Government

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.

Republican legislators in Kansas who want to put new government employees in a 401(k)-style pension plan have abandoned an effort to pass legislation this year.

The Kansas House has given first-round approval to a bill cutting sales and income taxes after rejecting a diversion of highway funds to stabilize the budget.

The bill advanced Wednesday on an 82-37 vote, suggesting it has enough support to pass on final action, which is expected Thursday.

The legislation follows up on personal income tax cuts enacted last year by promising income tax rate reductions each year that overall state revenues grow more than 2 percent.

Also, the bill allows the state sales tax to decline as scheduled in July.

The Kansas House Wednesday rejected a proposal by Democrats aimed at reducing the property taxes paid by Kansans.

The Kansas House has given first-round approval to wide-ranging abortion bill.