Kansas legislature holds hearing on shield law

A state shield law could finally get passed in Kansas this year, the Republican chair of the state senate’s Judiciary Committee told the Associated Press on Friday.

The committee held a hearing on the proposed bill, S.B. 211, on Friday. The chairman, Sen. Tim Owens (R-Overland Park), said he supports the bill and expects that the committee will pass it, according to the Associated Press. The committee could vote in early March.

The bill was introduced earlier this month by Sens. Derek Schmidt (R-Independence) and Anthony Hensley (D-Topeka). It would provide a qualified privilege to anyone “acting as a journalist.”

A shield law has been proposed in Kansas several times, including last year, but has never passed.