MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR

House Bill No. 2350

An Act concerning crimes, punishment and criminal procedure; relating to crimes against persons; creating the crimes of human smuggling and aggravated human smuggling; providing criminal penalties therefor.

Message to the Legislature of the State of Kansas

House Bill 2350 is the product of a rushed process. I agree immigration issues need to be addressed, but this bill will have unintended consequences, from decimating our agriculture workforce to allowing the state to encroach into Kansans’ personal lives.

You just have to look at basic examples: If a good Samaritan gives his or her fellow Kansan a ride to work and receives gas money in exchange – or if a paramedic, while on duty, transports someone to the emergency room – they could be subject to level-five felonies. That overcriminalization is unnecessary and shows that lawmakers haven’t considered the full impact of this bill.

Kansans deserve considered, comprehensive legislation when it comes to immigration – not bills with sweeping language that would hurt law-abiding Kansas citizens and open the state up to expensive lawsuits.

Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto House Bill 2350.

Laura Kelly, Governor

Dated April 24, 2023.