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My Two Cents of Common Sense
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 "Northwest Kansas holds some truly inspiring scenery, contains a wealth of Old West history, possesses some of the finest educational institutions, promotes an entrepreneurial spirit, and is home to some of the most hard-working, genuine people I've ever met!" ~ Adam Smith |
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1970 RD 3 Weskan, KS 67762
785-821-2568 (Cell)
300 SW 10th St, Suite 512N Topeka, KS 66612
785-296-0715 (Office)
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Legislature hits Turn-Around Deadline
The legislature is governed by a defined set of rules that specify certain deadlines for tasks to be accomplished throughout the session in order to increase efficiency in handling the hundreds of bills that get introduced and worked through the process.
One of the big deadlines is referred to as “turn-around”. This is the last date for all the bills to be passed through their house of origin. Anything not passed is considered dead unless it is from an exempt committee. The larger key committees are the only exempt committees – Appropriations, Taxation, Federal and State Affairs, and Calendar/Printing. Turn-around comes on day 33 of the traditional 90 day session.
This creates a flurry of activity in the chamber in the final days leading up to the deadline as many bills are considered and debated for passage before it’s too late. It’s also an opportunity for interesting amendments to materialize as some legislators see this as the last chance they have to push through a certain proposal. However, a rule does exist that if an amendment is not close enough to the original bill, it is not an eligible amendment. For instance, a Medicaid expansion amendment was attempted on the Kansas Telemedicine bill, but was ruled against. There was also an amendment to abolish the death penalty attempted on a bill for wrongful conviction compensation, as well as an attempt to allow cities and counties to decriminalize marijuana within their jurisdiction. All these amendments were challenged and were not similar enough in content to be included in the original bill.
Some bills, and amendments, that were successful overall during this legislation marathon were the Telemedicine bill, which in my opinion doesn’t go far enough toward bringing available healthcare to our rural communities, but it’s a good start. Sometimes new programs must start with baby steps due to concerns or skepticism, so I am happy we were able to get a foot forward on this concept and hopefully expand services and applications in the near future!
Another popular measure we passed to the Senate is new limits on candidates for statewide races. Kansas has recently been in the headlines with seemingly everybody and their dog running for governor. No joke… a dog actually submitted paperwork to begin a campaign. No word yet if any cats are considering the ticket. Most recently, several out-of-state teens announced their candidacy as well, prompting more Kansans to ask for minimum candidate requirements. The House version defines limits as a “qualified elector” which basically means if you can register to vote – you can run for office. So 18 years old and a resident of Kansas will eliminate many of the questionable prospective contenders, and since proper ID is required to register to vote, both Fido and Felix appear to have been eliminated as well.
On a much more serious note, we passed a bill creating significant criminal penalties for a fake crime call. This has also been in Kansas news recently, with a tragic event in Wichita where an unsuspecting man lost his life. In what usually has no intent other than a game, a prank caller will call police and describe a horrible crime and ongoing dangerous situation and then give a random address. This results in a concentrated law enforcement response to that location. With the police force on high alert on the outside and a completely unsuspecting individual or family on the inside, the situation has extreme potential for disaster. The bill passed in the House greatly increases the severity level for which the caller would be prosecuted, hoping to deter further instances of this in Kansas.
Both the House and the Senate will adjourn for a long weekend and be back to work next week on the opposite chamber’s proposed bills. School finance still looms on the horizon as we anticipate results from research and studies to come in mid-March and deadlines approach from the Supreme Court on our legislative solution.
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House of Representative Page Opportunity
These are just a few of the Pages I sponsored during the 2017 legislative session.
Do you know any young adults who may be interested in being a Legislative Page for a day? I am taking requests for the new session!
Here's some quick info:
- You must apply - there are limited spots available.
- Check in at 8:00 a.m. with the Page Coordinator.
- Serve as an assistant to the Kansas House of Representatives, running small errands as necessary for myself and other legislators.
- Take a photo at 9:30 a.m. with the Governor (if available).
- Observe the House Chamber as we gavel in and debate legislation on the agenda.
- Receive a $5.00 voucher for the snack bar.
- Tour the Capitol, including the inspiring "Dome Tour", as your time allows.
A certificate of appreciation recognizing your service to the state!
Recommended for young adults at least 12 years of age through High School Seniors, the Legislative Page program offers a memorable experience in the Kansas Capitol. Learn how the state government process works by becoming a part of it for a day!
Each legislator is allowed a limited number of Page sponsorships per month on a first-come, first-serve basis. Be sure to get your requests in as soon as possible. If you have further questions, please contact me at 785-296-0715 or Adam.Smith@House.KS.Gov
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Newsletter Sign-up
I strive to create and maintain constituent relationships through good communication. Two-way communication is essential to my effectiveness as a legislator in promoting successful solutions for Northwest Kansas! Only together can we develop good solutions for the people of Northwest Kansas!
You play a key role in the efficiency and effectiveness of my communications!
If you haven't already done so, please subscribe to my newsletter list or send me an email and I will add you. Please also consider referring colleagues, friends, and family members who may be interested in learning about legislative news. You can also sign up from my website, too.
Thank you for considering joining my team!
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