Kansas House of Representatives

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Kansas House of
Representatives
SLP-Infobox Image-Color.png
General Information
Party control:   Republican
Session start:   January 13, 2025
Session end:   May 6, 2025
Term length:   2 years
Term limits:   None
Redistricting:  Hybrid
Salary:   $86.66/session day + per diem
Members
Total:  125
Democrats:  37
Republicans:  88
Other:  0
Vacancies:  0
Leadership
Speaker:   Daniel Hawkins (R)
Maj. Leader:   Chris Croft (R)
Min. Leader:   Brandon Woodard (D)
Elections
Last election:  November 5, 2024
Next election:  November 3, 2026

The Kansas House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Kansas State Legislature. Alongside the Kansas State Senate, it forms the legislative branch of the Kansas state government and works alongside the governor of Kansas to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the Kansas House of Representatives include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.

The Kansas House of Representatives meets at the state capitol building in Topeka, Kansas.

  • All 125 seats in the Kansas House of Representatives were up for election in 2024. The chamber's Republican supermajority increased from 85-40 to 88-37.
  • All 125 seats in the Kansas House of Representatives were up for election in 2022. The chamber's Republican supermajority decreased from 86-39 to 85-40.
  • Kansas has a divided government where neither party holds a trifecta. The Democratic Party controls the office of governor, while the Republican Party controls both chambers of the state legislature.

  • This page contains the following information on the Kansas House of Representatives.

    Party control

    Current partisan control

    The table below shows the partisan breakdown of the Kansas House of Representatives as of March 2025:

    Party As of March 2025
         Democratic Party 37
         Republican Party 88
         Other 0
         Vacancies 0
    Total 125

    Members

    Leadership

    The speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the body. In the absence of the speaker, the speaker pro tempore takes on the duties of the office. The speaker and speaker pro tempore are both elected by the members of the House. Duties of the speaker include preserving order and decorum and deciding all questions of order.[1]

