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Rep. Susan Ruiz, front center, says women know the Kansas Supreme Court recognized the right to bodily autonomy and the Legislature is trying to take it away. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Capitol Update: Rep. Susan Ruiz sees danger in efforts to alter child labor laws

Summarizing this legislative session is difficult to do. The minority party caucus (Democrats) was busy trying to introduce, advance and pass bills that matter to most Kansans. We did manage to sustain some of the governor’s vetoes.

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Rep. Susan Ruiz, front center, says women know the Kansas Supreme Court recognized the right to bodily autonomy and the Legislature is trying to take it away. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas House overrides governor’s vetoes of three anti-abortion bills

The GOP-dominated House overrode Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of three anti-abortion laws Wednesday over objections about state-mandated misinformation, alienating OB-GYN workers and ignoring the will of voters.

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North Dakota lawmakers, at the state Capitol in Bismarck, on April 22, 2021.

In some states with laws on transgender bathrooms, officials may not know how they will be enforced

When North Dakota restricted which bathrooms transgender students can use in public schools and universities this year, the school district in the state’s largest city promised to ignore the new rules.

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GOP Rep. Brenda Landwehr of Wichita, left, and Democratic Rep. Susan Ruiz of Shawnee verbally spar on merits of Gov. Laura Kelly's veto of $2 million earmarked for pregnancy resource centers. The House voted to override Kelly, but the Senate has yet to act. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas House rejects governor’s veto of bill expanding limits on access to food subsidies

The Kansas House gathered the two-thirds majority Wednesday to initiate an override Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of legislation stripping federally funded food assistance from people 50 to 59 years of age not working at least 30 hours a week or taking part in employment training.

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Rep. Jarrod Ousley, D-Merriam, left, confers with Rep. Susan Concannon, R-Beloit, during a September meeting of the Joint Committee on Child Welfare System Oversight. The committee outlined legislative priorities last week.

These child welfare policies and funding priorities will be pushed by Kansas lawmakers

Improving child welfare in Kansas, particularly in the foster care system, will be top of mind for some legislators as they return to Topeka in January after holding several lengthy meetings between sessions.

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A smattering of photos, pamphlets and cut-out paper hearts frame images of "female impersonators" of the 1950s. This is part of the GLAMA Archives collection. Image by Cody Boston

In Kansas City, LGBTQ+ Support Systems Are Emerging Slowly

Past Advocates and New Leaders Work Toward Unifying the Community, While Acknowledging Challenges

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Democratic Rep. Susan Ruiz and a majority of the House health committee voted to seek an opinion from the attorney general before voting on a bill granting one-year, no-bid contract extensions to three companies delivering Medicaid services across Kansas. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

House committee tables bill awarding no-bid contract extensions to KanCare providers

Bipartisan group wants opinion from attorney general on legality of maneuver

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Rep. Susan Concannon, R-Beloit, gained tentative Kansas House approval of bill reforming Adrian’s Law to upgrade physician training and examination of suspected child abuse victims under age 5. Two GOP lawmakers objected to cost and scope of the reform bill. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

House adopts bill standardizing training, assessment on potential abuse of kids under 5

Small contingent of GOP legislators object to program’s cost, advocacy by physicians

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Susan Ruiz canvassing in a District 23 Neighborhood ahead of the 2018 election

Susan Ruiz hopes the ‘rainbow wave’ carries her to a seat in the Kansas Legislature

Susan Ruiz’s decision to run for office parallels the thinking of so many other people after the 2016 presidential election.

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