Kansas Governor’s Mask Mandate Overturned by Legislative Leaders
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) – The Kansas Legislative Coordinating Council has voted 5-2 to revoke Governor Laura Kelly’s new mask order issued earlier today (THUR). House Speaker Ron Ryckman, Majority Leader Dan Hawkins and Speaker Pro Tem Blaine Finch, all Republicans, issued the following joint statement:
Public health mandates should be short-term, data-driven and reserved only for pressing emergency situations. They should not be used to dictate Kansans’ daily lives year after year. If data is the real driver behind the Governor’s approach, then let’s rely on the numbers. In November, the Governor issued her last statewide mask mandate saying there was a “worrying spike” in cases. At that time, Kansas had 5,217 new cases and a 7-day average of 2,430 new cases. Now, Kansas has only 36 new cases and a 7-day average of 216 cases. Kansans have banded together for over a year to successfully reduce the spread of COVID – and they’ve done so during a time when most counties had opted out of the Governor’s mask mandate. With cases dropping and no data to support the need for another statewide mandate, the best approach has proven to be local control. We support the continued ability of communities to tailor solutions that work for them, and we urge all Kansans to continue to practice recommended measures of infection control for their health and the health of those around them. – House Republican leadership
The governor also issued several executive orders in connection to the coronavirus pandemic. The LLC took no actions on the other 12 orders issued.
(Earlier reporting...)
Governor Kelly Renews Mask Mandate, Signs Orders to Prohibit Evictions, Foreclosures
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) – Governor Laura Kelly has issued several executive orders to maintain her administration's pandemic response efforts. One of them extends her statewide face mask mandate. The orders she issued today (THUR) extend provisions put in place by previous executive orders and include some updated provisions. Several executive orders related to the pandemic were set to expire March 31 in conjunction with the expiration of the state of disaster emergency. Senate Bill 40 includes a provision that revoked all executive orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the governor retains the authority to re-issue orders under the new process imposed by the bill. One of the orders temporarily prohibits certain foreclosures and evictions. The governor's orders will generally remain in effect until rescinded or until the statewide state of disaster emergency expires.
Governor Kelly issued the following orders, which will generally remain in effect until rescinded or until the statewide state of disaster emergency expires:
- 21-09 – Extending professional and occupational licenses during state of disaster emergency
- 21-10 – Temporarily allowing notaries and witnesses to act via audio-video communication technology during state of disaster emergency
- 21-11 – Temporarily suspending certain rules relating to sale alcoholic beverages
- 21-12 – Licensure, Certification, and Registration for persons and Licensure of “Adult Care Homes” during state of disaster emergency
- 21-13 – Temporarily prohibiting certain foreclosures and evictions
- 21-14 – Establishing a face coverings protocol (exempts local jurisdictions with their own mask orders in place)
- 21-15 – Requiring COVID-19 testing in certain adult care homes
- 21-16 – Provisions related to drivers’ license and identification cards during the state of disaster emergency
- 21-17 – Temporary relief from certain unemployment insurance requirements during state of disaster emergency
- 21-18 – Temporary provisions for employer payment of income tax withholding for work performed in another state
- 21-19 – Temporary relief from certain tuberculin testing requirements during state of disaster emergency
- 21-20 – Extending time for Kansas rural water districts to hold annual meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic
- 21-21 – Temporary authorization for additional vaccinators during state of disaster emergency
