Abortion, fentanyl & DEI: What to know about Kansas laws in effect July 1

TOPEKA, Kan. — Of the more than 600 laws introduced by the Kansas Legislature during this year’s legislative session, more than 100 will become law.

Many of the new laws will take effect on July 1, or the beginning of the state’s fiscal year. Some controversial measures include one requiring Internet users to verify their age before accessing adult content sites, effectively shutting down many popular pornography websites like PornHub.

Lawmakers this year also enacted major improvements to the state government’s cybersecurity system, enacted a plan to further educate teachers in hopes of remedying declining literacy levels among students, and opened up 500 slots on the Intellectual and Developmentally Disabled wait list to receive supplemental Medicaid services.

They also reformed the state’s laws around seizure and asset forfeiture, raising the standard for seizures and allowing courts to award attorney fees to those who successfully win back their property.

Another law, pushed across the country by GOP legislators, would prevent state universities from requiring prospective employees of students to sign any statement “pledging allegiance to, support for or opposition to” diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, championed the tax bill passed during special session –which will provide all taxpayers an income tax reduction – as a “great success” for Kansans, casting taxes as a major priority for the Legislature.

“While there’s more work to do when we return in January, especially in the area of property tax relief, I think our members made some great strides this year toward ensuring Kansas is the best state to live, work, and raise a family,” Hawkins said.

Here are the laws most likely to have a big effect.

Coercion bill becomes new law

Beginning July 1, coercing an expecting mother into obtaining an abortion will be a felony. In the bill, coercion is defined as threatening to physically harm or restrain the victim, withholding legal documents, controlling access to medication, financial harm, or threats of arrest or deportation.

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