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Government responses to and political effects of the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 (Kansas)

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Responses by state

Ballotpedia’s coverage of COVID-19 includes how federal, state, and local governments are responding, and how those responses are influencing election rules and operations, political campaigns, the economy, schools, and more.

This article contains coverage of eight kinds of state government responses to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. The article tracks developments in these areas that took place between the start of the pandemic in March 2020 through Dec. 4, 2020. The government responses covered here include:

Additionally, the article includes:

To view current coverage areas, including mask requirements, school responses, travel restrictions, and much more, click a state in the map below.

Documenting_STATE%27s_path_to_recovery_from_the_coronavirus_(COVID-19)_pandemic,_2020-2021


Changes to election dates and procedures, March 16 through November 19

See also: Changes to election dates, procedures, and administration in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

General election changes

Kansas did not modify any procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election.

For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.

Primary election changes

Political party events in Kansas were modified as follows:

  • Political party events: The Democratic Party of Kansas canceled in-person voting in its presidential preference primary, originally scheduled to take place on May 2, 2020. Voting instead took place by mail. The receipt deadline for mail-in ballots was May 2.

For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.

Click the gray bar below for more detailed information.


Statewide stay-at-home order, March 23 through December 4

See also: States with lockdown and stay-at-home orders in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

On March 28, Gov. Laura Kelly (D) issued Executive Order 20-16, which directed individuals in Kansas to conduct only essential business. The order took effect on March 30 and ended on April 19.[3] On April 15, Kelly extended the order through May 3.[4]

Executive Order 20-16 uses the Kansas Essential Function Framework (KEFF) to determine essential and nonessential businesses. The KEFF was established by Executive Order 20-15 on March 24. Executive Order 20-15 is embedded below.

Executive orders, March 30 through June 29

See also: Executive orders issued by governors and state agencies in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020


Court closures, March 17 through November 4

See also: State court closures in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
  • May 1, 2020: The Kansas Supreme Court issued two administrative orders, one for counties with stay-at-home orders or orders closing court and one for counties without those types of orders, that address court operations following the coronavirus pandemic. For counties with stay-at-home orders, directives included performing essential court operations through video or phone conferencing to the greatest extent possible and allowed chief judges to authorize employees to telework whenever possible. For counties without stay-at-home orders or orders closing courts, directives detailed what was required to resume court operations, which included allowing chief justices to determine how best to distribute personal protective equipment and recommended that hearings be conducted remotely when possible.[5]
  • April 3, 2020: The Kansas Supreme Court extended restrictions on in-person proceedings and suspension of jury trials until further notice, or by order of the Chief Justice.[6]
  • March 18, 2020:: The Kansas Supreme Court ordered that all jury trials are continued, and courts were restricted to “emergency operations.” Emergency operations for the district included first appearances, setting appearance bonds and issuing warrants.[7]
  • March 16, 2020: The Kansas Supreme Court canceled its March docket and ordered chief judges in each judicial district to do the same.[8]

Legislative session changes, March 20 through October 1

See also: Changes to state legislative session dates in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

The Kansas State Legislature suspended its session effective March 19, 2020. A veto session scheduled for April 27, 2020, was delayed to May 21, 2020, at which time the legislature reconvened before adjourning the session. A special session was convened on June 3, 2020. The special session ended June 4, 2020.[9][10][11]

Proposed and enacted legislation, March 25 through August 19

See also: State laws in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

See below for a complete list of bills related to the coronavirus pandemic in Kansas. To learn more about a particular bill, click its title. This information is provided by BillTrack50 and LegiScan.