    Leadership and members


    Office Name Party Date assumed office
    Kansas House of Representatives District 1 Dale Helwig Republican January 13, 2025
    Kansas House of Representatives District 2 Kenneth Collins Republican 2019
    Kansas House of Representatives District 3 Chuck Smith Republican January 11, 2021
    Kansas House of Representatives District 4 Rick James Republican January 13, 2025
    Kansas House of Representatives District 5 Carrie Barth Republican January 9, 2023
    Kansas House of Representatives District 6 Samantha Poetter Republican January 11, 2021
    Kansas House of Representatives District 7 Dan Goddard Republican January 9, 2023
    Kansas House of Representatives District 8 Chris Croft Republican 2019
    Kansas House of Representatives District 9 Fred Gardner Republican January 9, 2023
    Kansas House of Representatives District 10 Suzanne Wikle Democratic January 13, 2025
    Kansas House of Representatives District 11 Ron Bryce Republican January 9, 2023
    Kansas House of Representatives District 12 Doug Blex Republican January 9, 2017
    Kansas House of Representatives District 13 Duane Droge Republican January 9, 2023
    Kansas House of Representatives District 14 Charlotte Esau Republican January 13, 2025
    Kansas House of Representatives District 15 Lauren Bohi Republican January 13, 2025
    Kansas House of Representatives District 16 Linda Featherston Democratic January 11, 2021
    Kansas House of Representatives District 17 Jo Ella Hoye Democratic January 11, 2021
    Kansas House of Representatives District 18 Cindy Neighbor Democratic January 9, 2017
    Kansas House of Representatives District 19 Stephanie Clayton Democratic January 14, 2013
    Kansas House of Representatives District 20 Mari-Lynn Poskin Democratic January 11, 2021
    Kansas House of Representatives District 21 Jerry Stogsdill Democratic January 9, 2017
    Kansas House of Representatives District 22 Lindsay Vaughn Democratic January 11, 2021
    Kansas House of Representatives District 23 Susan Ruiz Democratic 2019
    Kansas House of Representatives District 24 Jarrod Ousley Democratic January 12, 2015
    Kansas House of Representatives District 25 Rui Xu Democratic 2019
    Kansas House of Representatives District 26 Chip VanHouden Republican January 13, 2025
    Kansas House of Representatives District 27 Sean Tarwater Sr. Republican January 9, 2017
    Kansas House of Representatives District 28 Carl Turner Republican January 11, 2021
    Kansas House of Representatives District 29 Heather Meyer Democratic September 7, 2021
    Kansas House of Representatives District 30 Laura Williams Republican January 9, 2023
    Kansas House of Representatives District 31 Louis Ruiz Democratic 2005
    Kansas House of Representatives District 32 Pam Curtis Democratic March 3, 2014
    Kansas House of Representatives District 33 Mike Thompson Republican January 9, 2023
    Kansas House of Representatives District 34 Valdenia Winn Democratic 2001
    Kansas House of Representatives District 35 Wanda Brownlee Paige Democratic October 4, 2024
    Kansas House of Representatives District 36 Lynn Melton Democratic January 9, 2023
    Kansas House of Representatives District 37 Melissa Oropeza Democratic January 9, 2023
    Kansas House of Representatives District 38 Timothy Johnson Republican January 11, 2021
    Kansas House of Representatives District 39 Angela Stiens Republican January 13, 2025
    Kansas House of Representatives District 40 David Buehler Republican January 9, 2023
    Kansas House of Representatives District 41 Pat Proctor Republican January 11, 2021
    Kansas House of Representatives District 42 Lance Neelly Republican January 11, 2021
    Kansas House of Representatives District 43 Bill Sutton Republican January 14, 2013
    Kansas House of Representatives District 44 Barbara Ballard Democratic 1993
    Kansas House of Representatives District 45 Mike Amyx Democratic 2019
    Kansas House of Representatives District 46 Brooklynne Mosley Democratic January 13, 2025
    Kansas House of Representatives District 47 Ronald Ellis Republican January 9, 2017
    Kansas House of Representatives District 48 Dan Osman Democratic August 2, 2021
    Kansas House of Representatives District 49 Nikki McDonald Democratic December 20, 2023
    Kansas House of Representatives District 50 Kyle McNorton Republican October 24, 2023
    Kansas House of Representatives District 51 Megan Steele Republican January 13, 2025
    Kansas House of Representatives District 52 Jesse Borjon Republican January 11, 2021
    Kansas House of Representatives District 53 Kirk Haskins Democratic January 9, 2023
    Kansas House of Representatives District 54 Ken Corbet Republican January 14, 2013
    Kansas House of Representatives District 55 Tobias Schlingensiepen Democratic January 9, 2023
    Kansas House of Representatives District 56 Virgil Weigel Democratic January 9, 2017
    Kansas House of Representatives District 57 John Alcala Democratic January 14, 2013
    Kansas House of Representatives District 58 Alexis Simmons Democratic January 13, 2025
    Kansas House of Representatives District 59 Rebecca Schmoe Republican January 9, 2023
    Kansas House of Representatives District 60 Mark Schreiber Republican January 9, 2017
    Kansas House of Representatives District 61 Francis Awerkamp Republican January 9, 2017
    Kansas House of Representatives District 62 Sean Willcott Republican January 13, 2025
