TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican lawmakers argue that a pandemic justifies special rules in Kansas for protecting the privacy of people exposed to COVID-19 and on Wednesday advanced a proposal to preserve those rules over public health groups' objections.

The Senate approved, 26-14, a bill that would make contact tracing rules for the coronavirus permanent, setting COVID-19 apart from other infectious diseases, such as syphilis or hepatitis. The GOP-controlled Legislature enacted the special rules at Attorney General Derek Schmidt's urging, but they are set to expire May 1.

Key provisions in the...