: “Right to Refuse”

Senate Bill 19, titled the Conscientious Right to Refuse Act, introduces sweeping changes to public health governance in Kansas. By enshrining the right of individuals to refuse specific medical interventions, including vaccinations, pharmaceutical treatments, and gene-editing technologies, the bill limits the authority of employers, schools, and healthcare entities to impose requirements based on such refusals. This fundamentally shifts the balance between public health mandates and individual freedoms, framing healthcare decisions as a matter of personal conscience. The inclusion of a broad definition of "conscience," encompassing both theistic and non-theistic beliefs, underscores the bill's expansive scope.

The bill dismantles key public health safeguards by revoking the Secretary of Health and Environment's authority to issue quarantine or isolation orders and to impose penalties for violations. This significantly reduces the state’s capacity to respond to infectious disease outbreaks, relying instead on voluntary compliance and individual decision-making. Such a structural change leaves Kansas without a clear mechanism for enforcing containment measures during public health emergencies, potentially increasing the risk of widespread health crises.

SB19 also creates a new civil cause of action for individuals who experience discrimination due to their refusal of medical interventions. Plaintiffs may recover treble damages or a minimum of $10,000, plus attorney fees. This provision places substantial legal and financial risks on employers, schools, and healthcare entities, likely leading to hesitancy in adopting policies aimed at ensuring collective health. Combined, these measures signal a dramatic shift in Kansas’s public health policy, prioritizing individual autonomy over collective welfare, and reshaping the state’s ability to navigate modern health challenges.

HB2009 / HB2010: Transformative Abortion Restrictions

Overview and Scope

House Bills 2009 and 2010 collectively seek to implement some of the most stringent abortion restrictions in Kansas history, representing a radical departure from the state's prior reproductive health policies. HB2009 bans abortion procedures entirely, with exceptions only to save the life of the pregnant woman in cases of a medical emergency. Similarly, HB2010 goes further by criminalizing abortion at all stages of pregnancy, introducing severe felony penalties for abortion providers, and explicitly equating the rights of unborn children with those of individuals already born. Both bills reject existing federal or judicial oversight, challenging constitutional precedents.

Enforcement Mechanisms and Civil Liability

HB2009 shifts enforcement from state agencies to private individuals through civil lawsuits, echoing the model pioneered by Texas’s "heartbeat bill." This provision allows any person, regardless of their connection to the case, to file a civil suit against anyone who performs or facilitates an abortion, creating an environment of widespread legal uncertainty and potential harassment. HB2010 further enforces compliance by criminalizing acts related to abortion, such as providing abortion-inducing medication, and prescribing penalties equivalent to those for violent crimes, ensuring deterrence through fear of severe personal and professional repercussions.

Structural Implications for Kansas Governance and Public Health

The systemic implications of these bills extend beyond abortion access. By removing enforcement responsibilities from public agencies, HB2009 fundamentally reconfigures the state's role in managing reproductive health, effectively privatizing legal oversight. Additionally, HB2010's provisions undermine judicial independence by threatening impeachment of judges who attempt to enjoin or overturn the law. This sets a dangerous precedent for eroding checks and balances within Kansas’s governmental framework. Both bills also discourage medical practitioners from offering comprehensive care, risking a broader public health crisis as providers weigh legal liabilities over patient needs.

BONUS: SCR1603: Property Tax Valuation Limits

Overview and Mechanisms

Senate Concurrent Resolution 1603 proposes a constitutional amendment to cap annual property tax valuation increases for real property and residential mobile homes at 3%, or less if specified by future legislation. This measure aims to provide predictability and relief to property owners in the face of escalating property taxes, aligning with broader efforts to curb tax burdens and encourage homeownership stability.

Structural Implications for Governance

The amendment represents a significant shift in how Kansas manages property tax systems, fundamentally altering the state's approach to local revenue generation. By embedding these caps into the state constitution, it restricts local governments' ability to respond dynamically to changing fiscal needs through property tax assessments. While the legislature retains some flexibility to define and administer these valuation limits, the constitutional nature of the provision places strict boundaries on future adjustments.

Economic and Social Impact

This limitation could have wide-ranging effects on Kansas's financial ecosystem. For homeowners, the cap provides much-needed stability and protection against volatile tax increases. However, it could lead to reduced funding for local governments and public services reliant on property tax revenue, forcing them to seek alternative funding mechanisms or reduce services. Additionally, the cap may shift tax burdens to newer property owners or regions experiencing rapid growth, exacerbating disparities between communities. This resolution embodies a balancing act between taxpayer relief and the sustainability of local governance.

Similar property tax increment caps in other states, such as California’s Proposition 13 and Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR), have shown how such measures can have negative long-term impacts on state and local budgets. In California, Proposition 13 has led to a significant decline in property tax revenues, forcing municipalities and school districts to rely more heavily on state funding and alternative revenue sources like sales and income taxes. This dependence has created cyclical budget crises during economic downturns, as income and sales tax revenues are more volatile than property taxes. Similarly, Colorado’s TABOR has constrained the ability of local governments to fund infrastructure, education, and public health initiatives, resulting in long-term underinvestment in critical services.

1  Twitter/X had previously transitioned to Community Notes, where the digital residents of X exert their own feedback on online content to assert or refute content as accurate or misleading.

2  Facebook/Meta is discontinuing their third-party fact-checking program and transitioning to a similar Community Notes prograam.