    Kansas House of Representatives District 63 Allen Reavis Republican January 13, 2025
    Kansas House of Representatives District 64 Lewis Bloom Republican January 9, 2023
    Kansas House of Representatives District 65 Shawn Chauncey Republican January 13, 2025
    Kansas House of Representatives District 66 Sydney Carlin Democratic 2003
    Kansas House of Representatives District 67 Angel Roeser Republican January 13, 2025
    Kansas House of Representatives District 68 Nathan Butler Republican January 9, 2023
    Kansas House of Representatives District 69 Clarke Sanders Republican January 11, 2021
    Kansas House of Representatives District 70 Scott Hill Republican January 9, 2023
    Kansas House of Representatives District 71 Steven Howe Republican January 11, 2021
    Kansas House of Representatives District 72 Avery Anderson Republican January 11, 2021
    Kansas House of Representatives District 73 Rick Wilborn Republican January 13, 2025
    Kansas House of Representatives District 74 Mike King Republican January 13, 2025
    Kansas House of Representatives District 75 Will Carpenter Republican 2019
    Kansas House of Representatives District 76 Brad Barrett Republican January 13, 2025
    Kansas House of Representatives District 77 Kristey Williams Republican January 12, 2015
    Kansas House of Representatives District 78 Robyn Essex Republican January 9, 2023
    Kansas House of Representatives District 79 Webster Roth Republican January 9, 2023
    Kansas House of Representatives District 80 Bill Rhiley Republican 2019
    Kansas House of Representatives District 81 Blake Carpenter Republican January 12, 2015
    Kansas House of Representatives District 82 Leah Howell Republican January 9, 2023
    Kansas House of Representatives District 83 Henry Helgerson Democratic January 11, 2016
    Kansas House of Representatives District 84 Ford Carr Democratic September 20, 2022
    Kansas House of Representatives District 85 Patrick Penn Republican January 11, 2021
    Kansas House of Representatives District 86 Silas Miller Democratic January 9, 2023
    Kansas House of Representatives District 87 Susan Estes Republican January 11, 2021
    Kansas House of Representatives District 88 Sandy Pickert Republican January 9, 2023
    Kansas House of Representatives District 89 KC Ohaebosim Democratic January 9, 2017
    Kansas House of Representatives District 90 Steve Huebert Republican January 13, 2025
    Kansas House of Representatives District 91 Emil Bergquist Republican January 23, 2018
    Kansas House of Representatives District 92 John Carmichael Democratic October 16, 2013
    Kansas House of Representatives District 93 Brian Bergkamp Republican January 11, 2021
    Kansas House of Representatives District 94 Leo Delperdang Republican January 9, 2017
    Kansas House of Representatives District 95 Tom Sawyer Democratic January 14, 2013
    Kansas House of Representatives District 96 Tom Kessler Republican January 11, 2021
    Kansas House of Representatives District 97 Nick Hoheisel Republican 2019
    Kansas House of Representatives District 98 Cyndi Howerton Republican August 25, 2021
    Kansas House of Representatives District 99 Susan Humphries Republican January 9, 2017
    Kansas House of Representatives District 100 Daniel Hawkins Republican January 14, 2013
    Kansas House of Representatives District 101 Joe Seiwert Republican 2009
    Kansas House of Representatives District 102 Kyler Sweely Republican January 13, 2025
    Kansas House of Representatives District 103 Angela Martinez Democratic January 9, 2023
    Kansas House of Representatives District 104 Paul Waggoner Republican 2019
    Kansas House of Representatives District 105 Jill Ward Republican January 13, 2025
    Kansas House of Representatives District 106 Lisa Moser Republican January 11, 2021
    Kansas House of Representatives District 107 Dawn Wolf Republican January 13, 2025
    Kansas House of Representatives District 108 Brandon Woodard Democratic January 9, 2023
    Kansas House of Representatives District 109 Troy L. Waymaster Republican January 14, 2013
    Kansas House of Representatives District 110 Ken Rahjes Republican January 11, 2016
    Kansas House of Representatives District 111 Barbara Wasinger Republican 2019
    Kansas House of Representatives District 112 Sherri Brantley Republican January 13, 2025
    Kansas House of Representatives District 113 Brett Fairchild Republican January 11, 2021
    Kansas House of Representatives District 114 Kevin Schwertfeger Republican January 13, 2025
    Kansas House of Representatives District 115 Gary White Republican January 9, 2023
    Kansas House of Representatives District 116 Kyle Hoffman Republican January 10, 2011
    Kansas House of Representatives District 117 Adam Turk Republican January 9, 2023
    Kansas House of Representatives District 118 Jim Minnix Republican January 11, 2021
    Kansas House of Representatives District 119 Jason Goetz Republican January 9, 2023
    Kansas House of Representatives District 120 Adam Smith Republican January 9, 2017
    Kansas House of Representatives District 121 John Resman Republican February 16, 2017
    Kansas House of Representatives District 122 Lon Pishny Republican January 13, 2025
    Kansas House of Representatives District 123 Bob Lewis Republican January 9, 2023
    Kansas House of Representatives District 124 Martin Long Republican January 13, 2025
    Kansas House of Representatives District 125 Shannon Francis Republican January 12, 2015


