TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The latest on developments Thursday in the Kansas Legislature (all times local):
9:50 a.m.
A Kansas House committee has approved a bill aimed at keeping state courts open following a legal dispute involving the judicial branch’s budget.
The Appropriations Committee’s unanimous voice vote Thursday sent the measure to the full House for debate.
The bill repeals a 2015 law threatening all funding for the courts through June 2017.
The law was passed by Republican legislators to follow up on a statute they enacted in 2014.
The 2014 policy stripped the Kansas Supreme Court of its power to appoint chief district court judges in the state’s 31 judicial districts. The 2015 law said the judiciary’s entire budget was nullified if the 2014 law was struck down.
The Supreme Court last month invalidated the 2014 law.
GOP lawmakers said they don’t want to close the courts.
4:05 a.m.
Two legislative committees are considering bills aimed at keeping Kansas courts open following a legal dispute involving the judicial branch’s budget.
The House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee were having hearings Thursday on separate but identical bills repealing a 2015 law threatening all funding for the courts through June 2017.
The law was passed by Republican legislators to follow up on a statute they enacted in 2014.
The 2014 policy stripped the Kansas Supreme Court of its power to appoint the chief district court judges in the state’s 31 judicial districts. The 2015 law said the judiciary’s entire budget was nullified if the 2014 law was struck down.
The Supreme Court invalidated the 2014 law in December.
GOP lawmakers have said they don’t want to close the courts.
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4 a.m.
Democrats are preparing to outline their agenda for this year’s session of the Kansas Legislature.
House and Senate Democrats scheduled a joint news conference for Thursday morning to outline what they’re describing as their vision for the state.
Democrats in the past have focused heavily on education and economic issues, such as increasing the state’s minimum wage, now $7.25 an hour.
Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley and House Minority Leader Tom Burroughs of Kansas City also plan to respond to budget proposals outlined Wednesday by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.
Lawmakers opened their annual session Monday.
Republicans hold majorities of 32-8 in the Senate and 97-28 in the House and won every statewide and congressional race in the past six years.