<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579713172312.png" alt="Image courtesy House Federal and State Affairs Committee" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy House Federal and State Affairs Committee</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican lawmakers on Wednesday pushed two separate but identical versions of the same proposed anti-abortion amendment to the Kansas Constitution past their first hurdles in the GOP-controlled Legislature.The House Federal and State Affairs Committee endorsed a measure that would overturn a Kansas Supreme Court decision last year declaring access to abortion a “fundamental” right under the state constitution. The amendment would declare that the Kansas Constitution does not “secure” a right to abortion and allow legislators to regulate it as far as federal court decisions allow. The vote was 15-6.The Senate Judiciary Committee approved&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019%E2%80%9420/measures/documents/scr1613%E2%80%9400%E2%80%940000.pdf">its own version</a>&nbsp;of the same proposal less than two hours later on a voice vote without debating the measure.Top Republicans said the votes set up a debate in one chamber or both as early as next week. GOP leaders have made putting an amendment on the August primary ballot a priority.Both chambers must approve the measure with two-thirds majority for it to go on the ballot. A simple majority of voters would have to approve it at the polls.Supporters of the proposed amendment argue that it would allow voters to preserve the Legislature's long-standing power to regulate abortion and protect a raft of restrictions approved over the past decade. Critics see it as a step toward an eventual attempt to ban abortion.

Proposal to reverse Kansas abortion rights ruling advances