The Latest: Kansas House delays debate on budget plan
The bill retains provisions allowing the secretary of state to receive a roster of lawyers eligible to participate in elections of the commission's attorney members.
Republican Gov. Sam Brownback's chief spokeswoman says Brownback believes he can sign a bill that contains legislators' latest plan for balancing the state budget through June 2017.
Brownback spokeswoman Eileen Hawley said the governor reviewed the bill Saturday after House and Senate negotiators reached agreement on its contents.
The plan assumes Brownback follows through on previously announced plans to cut higher education spending and to delay highway projects so that road funds can be diverted to general government programs.
The Kansas House has approved a proposal prohibiting local governments from creating policies regulating the work hours of private employees, nutrition labeling and the prices of real estate.
The measure would outlaw local regulations that require employers to affect a private employee's work schedule unless federal law requires them to do so.
A provision in the bill would prohibit a city or county from searching individuals' rental properties without their consent, while another would prevent political subdivisions from creating a policy that would control the purchase price of a property.
Kansas House and Senate negotiators are considering stripping a provision that would give the governor more authority over the Supreme Court Nominating Commission out of a larger bill.
Negotiators are discussing keeping a provision that would allow the secretary of state to receive a roster of lawyers eligible to participate in the elections of the commission's attorney members.
The Senate voted 25-15 on Saturday against a measure addressing cases in which the state's wildlife department seizes antlers and other animal parts from poached game.
The proposal being considered Saturday would give the governor more authority over the nine-member commission that names three finalists for each high court vacancy.
State aid to Kansas public schools would be protected from cuts during the 2016-17 school year under a new legislative plan for balancing the state budget.
Lead Senate negotiator Ty Masterson of Andover said during talks that some fellow GOP senators didn't believe any potential cuts should be off the table.
[...] it assumes Brownback follows through on previously announced plans to cut higher education spending and to delay highway projects so that road funds can be diverted to general government programs.
A Republican senator involved in the Kansas Legislature's budget negotiations says lawmakers are justified in leaving much of the budget-balancing work to GOP Gov. Sam Brownback.
The House on Friday rejected a plan to repeal a 2012 policy exempting more than 330,000 farmers and business owners from personal income taxes.
Budget negotiator and Democratic Sen. Laura Kelly of Topeka said she understands why some GOP legislators want to leave spending cuts to Brownback but said it's irresponsible.
Budget negotiations in the Kansas Legislature have stalled temporarily over whether aid to public schools should be protected from future budget cuts.
Lead Senate negotiator Ty Masterson said Saturday during talks that some GOP senators object to giving public schools special protection.