Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has vetoed Senate Bill 29, which would strip local health officials of their authority to ban public gatherings or order quarantines during disease outbreaks. The bill aimed to limit public health powers used to control the spread of contagious diseases.

In her veto message, Governor Kelly said the bill goes against proven public health strategies and would endanger Kansans. She warned it could hurt efforts to control outbreaks of measles, tuberculosis, and other diseases, calling the legislation politically driven in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senate President Ty Masterson and House Speaker Dan Hawkins defended the bill, saying it protects the right to assemble—citing events like church services, funerals, and weddings—and strengthens due process rights.

Lawmakers return to Topeka on Thursday for the session’s final stretch, where Republican leaders plan to attempt overrides of several recent vetoes, including this one.