Senate narrowly passes ban on public benefits for undocumented immigrants
A 22-18 vote highlights partisan divides over state-level immigration policy as the session winds down.
TOPEKA, Kan. — A contentious measure that would bar undocumented immigrants from receiving state or local public benefits narrowly cleared the Kansas Senate on a 22-18 vote, reflecting sharp partisan divisions over immigration policy at the Statehouse.
Senate Bill 254, advanced by the Committee on Federal and State Affairs, prohibits "aliens who are unlawfully present in the United States" from accessing taxpayer-funded benefits, aligning state statute with certain federal laws. The tight margin signals opposition not only from Democrats but also from a handful of moderate Republicans who, according to people familiar with the discussions, have expressed concerns about the administrative burden the measure could place on municipalities, schools and health departments tasked with verifying immigration status.
With the Senate adopting the conference committee report, conservative lawmakers have described the measure as a demonstration of a hardline stance on border security and taxpayer spending.
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