    Salaries

    See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
    State legislative salaries, 2024[2]
    SalaryPer diem
    $86.66/session day$166/day

    Swearing in dates

    See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

    Kansas legislators assume office on the second Monday of January after their election.[3]

    Membership qualifications

    See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

    Section 4 of Article 2 of the Kansas Constitution states, "During the time that any person is a candidate for nomination or election to the legislature and during the term of each legislator, such candidate or legislator shall be and remain a qualified elector who resides in his or her district."[4]

    Historical party control

    Republicans won control of the Kansas House of Representatives in 1992. In 2024, they won a 88-37 majority. The table below shows the partisan history of the Kansas House following every general election from 1992 to 2024. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

    Kansas House of Representatives election results: 1992-2024

    Year '92 '94 '96 '98 '00 '02 '04 '06 '08 '10 '12 '14 '16 '18 '20 '22 '24
    Democrats 59 45 48 48 46 45 42 47 48 33 35 28 40 40 39 40 37
    Republicans 66 80 77 77 79 80 83 78 77 92 90 97 85 85 86 85 88

    Trifecta history

    A state government trifecta is a term that describes single party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Between 1992 and 2023, Kansas was under the following types of trifecta control:

    • Democratic trifecta: None
    • Republican trifecta: 1995-2002, 2011-2018
    • Divided government: 1992-1994, 2003-2010, 2019-2023

    Kansas Party Control: 1992-2025
    No Democratic trifectas  •  Sixteen years of Republican trifectas

    Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
    Governor D D D R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D
    Senate R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
    House D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R

    Elections

    Elections by year

    Kansas state representatives serve two-year terms, with all seats up for election every two years. Kansas holds elections for its legislature in even years.

    2026

    See also: Kansas House of Representatives elections, 2026

    Elections for the Kansas House of Representatives will take place in 2026. The general election is on November 3, 2026.

    2024

    See also: Kansas House of Representatives elections, 2024

    Elections for the Kansas House of Representatives took place in 2024. The general election was on November 5, 2024. The primary was August 6, 2024. The filing deadline was June 3, 2024.

    In the 2024 elections, Republicans increased their majority from 85-40 to 88-37.

    Kansas House of Representatives
    Party As of November 5, 2024 After November 6, 2024
         Democratic Party 40 37
         Republican Party 85 88
    Total 125 125

    2022

    See also: Kansas House of Representatives elections, 2022

    Elections for the Kansas House of Representatives took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for August 2, 2022. The filing deadline was June 1, 2022.

    Heading into the 2022 elections, Republicans had an 86-39 majority in the Kansas House of Representatives. Republicans lost one seat in the election, giving the party an 85-40 majority in the chamber.

    Kansas House of Representatives
    Party As of November 8, 2022 After November 9, 2022
         Democratic Party 39 40
         Republican Party 86 85
    Total 125 125

    2020

    See also: Kansas House of Representatives elections, 2020


    Elections for the office of Kansas House of Representatives took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for August 4, 2020. The filing deadline was June 1, 2020.

    In the 2020 elections, Republicans increased their majority in the Kansas House of Representatives from 84–41 to 86–39.

    Kansas House of Representatives
    Party As of November 3, 2020 After November 4, 2020
         Democratic Party 41 39
         Republican Party 84 86
    Total 125 125

    2018

    See also: Kansas House of Representatives elections, 2018

    Elections for the Kansas House of Representatives took place in 2018. The closed primary election took place on August 7, 2018, and the general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was June 1, 2018.

    In the 2018 elections, there was no change in the partisan balance of the Kansas House of Representatives.

    Kansas House of Representatives
    Party As of November 6, 2018 After November 7, 2018
         Democratic Party 40 40
         Republican Party 85 85
    Total 125 125

    2016

    See also: Kansas House of Representatives elections, 2016

    Elections for the Kansas House of Representatives were held in 2016. The primary election was held on August 2, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 1, 2016. All 125 seats in the Kansas House of Representatives were up for election in 2016.

    Heading into the election, Republicans held a 97-28 majority. Republicans lost 12 seats in the election, giving them a 85-40 majority.

