MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR
Senate Substitute for House Bill No. 2240
An Act concerning public assistance; requiring approval by an act of the legislature prior to any state agency seeking or implementing any public assistance program waiver or other authorization from the federal government that expands eligibility for any public assistance program, increases cost to the state or makes certain changes in services for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities; authorizing approval of such waivers, other authorizations or changes by the legislative coordinating council when the legislature is not in session.
Message to the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
Senate Substitute for House Bill 2240 is an unconstitutional overreach by the Legislature into the executive branch attempting to create an unlawful administration of the state’s Medicaid program with the legislative branch.
Our doctrine of independent governmental branches is firmly entrenched in the United States and Kansas constitutional law and significant intrusion by one branch into the duties of another has been held to be unlawful. There is little question in my mind that this represents such an intrusion.
Additionally, we estimate that the process established in this bill would require hundreds of hours of taxpayer-funded work and research by legislative staff to implement even the most basic of changes. Since the federal government issues various administrative changes almost daily, it jeopardizes the very functioning of the underlying programs.
Thousands of Kansans rely on these programs, including children, pregnant women, individuals with disabilities, and low-income seniors. This bill and the subsequent backlog that it would create threatens food and medical assistance benefits for our most vulnerable Kansans at a time of increased inflation and overall financial uncertainty.
Kansas already has very strict eligibility rules and significant verification requirements for these programs. For these reasons and many more, I cannot and will not support this bill.
Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto Senate Substitute for House Bill 2240.
Laura Kelly, Governor
Dated April 9, 2025.
