Government

The Kansas House and Senate have passed their versions of both budget and tax plans, but there's still plenty of work ahead. The two chambers will now try to smooth out differences between the plans.

Conference committees made up of three members from each chamber will work to find a compromise between the different bills. Both chambers will then consider the compromise legislation.

Kansas lawmakers have decided they need more information before making changes to the state's laws that restrict corporate farming.

Two bills that would have cut back teachers' bargaining rights have been shelved for this session.

A state House committee has voted to authorize $1.5 billion dollars in bonds to bolster the state pension system for teachers and state government workers.

The Pensions and Benefits Committee vote was close- 7-6, and reflected a split of opinions over whether the legislation did enough to address a long-term funding gap facing the pension system.

Lawmakers are considering a bill that would prevent local governments from barring openly carried firearms. 

The Libertarian Party of Kansas has sued the communities that bar open carry, saying their ordinances violate state law, but lawmakers are also looking at the issue. The House Federal and State Affairs Committee held a hearing on the bill Thursday.

Currently, some communities ban open carry, but the bill before the committee would throw out those ordinances.