    Kansas House of Representatives
    Party As of November 7, 2016 After November 8, 2016
         Democratic Party 28 40
         Republican Party 97 85
    Total 125 125

    Vacancies

    See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

    If there is a vacancy in the Kansas State Legislature, the governor is responsible for appointing a replacement, and a special election is held if the vacancy occurs before May 1 of the second year of the officeholder's term. If the vacancy occurs after or on May 1 of the officeholder's second year, the governor is responsible for appointing a replacement, and that person serves out the rest of the term.[11][12][13]

    DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: Kansas Stat. Ann. §25-3903 and Kansas Stat. Ann. §25-312

    District map

    See also: Kansas state legislative districts

    The state of Kansas has 165 legislative districts. Each district elects one representative. The state Senate has 40 districts and the state House has 125 districts.

    Use the interactive map below to find your district.



    Redistricting

    See also: Redistricting in Kansas

    Kansas enacted legislative district boundaries on May 18, 2022, when the Kansas Supreme Court unanimously upheld the validity of the legislative districts that Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) signed into law on April 15, 2022.[14][15] Both chambers of the legislature passed the redistricting legislation on March 30, 2022, after a joint House-Senate conference committee had developed it.[16] The Kansas House of Representatives approved the legislative boundaries, 83-40, and the State Senate approved them, 29-11.[16]After Kelly signed the maps, Andrew Bahl and Rafael Garcia of the Topeka Capital-Journal wrote, "The state Senate and House maps were mildly contested in the Legislature, particularly in the Senate where the map will create a fourth, Democrat-leaning district in Topeka and Lawrence."[17]

    2020

    See also: Redistricting in Kansas after the 2020 census

    Kansas enacted legislative district boundaries on May 18, 2022, when the Kansas Supreme Court unanimously upheld the validity of the legislative districts that Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) signed into law on April 15, 2022.[18][19] Both chambers of the legislature passed the redistricting legislation on March 30, 2022, after a joint House-Senate conference committee had developed it.[16] The Kansas House of Representatives approved the legislative boundaries, 83-40, and the State Senate approved them, 29-11.[16]After Kelly signed the maps, Andrew Bahl and Rafael Garcia of the Topeka Capital-Journal wrote, "The state Senate and House maps were mildly contested in the Legislature, particularly in the Senate where the map will create a fourth, Democrat-leaning district in Topeka and Lawrence."[20]

    District map after 2020 redistricting

    Below is the state House map in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle.

    Kansas State House Districts
    until January 8, 2023

    Click a district to compare boundaries.

    Kansas State House Districts
    starting January 9, 2023

    Click a district to compare boundaries.


    2010

    Kansas received its local census data on March 3, 2012. The state grew by 6.1 percent to over 2.58 million, with growth concentrated in the northeast corner of the state and the remainder largely showing slight declines.[21] Wichita grew by 11.1 percent, Overland Park grew by 16.3 percent, Kansas City decreased by 0.7 percent, Topeka grew by 4.2 percent, and Olathe grew by 35.4 percent.[22]

    The Legislature attempted redistricting in its 2012 session. Traditionally, the chambers passed their own maps. In 2012, the Senate passed revisions to a new House map, and the House passed a map for the Senate; neither chamber was amenable to the other's actions. On May 20, the Legislature adjourned amid deadlock, asking the United States District Court for the District of Kansas to intervene and draw congressional and state legislative district lines. On June 7, 2012, the court approved the new district maps.[23][24]

    Sessions

    Legislation

    The legislation tracker below displays all legislation that the Kansas House of Representatives has approved in its most recent legislative session—this includes legislation that has been sent from the Senate to the House and legislation that has already been approved by the House and signed by the governor after its passage in the Senate. The table below includes the bill number, its name, progress, most recent action date, and sponsor. Scroll up and down and side to side to see more. Click the bill number to read the bill text and see its voting history. Click the headings to sort the content. Rearrange the order of the headings by clicking and dragging them. Click the magnifying glass in the bottom left corner to search for specific terms. The legislation tracker is maintained and updated by BillTrack50.

    Dates of legislative sessions in Kansas by year

    2025

    See also: 2025 Kansas legislative session and Dates of 2025 state legislative sessions

    In 2025, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 13, 2025, and adjourn on May 6, 2025.



    About legislative sessions in Kansas

    The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution declares that any power not already given to the federal government is reserved to the states and the people.[36] State governments across the country use this authority to hold legislative sessions where a state's elected representatives meet for a period of time to draft and vote on legislation and set state policies on issues such as taxation, education, and government spending. The different types of legislation passed by a legislature may include resolutions, legislatively referred constitutional amendments, and bills that become law.

