What was approved by the Kansas Legislature

GAMBLING (SB 66)

Key provisions:Authorizes state-owned, destination casinos in Wyandotte County, near Wichita, Dodge City and in southeast Kansas; and slot machines at race tracks in those areas, including the Woodlands in Kansas City, Kan. Sets up regulatory controls on operations. The state's share of money is to be dedicated to long-term expenses like tax relief, infrastructure and debt.

Supporters said:Well-regulated expanded gambling would help local economies, create a new state revenue source and pay for vital government expenses. Kansans are already gambling, they say, but the money goes to surrounding states.

Opponents said: Government shouldn't encourage an addictive behavior; weak oversight could lead to corruption; without tight controls casinos and slot machines could spread across state.

TAX CUTS (HB 2031, HB 2264, HB 2476)

Key provisions:Taxes were cut by $56.9 million over the next five years for many people receiving Social Security. To qualify, seniors must have a federal adjusted gross income of under $50,000 for this tax year and under $75,000 for tax year 2008 and years afterward. Lawmakers also expanded the refund and the number of people who qualify for the homestead property tax refund program and initiated a five-year elimination of the corporate franchise tax. They also increased the refund claimed under the state's earned income tax credit.

Supporterssaid: These measures won overwhelming support in both the Senate and the House. Large revenue surpluses fueled the desire among lawmakers and the governor to provide tax reductions for the poor and elderly. Phasing out the franchise tax was seen as a way to spur economic development.

Opponents said:Conservatives ultimately supported these measures but wanted this tax relief to be a lot more than the $31.5 million approved for next year. It was far short of the goal of $60 million backed by many House members.

HEALTH CARE REFORM (SB 11)

Key provisions: Starts the process of addressing problems in health care system. Sets forth studies to put state in position to adopt reforms next year. Includes modest health care programs like premium assistance for low-income families and grants for hard-to-insure groups.

Supporters said:A critical, bipartisan start to addressing the problem of rising health costs and diminishing coverage.

Opponents said:There were few - the bill passed both chambers unanimously - but some lawmakers complained the bill was a feel-good measure that put off the hard questions.

UNIVERSITY MAINTENCE (HB 2237)

Key provisions:University officials told lawmakers they needed $663 million to address a serious facilities maintenance problem at the state's six universities, technical colleges and 19 community colleges. The Legislature gave them a $210 million plan that relies on the sale of tax credits to raise a lot of the money. The plan also allows community colleges and technical colleges to obtain $100 million in bonds that they'll have to pay back over eight years.

Supporters said: This was all the state budget could afford and that it was unrealistic for the universities to believe the entire $663 million could be accounted for in one legislative session.

Opponents said: The final plan doesn't solve the repair problem, which will grow worse over the next five years. They said it costs $84 million a year just to keep the maintenance problem from getting any worse at the universities.

SEAT BELTS (SB 8)

Key provisions: The Legislature approved a primary seat belt law for drivers and passengers ages 14 to 17. The measure would allow law enforcement to ticket young drivers without citing them for another offense.

Supporters said: The measure will save lives because only a small percentage of drivers in this age group use seat belts.

Opponents said: It will be difficult to enforce because law enforcement officers will have a hard time telling whether a driver is 17 or 18 by just looking.

OTHER BILLS

CONCEALED WEAPONS (HB 2528)

Bill vetoed by the governor - and enacted anyway by the Legislature - nullifies local ordinances restricting where concealed handgun permit holders may carry their weapons.

ENGLISH-AS-OFFICIAL LANGUAGE (HB 2140)

Would have made English the state's official language and mandated that government do its official business in English. Wouldn't have prohibited government agencies from offering information or services in any other language, however.

KU MED CENTER AFFILIATION OVERSIGHT (part of budget)

Before it finalizes any affiliation with St. Luke's Hospital, the University of Kansas Medical Center must ink an operating agreement with the University of Kansas Hospital. An earlier attempt at oversight - to give the Board of Regents and the hospital veto power over the affiliation - was vetoed.

MONEY FOR DISABLED (part of budget)

The Legislature set aside funding to eliminate waiting lists for services for the disabled and increase wages paid to community health workers.

TIGHTER ABORTION REGULATIONS (part of budget)

New rules require doctors to submit more information about the medical conditions used to justify late-term abortions, which are prohibited unless necessary to save a woman's life or health.

SCHOOL LOCKBOX (part of budget)

A special fund was created for $122.7 million, the money it will take to pay for the second year of the $466 million, three-year school funding plan approved by the Legislature last year.

JOHNSON COUNTY SALES TAX ISSUES (SB 112, SB 115)

These proposals would fund a research triangle and expanded jails. The bill calls for an increase in sales-tax authority up to a quarter-cent for public-safety facilities including more jail beds, a crime lab and juvenile detention campus. Also allowed is an additional 2/10 -cent sales-tax authority or a 2-mill property tax increase, or a combination of both, for an education and research triangle involving Kansas State University, the University of Kansas Medical Center and the University of Kansas Edwards Campus in Overland Park. The county commission must approve these measures before putting them on the ballot next year.

KPERS REFORM (SB 362)

This is a major reform of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System, or KPERS. It increased the contribution for new employees hired after July 1, 2009, from 4 percent to 6 percent and ended the current 85 point system for determining full retirement benefits for those new employees. The bill also included a $300 one-time bonus for eligible retirees.

TAX AUTHORITY FOR SCHOOLS (part of budget, HB 2310)

Lawmakers representing Johnson County schools got more authority under state law to raise education dollars from local property tax sources and defeated attempts to repeal some of the authority already granted under state law. Schools there rely more heavily on these dollars because they are in the bottom 15 percent of districts in the amount of state aid per pupil they receive from Topeka.