Kansas GOP legislators put into law in late March a major overhaul of how governments can respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
More specifically, the let lets anyone feeling aggrieved by a virus restriction to file a civil suit against the state, county, city or school board. Any such court hearing has to be held within 72 hours, and a decision made within a week after that.
And if the government can't show the COVID-19 order was narrowly tailored and least restrictive ― a high standard ― relief has to be granted.
The goal, Republican lawmakers said, is to give due process against rights-infringing orders. Some, however, acknowledged another reason — increasing the pressure to do away with virus restrictions completely.