    Article 2 of the Kansas Constitution establishes when the Kansas State Legislature, of which the House of Representatives is a part, is to be in session. Section 8 of Article 2 states that the Legislature is to convene on the second Monday of January of each year. Section 8 also limits the length of regular sessions in even-numbered years to ninety calendar days, but it allows these sessions to be extended by a two-thirds affirmative vote of both houses. In 2010, this kind of extension occurred, moving the session's adjournment date from March 30th to May 28th.

    Legislative roles and procedures

    Every state legislature throughout the country features its own internal procedures that it uses to govern itself and how it interacts with other parts of state government. Ballotpedia's coverage of internal state legislative procedures includes veto overrides, the role of the legislature in the state budget, procedures for filling membership vacancies, and redistricting.

    Veto overrides

    Veto Override Graphic-Republican Party.png

    See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures

    State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Kansas are listed below.

    How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members in both chambers.

    Two-thirds of members in both chambers must vote to override a veto, which is 84 of the 125 members in the Kansas House of Representatives and 27 of the 40 members in the Kansas State Senate. Kansas is one of 36 states that requires a two-thirds vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto.

    Authority: Article 2, Section 14 of the Kansas Constitution.

    "If the governor approves a bill, he shall sign it. If the governor does not approve a bill, the governor shall veto it by returning the bill, with a veto message of the objections, to the house of origin of the bill. Whenever a veto message is so received, the message shall be entered in the journal and in not more than thirty calendar days (excluding the day received), the house of origin shall reconsider the bill. If two-thirds of the members then elected (or appointed) and qualified shall vote to pass the bill, it shall be sent, with the veto message, to the other house, which shall in not more than thirty calendar days (excluding the day received) also reconsider the bill, and if approved by two-thirds of the members then elected (or appointed) and qualified, it shall become a law, notwithstanding the governor's veto."

    Role in state budget

    See also: Kansas state budget and finances
    Kansas on Public Policy Logo-one line-on Ballotpedia.png
    Check out Ballotpedia articles about policy in your state on:
    BudgetsCivil libertiesEducationElectionsEnergyEnvironmentHealthcarePensions

    The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[37]

    1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in June.
    2. State agencies submit their budget requests to the governor in September.
    3. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature in January.
    4. The legislature typically adopts a budget in May. A simple majority is required to adopt a budget. The fiscal year begins in July.

    Kansas is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[37][38]

    The governor is legally required to submit a balanced proposed budget. Likewise, the legislature is legally required to pass a balanced budget.[37]

    Committees

    See also: List of committees in Kansas state government

    Every state legislature and state legislative chamber in the country contains several legislative committees. These committees are responsible for studying, amending, and voting on legislation before it reaches the floor of a chamber for a full vote. The different types of committees include standing committees, select or special, and joint.

    • Standing committees are generally permanent committees, the names of which sometimes change from session to session.
    • Select or special committees are temporary committees formed to deal with specific issues such as recent legislation, major public policy or proposals, or investigations.
    • Joint committees are committees that feature members of both chambers of a legislature.

    Ballotpedia covers standing and joint committees. The Kansas House of Representatives has 34 standing committees:


    Constitutional amendments

    In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.

    The methods in which the Kansas Constitution can be amended:

    See also: Article 14 of the Kansas Constitution and Laws governing ballot measures in Kansas
    Kansas Constitution
    Flag of Kansas.png
    Articles
    OrdinancePreambleBill of Rights
    123456789101112131415

    Article 14 of the Kansas Constitution governs the ways in which the state's constitution can be changed over time.

