TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Senate has approved a bill to allow people to carry concealed guns without requiring them to get a state permit or take training classes.
The vote Thursday was 31-7 and sends the measure to the House.

The bill is sponsored by 26 of the chamber’s 40 members, led by Majority Leader Terry Bruce.

A state concealed carry permit costs $132.50, and a person must undergo eight hours of training to get one.
Gun-rights groups note Kansas has long allowed the open carrying of weapons without a state permit. The bill’s critics say training should be mandated for people carrying concealed weapons.
The National Rifle Association says Alaska, Arizona, Vermont and Wyoming don’t require permits to carry concealed anywhere in the state.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas House is considering reducing sentences for the first two marijuana possession offenses.

The full chamber will consider the bill Thursday. It would make it unlikely that an offender would face prison time until their third marijuana conviction.

Supporters have said that the bill would divert more marijuana offenders to treatment and would save money and space in the state’s prisons. Kansas prisons are already overcrowded and are expected to stretch to 107 percent capacity by 2024.

Republican Rep. Steve Brunk of Wichita said in a party caucus meeting Thursday that he opposed the bill because it would move the state closer to marijuana decriminalization.

He said the move would be inconsistent with parallel measures to stiffen prison time for some offenses.

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) and Congressman Ron Kind’s (D-WI) legislation, H.R. 529 with a veto-proof majority of 401-20. This legislation would expand, modernize, and strengthen tax-free 529 college savings plans to help more Americans save for their children’s education.

“This is a good, sensible bill to improve a critical college savings tool to help more hardworking Kansans and Americans save for their children’s education,” said Rep. Jenkins. “I’m pleased H.R. 529 passed with overwhelming support and I encourage my colleagues in the Senate to quickly approve this legislation. Today we sent a clear message to all families that Congress supports 529s, will keep them tax-free, and will work together to strengthen them so parents can secure a better future for their children.

“I am pleased to see the House pass this commonsense, bipartisan legislation that will help keep college affordable for families in Wisconsin and across the nation,” said Rep. Kind. “With 14 colleges and universities across western and central Wisconsin, I know the importance of saving in advance for higher education. With rising tuition costs and the growing crisis of student loan debt, we need to do everything we can to help students attend college so they can compete in the global marketplace.”

The Legislation:

H.R. 529 improves 529 savings plans by empowering students to use their savings for computers, eliminates an outdated and unnecessary aggregation rule, and allows taxpayers to re-deposit refunds from colleges without taxes or penalties. For more details on the bill, click here.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Topeka zoo officials say a 20-year-old black bear died during spinal surgery.

Zoo director Brendan Wiley says the bear, named Peek, died Wednesday during surgery at Kansas State University’s veterinary health center.

Peek was diagnosed with spinal stenosis in January and gradually got worse, recently losing the use of her hind legs.

Wiley said in a news release that the zoo tried several methods, including stem cell therapy, to help the bear before deciding surgery was the only option.

Peek and her sister, Sneak, arrived at the Topeka Zoo in 1996 from Wildlife Prairie Park in Peoria, Illinois.

The zoo acquired two female, orphaned black bear cubs last year. They have not yet been introduced to Sneak.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Teachers no longer would be exempt from criminal charges for showing students materials deemed to be harmful to minors under a bill passed by the Kansas Senate.

The Senate’s vote Wednesday was 26-14.

Teachers could be charged for any materials thought to be too sexual or too profane for minors under the proposal. Critics say it could cover sex education materials and even some classical literature and would have a chilling effect on educators wary of treading too close to the line.

Supporters say the bill would protect children and that teachers should not be allowed to show materials that would draw penalties in other contexts. They also said the fears of opponents are overblown.

The bill moves to the House for debate.

JOHN HANNA, Associated Press
ROXANA HEGEMAN, Associated Press

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A suburban lawmaker’s proposal that would dramatically increase property taxes on Kansas agricultural land has spawned a strong rural backlash.

Farmers also fear that pieces of it will pop up in legislation to close a projected state budget shortfall.

Republican Sen. Jeff Melcher of Leawood argues that agricultural land is valued for tax purposes so far below market values that it’s unfair.

He also contends the state and local communities are losing millions of dollars they could use to finance public schools and services.

But farmers and agriculture groups see huge potential tax increases.

The Kansas Department of Revenue estimates the annual state and local property taxes on agricultural land would increase by $890 million. Owners would see an average statewide per-acre increase of 569 percent on irrigated land.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach’s proposal to give his office the power to prosecute election fraud cases has won the state Senate’s approval.
Senators passed a bill containing Kobach’s plan on a 23-17 vote Wednesday. The measure goes next to the House.
The vote exposed a split among Kobach’s fellow Republicans. Nine GOP senators joined all eight Democrats in the chamber in voting against the bill.
Kobach is the architect of laws requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls and proof of U.S. citizenship when they register for the first time.
He says county prosecutors are usually too busy to pursue election fraud cases. But critics say there’s not enough election fraud to justify such a move.
The measure also boosts the penalties for election crimes.