The Bright & Carpenter Consulting newsletter takes you into the Statehouse and gives you an update on legislative and executive branch issues. Click on each newsletter heading to view.
Kansas Legislative Report: March 24, 2023
Today is the last day for non-exempt committees to meet for the 2023 Kansas Legislative Session. It was a frenzy of a week as committee chairs churned through bills and worked quickly to wrap up their business for the year.
Kansas Legislative Report: March 17, 2023
As important deadlines loom, committees were busy hearing and working bills this week – many with three to four hearings a day. They have one more week to complete their work before March 24 when all non-exempt committees are done meeting for the year. Lawmakers will then debate bills the week of March 27th and return the following week for conference committee work with a First Adjournment (end of regular session) date of April 6.
Kansas Legislative Report: March 10, 2023
Overall, the 2023 Kansas Legislative Session has been relatively quiet and non-controversial so far. Major tax cuts and budget spending are still on the table, as these are typically the last pieces of business to close out the year.
Kansas Legislative Report: March 3, 2023
Lawmakers returned from their five-day recess on Wednesday to officially start the second half of the 2023 Legislative Session. It’s typically after Turnaround that the tempo speeds up significantly to meet bill deadlines for the year. It should be fast and furious from here on out.
Kansas Legislative Report: February 24, 2023
The Kansas Legislature adjourned for Turnaround break and will return to Topeka next week. When lawmakers return, they only have five weeks to finish all business for the year. First adjournment is scheduled for April 6, followed by a three-week spring break before Veto Session begins on April 26.
Kansas Legislative Report: February 17, 2023
This was the last full week for non-exempt committees to complete their work for the first half of the legislative session. We saw committee debate on transgender sports and abortion heat up this week.
Kansas Legislative Report: February 10, 2023
With less than three weeks left before Turnaround – when bills must pass their original chamber to stay alive for the year – the pace picked up significantly this week in the Kansas Legislature.
Kansas Legislative Report: February 3, 2023
Non-exempt committees have two more full weeks to complete their work before bills go to the floor and Turnaround break starts on February 25. This is typically when committees go into overdrive to meet quickly approaching legislative deadlines.
Kansas Legislative Report: January 27, 2023
The pace picked up significantly this week in the Kansas Legislature. Lawmakers near the first legislative deadline when all member-sponsored bill drafts must be requested by the revisors office. We saw 125 new bills introduced this week and 70 hearings scheduled for next week.
Kansas Legislative Report: January 20, 2023
Committees picked up steam in this second week of work, holding informational hearings on issues that could be headliners this year, including taxes, workforce development, childcare, and water. Over 100 new bills were introduced, and dozens of hearings are scheduled.
Kansas Legislative Report: January 13, 2023
The 2023 Kansas Legislative Session kicked off with the inauguration of Governor Laura Kelly into her second term of office, as well as the swearing in of 32 new House members and two new Senators.
2023 Kansas Legislative Session Preview
With tax revenues drastically exceeding estimates every month this fiscal year and last, expect to see some tension around how that money is spent.
House Leadership Elections
The Kansas House of Representatives convened in Topeka to elect their new leaders for the 2023 Legislative Session.
2022 Election Report
While 29,000 mail-in ballots have not been returned and provisional ballots are still being tallied, Kansans woke up today to more certainty and fewer surprises than many expected.
2022 Election Update
With only one month remaining until the General Election, things are starting to heat up in Kansas politics. Whether you believe the polls or not, whichever way Kansas’ political pendulum swings this November will be close.
2022 Kansas Primary Election
The 2022 Primary Election was highlighted by the Value Them Both abortion amendment, a few highly contested statewide races, and several surprising House district upsets.
2022 Sine Die Wrap-up
The Kansas Legislature returned to Topeka for Veto Session #2 to redraw their congressional redistricting map and vote to override Governor Kelly on two bills she vetoed since last adjournment.
2022 Veto Session Wrap-Up
Lawmakers had four major pieces of business to wrap-up: veto overrides, food sales tax, education, and budget. Medical marijuana was thought to also be a priority for the wrap-up session, but no action was taken, and the bill remains in conference committee.
Legislative Report
Review what’s happening at the Statehouse each week during the Legislative Session.
2022 Legislative Session Preview
Lawmakers return to Topeka with a record ending balance of $4.2 billion in the State General Fund. From expanding state government programs to providing tax cuts to their constituents during an election year, legislators are coming back with their ideas and proposals in hand.
Kansas Special Session
Here’s what you need to know about the 2021 Kansas Special Session.
2021 Legislative Session Preview
“If there was ever a feeling of uncertainty in the air, this is the year. Up until this week, it was unclear if, how and even where lawmakers would conduct their business in the middle of a pandemic.”
Also in this issue: 2020 Elections, Committee Change-up, Lobbying Toolkit, Livestream Upgrades, Legislative Calendar
May 2020 COVID Update
“Governor Kelly during her press conference this afternoon announced that she will VETO House Bill 2054, which the Legislature passed last Thursday during the one-day Veto Session and Sine Die adjournment. The bill included several COVID-recovery provisions, most notably limiting the Governor’s powers during a state emergency.”
Sine Die 2020 Newsletter
“The most pressing issue the Legislature may consider is a proposal to limit the Governor’s powers during a state emergency. The State Finance Council last week denied Governor Kelly’s 30-day extension of her emergency declaration now set to expire May 26. Republican leadership has been critical of her emergency orders and the “Reopen Kansas” plan, which they consider to be too restrictive on business and harmful to the state’s economy.”
Also in this issue: House and Senate Tax Committee, Commerce Committee, Judiciary Committee, FI & I Committee, and Veto Session
January 2020 Newsletter
“With tax revenues exceeding estimates almost every month this fiscal year, expect to see some tension around how that excess money is spent. From expanding state government programs to providing tax cuts to their constituents, legislators are coming back with their ideas and proposals in hand.”
Also in this issue: live streaming from the Statehouse and the Kansas State Library
January 2019 Newsletter
“The Kansas House and Senate leadership have indicated that there will be a focus on issues that did not get passed during the 2018 Session. Passage of a tax bill will be a top priority.”
Also in this issue: 2018 elections and seat party changes, and legislative advocacy 101
January 2018 Newsletter
“Other issues such as transportation funding, prison funding, Medicaid expansion, the disabled waiting list, workforce training and economic development programs need to be addressed during the 2018 Session. However, these issues have once again taken a back seat to the education debate despite the growing need for attention and an increase in funding.”
Also in this issue: Brownback administration changes and 2018 elections
January 2017 Newsletter
“Expectations are that the 2017 Session will be longer than the usual 90-day session, with at least 100 days already approved. In addition, more than one-third of the legislature is new, including several new committee chairs and new members. With so many new legislators facing some of the most complicated issues in years, there is uncertainty how the major issues of the session, such as budget cuts, tax reforms, school finance formula and Medicaid expansion, will be addressed.”
Also in this issue: 2017 legislative session issues, House & Senate Leadership, and Kansas Legislature 101
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