TOPEKA (KSNT) — Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach unveiled his legislative priorities Thursday.
In outlining his legislative plan, Kobach described his proposals to curb the recent impact of fentanyl abuse on the state. The Attorney General told the Kansas Capitol Bureau that fentanyl use in the state is expected to get worse.
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“It’s not like the fentanyl crisis is just a temporary thing that’s fading now. It looks like it will continue” Kobach said.
The AG says its office plans to institute tougher sentences for fentanyl-related crimes and increase penalties if the crime results in death. Kobach also wants to distribute more resources to county attorneys prosecuting fentanyl cases.
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In her state of the state address, Gov. Laura Kelly publicly advocated the use of fentanyl test strips to combat the problem. Kobach says he’s also willing to consider legalizing fentanyl test strips, but believes the strips could allow opioid abuse to grow.
“If there are no negative consequences for law enforcement,” Kobach said, “Then we will support their freedom. It’s new and we’d like to see the empirical data before we jump into that.
Kobach’s priorities also include blocking the use of Environmental, Social and Governance or “ESG” standards and reducing retail theft.
