TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas legislators reconvene this week and could lower the age for carrying concealed guns and grant legal protections to faith-based adoption agencies that refuse on religious grounds to place children in LGBT homes.
Fiscal issues also are on lawmakers agenda when their annual spring break ends Thursday. They expect to fix a flaw in a new education funding law that would otherwise cost public schools $80 million, and they could debate income tax cuts.
Lawmakers could meet for up to 10 days. Here are key issues they face.
ADOPTION RULES
LGBT-rights groups still hope to block passage of the adoption legislation in the House after the Senate approved it with the strong support of the states Catholic bishops and backing from Republican Gov. Jeff Colyers administration.
The bill would allow support of the states Catholic bishops and backing from Republican Gov. Jeff Colyers administration.
The bill would allow state foster care contractors to do business with agencies refusing to allow children to be adopted into homes that violated the agencies sincerely held religious beliefs.
CONCEALED GUNS
Lawmakers are considering a proposal to drop the age at which a person can carry a concealed gun to 18 from 21 as part of a bill designed to make it easier for people holding permits from other states to carry concealed in Kansas.
The House added the age-lowering provision to the bill, while the Senate stripped it out. Negotiators for the two chambers must draft the final version.
SELF-SERVE BEER
A bill that would allow self-service beer taps in bars and restaurants something legal in most other states awaits action in the House after passing the Senate. Its spurred by plans for a new restaurant in downtown Topeka, not far from the Statehouse.