Rent, mortgage, eviction, and foreclosure policies, April 9 through November 24

See also: Changes to rent, mortgage, eviction, and foreclosure policies in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020


  • August 17, 2020: Gov. Laura Kelly (D) issued an executive order that prohibited evictions and foreclosures for non-payment due to financial hardships caused by COVID-19. The order was set to last through September 15.[12]
  • June 1, 2020: Gov. Laura Kelly's (D) executive order temporarily prohibiting evictions and foreclosures in Kansas expired on May 26, the governor’s office confirmed on June 1. Gov. Kelly originally issued an executive order suspending evictions and foreclosures through May 1 and extended the order on April 30 through May 26.[13]
  • April 30, 2020: Gov. Laura Kelly (D) extended her March order suspending evictions and foreclosures in the state through May 26.[14]
  • March 20, 2020: Gov. Laura Kelly (D) issued an executive order that directed financial institutions to pause evictions and mortgage foreclosures through May 1.[15]


Prison inmate release responses, March 30 through July 1

See also: State and local governments that released prison inmates in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
  • Between March 30 and July 1, Kansas did not make an announcement concerning the release of incarcerated individuals due to coronavirus on a state level. A few counties made the decision to release incarcerated individuals on the local level.[16]


Debate in Kansas over responses to the coronavirus

See also: Debate in Kansas over responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

Ballotpedia is covering the debate over continuing restrictions and closures in Kansas in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Click on the links below to read more about these debates.

Legislative Coordinating Council revokes executive order, governor files lawsuit

On April 9, 2020, Gov. Laura Kelly (D) filed a lawsuit against the Legislative Coordinating Council, which is a seven-member group made up of the state's legislative leaders from both parties. On April 8, the council voted 5-2 along party lines to revoke Kelly's executive order limiting religious gatherings to 10 individuals. Senate President Susan Wagle (R), a member of the council, said that the order violated the principles of freedom of religion.[17] Kelly said that the council violated the state constitution and that only the full legislature has the authority to revoke executive orders.[18]

On April 10, the Kansas Supreme Court announced it would convene on April 11 through a video conference to hear arguments in the case. This was the first time in history the court convened on a Saturday.[19] The Kansas Supreme Court ruled in favor of Gov. Kelly. The court said that the Legislative Coordinating Council did not have the power to overrule the governor.[20]

Status of industries, May 15 through July 31

Between May 15 and July 31, we conducted detailed tracking of industries and activities in each state daily.

  • "Yes" means an activity was allowed or an industry was permitted to open. "No" means an activity was not allowed or an industry was not permitted to reopen.
  • Some rules were applied regionally rather than statewide. Each cell shows the loosest restriction in place at the time, or the broadest level of an activity permitted in the state, even if that activity was only permitted regionally. Where applicable, we indicated that an activity was only permitted regionally, and provided details in a cell note. For example, if gyms were permitted to open in half of a state, the spreadsheet would say "Yes (regionally)," and differences between the regions would be explained in a note.
  • A lack of detail in a note or parentheses does not necessarily mean that an activity or industry was "back to normal." We did our best to capture caveats, exceptions, and modifications to activities. We acknowledge, though, that states put forth a large number of requirements for many industries and activities.

Initial reopening plan from March and April 2020 closures

Kansas released an initial reopening plan from March and April 2020 closures on April 30, 2020. An analysis of this plan appeared in our Documenting America's Path to Recovery newsletter on May 26. The sections below include an analysis of the plan, the details of the plan, and reactions from officials to the plan.

Summary from Documenting America's Path to Recovery

See also: Documenting America's Path to Recovery: June 26, 2020

On April 30, Gov. Laura Kelly (D) released a phased reopening plan called “Ad Astra: A Plan to Reopen Kansas.” The plan, developed in consultation with community and business leaders, a state emergency management team, and the state health department, laid out a baseline framework local governments throughout the state would need to follow, while permitting them to impose additional restrictions, if necessary.

The first phase of the plan began on May 4. The state entered the second phase on May 22. On May 26, Kelly announced she would no longer enforce the reopening plan, and instead allow local governments to decide which phase of the plan to adopt.

In announcing the plan, Kelly said, “It has been a difficult time that has taken a painful toll… financially, emotionally, physically, spiritually and professionally on Kansans. “But because Kansans took this seriously, COVID-19 has inflicted far less devastation on Kansas than it did in other states.”

She also said that the reopening plan “aims to balance the needs and concerns identified throughout diverse regions of the state, and sectors of the Kansas economy, but without compromising public health and safety. Data must drive this process … not dates.”