    • One path is the legislatively referred constitutional amendment. Either house of the Kansas State Legislature can propose an amendment to the state's constitution. Two-thirds of the members of each chamber must approve the resolution. If they do, the proposed amendment goes on either the next statewide ballot during which members of the state legislature are elected or on a special election ballot if the legislature agrees to have a special election for this purpose.
    • If a simple majority of the electors of the state who vote on the proposition agree with it, it becomes part of the constitution.
    • The legislature must say what the measure's ballot title will be in their resolution authorizing it.
    • If there is more than one proposed amendment, voters must be able to vote on them separately.
    • At most, five amendments can be proposed for one election.
    • An amendment is allowed to revise one entire article of the constitution "except the article on general provisions."
    • Another path to amend the state constitution is through a constitutional convention. If two-thirds of the members of each house of the state legislature vote in favor, the question "Shall there be a convention to amend or revise the constitution of the state of Kansas?" or "Shall there be a convention limited to revision of article(s) ________ of the constitution of the state of Kansas?" shall be placed on a statewide ballot.
    • If a simple majority of those voting on that question say "yes," a convention is held.
    • Any amendments or revisions that come out of the convention must go before the state's voters.

    Kansas does not feature the power of citizen initiative for either initiated constitutional amendments or initiated state statutes.



    2026 measures:

    See also: Kansas 2026 ballot measures

    Certified:

    The following measures have been certified for the ballot.
    Kansas Elections for Supreme Court Justices AmendmentDemocratsRepublicans
    Senate:Required: 27Yes votes: 27 (67.5%)No votes: 13 (32.5%)Yes: 0; No: 9Yes: 27; No: 4
    House:Required: 84Yes votes: 84 (67.2%)No votes: 40 (32.0%)Yes: 0; No: 36Yes: 84; No: 4


    Potential:

    The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2026.
    Kansas Citizenship Voting Requirement AmendmentDemocratsRepublicans
    Senate:Required: Yes votes: (%)No votes: (%)Yes: ; No: Yes: ; No:
    House:Required: 84Yes votes: 90 (72.0%)No votes: 28 (22.4%)Yes: 3; No: 28Yes: 87; No: 0
    Kansas Legislative Revision or Suspension of Administrative Rules and Regulation AmendmentDemocratsRepublicans
    Senate:Required: Yes votes: (%)No votes: (%)Yes: ; No: Yes: ; No:
    House:Required: 84Yes votes: 86 (68.8%)No votes: 37 (29.6%)Yes: 0; No: 36Yes: 86; No: 1

    2025 measures:

    Below is a list of measures that were referred to the 2025 ballot by the legislature or that have made it approximately halfway through the process in the legislature for referral to the ballot in 2025.

    See also: Kansas 2025 ballot measures

    Certified:

    The following measures have been certified for the ballot.

    No measures to list


    Potential:

    The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2025.
    Kansas Property Tax Value Cap AmendmentDemocratsRepublicans
    Senate:Required: 27Yes votes: 28 (70.0%)No votes: 11 (27.5%)Yes: 2; No: 6Yes: 26; No: 5
    House:Required: Yes votes: (%)No votes: (%)Yes: ; No: Yes: ; No:
    Kansas Changes to Property Valuations AmendmentDemocratsRepublicans
    Senate:Required: Yes votes: (%)No votes: (%)Yes: ; No: Yes: ; No:
    House:Required: 84Yes votes: 117 (93.6%)No votes: 4 (3.2%)Yes: 33; No: 2Yes: 84; No: 2

    See also

    Elections Kansas State Government State Legislatures State Politics
    Ballotpedia Elections Badge-VOTE-no shadow-Square.jpg
    Kansas State Flag-Close Up.jpg
    State Houses-Tile image.png
    State Courts-Tile image.png

    External links

    Footnotes

    1. Kansas Legislature, "Rules of the Kansas House of Representatives," accessed February 9, 2021 (Referenced Article 33)
    2. National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
    3. Justia US Law, "Article 2--Legislative", accessed February 28, 2025
    4. Kansas Bar Association, "The Constitution," accessed February 28, 2025
    5. Follow the Money, "Kansas 2010 - Candidates," accessed August 19, 2014
    6. Follow the Money, "Kansas 2008 - Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
    7. Follow the Money, "Kansas 2006 - Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
    8. Follow the Money, "Kansas 2004 - Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
    9. Follow the Money, "Kansas 2002 - Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
    10. Follow the Money, "Kansas 2000 - Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
    11. Kansas Legislature, "2022 Statute," accessed August 9, 2023 (Statute 25-3903, Kansas Statutes)
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    21. The adjusted total was about 14,000 less than the federal figure.
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    23. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ksloyola
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