Lawmakers also wrestled with whether to pursue a constitutional amendment that would bar the Supreme Court from ever closing schools. Any constitutional change faces a high bar — both the House and Senate need two-thirds votes to advance any amendment, which would then go before voters in November.
Only the Senate panel voted to recommend that it introduce a constitutional amendment to restrict the court. The House committee opted not to move forward with any recommendation. Some members expressed flat-out opposition to a constitutional change, while others worried about acting too hastily.
“What effective remedy to enforce the requirements of the constitution of the state of Kansas — what remains?” Rep. John Carmichael, D-Wichita, said of a constitutional amendment. “It seems to me if that’s the circumstance, there is no effective remedy left, and we now have a Supreme Court that has been neutered and can only issue advisory opinions.”