The plan says the following metrics would be used to determine if the state would move from one phase to the next:

  • Disease spread
  • Testing rates
  • Death rates
  • Hospitalizations
  • The ability of state and local public health authorities to contain outbreaks and conduct contact tracing
  • The availability of personal protective equipment (PPE)

Additionally, the plan recommends that local governments should look at the rate of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people, COVID-19 hospital admissions, and the trajectory of deaths when deciding whether to loosen or add restrictions.

Context

  • On March 28, Kelly issued Executive Order 20-16, which directed people to stay home unless performing essential activities as defined by the Kansas Essential Function Framework (KEFF). The stay-at-home order took effect on March 30 and was originally scheduled to expire on April 19. However, Kelly extended the order through May 3, at which point she allowed it to expire and the state began reopening.
  • As of June 26, Kansas had reported 12,970 confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases and 261 deaths. Kansas’s estimated population as of July 2019 was 2,913,314. For every 100,000 residents, the state had 445.2 cases and 8.9 deaths.
  • Kansas has a divided government. Democrats control the governorship, while Republicans hold majorities in the state House and Senate.

Plan details

Phase One
Phase One began on May 4, allowing several types of businesses to reopen if they could adhere to certain requirements. Phase One maintained the 10-person gathering limit instituted under the stay-at-home plan. All businesses were permitted to reopen if they could follow social distancing and sanitation requirements, including enforcing the 10-person gathering limit in areas where patrons could not maintain six feet of distance from one another. Childcare facilities and libraries were allowed to operate under Phase One.

The following businesses were prohibited from opening in Phase One:

  • Bars and nightclubs
  • Casinos (non-tribal)
  • Theaters, museums, and indoor leisure spaces like arcades
  • Fitness centers and gyms
  • Nail salons, barbershops, hair salons, tanning salons, tattoo parlors, and other personal service businesses
  • Summer camps
  • Community centers
  • Indoor and outdoor entertainment venues with a capacity of 2,000 or more
  • Fairs, graduation ceremonies, festivals, parades
  • Swimming pools
  • Organized sports

In this phase, individuals were encouraged to wear masks in public settings, and employers were encouraged to allow remote work when possible.

Phase 1.5
Phase 1.5 began May 18 and was not included in the first version of the plan. Kelly announced the inclusion of the new phase on May 14. She said the daily rate of disease spread was too high to move fully into Phase Two.

In Phase 1.5, the state maintained the 10-person gathering limit.

The following businesses and activities were allowed to reopen or resume with restrictions:

  • Commencement ceremonies (no more than 10 individuals in a room or gymnasium and six feet of distance)
  • Personal services businesses like nail salons, barbershops, and tattoo parlors (pre-scheduled appointments or online check-in only)
  • Fitness centers and health clubs (group classes prohibited and locker rooms closed)

The following businesses were prohibited from reopening:

  • Bars and nightclubs
  • Casinos (non-tribal)
  • Theaters, museums, and indoor leisure spaces like arcades
  • Community centers
  • Indoor and outdoor entertainment venues with a capacity of 2,000 or more
  • Fairs, graduation ceremonies, festivals, parades
  • Swimming pools
  • Organized sports

Phase Two
Phase Two began on May 22. The state increased the cap on gatherings to 15 individuals.

In Phase Two, recreational, youth, and non-professional sports were allowed to resume. Casinos and indoor leisure spaces, like arcades, were also permitted to reopen.

The following businesses were prohibited from reopening:

  • Bars and nightclubs
  • Swimming pools (other than those being used for physical therapy or first responder training)
  • Indoor and outdoor entertainment venues with a capacity of 2,000 or more
  • Fairs, graduation ceremonies, festivals, parade
  • Summer camps

On May 26, Kelly said she was turning responsibility for reopening over to local governments and would no longer impose a statewide reopening plan. Local governments could decide which phase of the plan to follow based on local conditions.

Phase Three
Phase Three was originally planned to begin no earlier than June 8. In Phase Three, the cap on gatherings is increased to 45 people and no businesses or activities are restricted from reopening or resuming. Individuals are encouraged to adhere to personal hygiene guidelines, and on-site staffing for employers is unrestricted.

Phase Out
Phase Out was the planned final phase of the reopening plan and was scheduled to begin no earlier than June 22.

The plan states that “Once the state is in Phase Out the Governor will make additional recommendations to maintain public health and safety.” As in the previous phases, local governments were still permitted to impose additional restrictions if necessary. Businesses were encouraged to follow public health measures, and individuals were encouraged to practice social distancing and hygiene protocols.

On Monday, June 22, Kelly recommended that in light of a spike in positive COVID-19 cases, local governments should follow Phase Three of the reopening plan.

Reactions

  • When the plan was unveiled, state Rep. Mark Schreiber (R), who represents District 60, said, “I knew it obviously was not going to be perfect by any means, but I compared it with the guidance from the White House and the CDC that they released a couple weeks ago called ‘Opening Up America’ and it seemed like, to me, that the governor’s plan followed it for the most part. It followed the same basic framework, and I think it was a good document to work off of ... I know people would love to open everything back up even as soon as today, but what I’m most afraid of is opening up too quickly and then having a round of increased infections that leads to another shutdown. That would complicate things tremendously, especially for businesses and schools.”
  • State Sen. Jeff Longbine (R), who represents District 17, said, “On the surface, it’s easy to criticize the governor, but I think she’s doing what she feels is best. There are some components that I’m not sure will be quite as workable in practice as they are on paper. For instance, restaurants putting up plexiglass between booths and having them be at 50 percent occupancy. It makes me wonder what kind of expenditure that would have to be, and if it would even be profitable for those types of businesses to reopen if they can only be half full. Some of those aspects of the plan are still troubling to me.”
  • Anthony Hensley (D), the Kansas Senate minority leader, told the Topeka Capital-Journal on April 30 that the plan was “responsible and reasonable.”

Coronavirus resources

Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.

State resources

Twitter feeds for government officials and agencies appear below.

Federal resources

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Kansas Democrats, "PRESS: KDP Issues Update for 2020 Primary Election," March 30, 2020
  2. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  3. ↑ Governor of Kansas, "Executive Order 20-16," accessed March 28, 2020
  4. ↑ KMBC, "Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly extends statewide stay-at-home order," April 15, 2020
  5. ↑ National Center for State Court, "Coronavirus and the Courts," May 4, 2020
  6. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Apr6courts
  7. ↑ National Center for State Courts, "Coronavirus & The Courts," accessed March 19, 2020
  8. ↑ KSN, "Kansas Supreme Court restricts Judicial Center access, cancels March docket," March 16, 2020
  9. ↑ The Topeka Capital-Journal, "Kansas Legislature adopts budget, highway bill before adjourning until late April," March 19, 2020
  10. ↑ MultiState, "2020 Legislative Session Dates," last updated April 27, 2020
  11. ↑ The Wichita Eagle, "Kansas Gov. Kelly’s pandemic powers may be on the agenda when Legislature returns," May 6, 2020
  12. ↑ KOAM, "Kansas governor imposes new ban on evictions, foreclosures," August 18, 2020
  13. ↑ Witchita Eagle, "‘We are going to see some evictions.’ Kansas ban shielding tenants, homeowners expires," June 1, 2020
  14. ↑ Governor Laura Kelly, "Executive Order No. 20-28," April 30, 2020
  15. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named EvictMA
  16. ↑ The Wichita Eagle, "So far, 200 jail inmates released over COVID-19 concerns, Sedgwick County DA says, " March 26, 2020
  17. ↑ The Wichita Eagle, "War over Easter: Kansas lawmakers revoke Gov. Kelly’s order limiting church gatherings," April 8, 2020
  18. ↑ The Wichita Eagle, "Kansas Gov. Kelly sues lawmakers over vote striking down limits on church gatherings," April 9, 2020
  19. ↑ WIBW, "Kansas Supreme Court will hear coronavirus case Saturday," April 10, 2020
  20. ↑ ksn.com, "Kansas Supreme Court rules in favor of Gov. Laura Kelly lawsuit against LCC," April 11, 2020
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