What’s Happening

There is a noticeable sense of urgency on the part of Leadership and Senate members to make efficient use of our time and get about our business quickly and responsibly.  We have been in session for 12 days and, as of Friday, January 22nd the Senate has introduced 59 Bills and the House has introduced 112 Bills.  I know this because we get a report each week that records all of the Senate and House actions including a listing of the Bills, which committee is working on that particular Bill, and a sentence summarizing the Bill’s purpose.
 

Committee Work

 
Financial Institutions/Insurance – (Same committee members, same Chair). We had a hearing this week on :

• SB 15 –A bill enacting the Kansas Economic Recovery Loan Deposit Program, updating the field of membership requirements of Credit Unions and allowing Privilege Tax Deductions on Agricultural real estate loans and single family residence loans.
• Additional bills we will have hearings on this next week. 
  • SB 29 – Updating the version of Risk-based Capital instructions in Effect. 
  • -SB 30 – Establishing the Securities Act Victim Restitution Program.
  • SB 28 – Updating the National Assoc. of Insurance Commissioners Credit for Reinsurance Model Law, the Insurance Holding Company Act and Codifying the Credit for Reinsurance Model Regulation.

Education – We have had many presentations and bill introductions.   Next week we will have a hearing on:

• SB 43 – An Act creating the Kansas Promise Scholarship Act to provide postsecondary educational scholarships for certain 2-year Associate degree programs, Career and Technical education certificates and other stand-alone programs.
• There will also be a hearing on expanding Tax Credits for the Low Income Student Scholarship Program.  This bill has no number yet, which is highly unusual.  The content of this bill was presented last year in House K-12 Education Budget Committee.  I voted to not pass it out of committee.  This is the same bill.
• SB 32 – Authorizing school districts to pay the tuition for a student’s dual or concurrent enrollment in a postsecondary educational institutions and requiring a tuition waiver for foster children who are dually or concurrently enrolled.

Federal and State Affairs – We have had many presentations and bill introductions.  Next week we will have a hearing on:

• SB 34 – Sun-setting administrative rules and regulations 5 years after adoption unless extended by the legislature.
• SB 35 – Removing the option of extension of the time for receipt of advance mail ballots after the third day following an election.

Transportation – As in my other committees, we have had many presentations and bill introductions. This week we had a hearing on SB 33 – Providing for display show licenses under the Vehicle Dealers and Manufacturers Licensing Act.
Next week we will have a hearing on:

• SB 36 – Permitting employees of salvage vehicle pools to perform vehicle identification number inspections and salvage vehicle pools and dealers to apply for ownership documents for vehicles that are disclaimed by insurance companies.
• SB25 – Prohibiting the use of a mobile telephone while operating in school or road construction zone or by individuals less than 18 years of age.
• SB 18 – Permitting U.S. and NATO country military surplus vehicles to register with the division of vehicles for road use.

 

Board/Entity	Appointee	Vote
Department of Credit Unions	Vickie Hurt	36-0
Crime Victims Compensation Board	Richard Samaniego	36-0
Crime Victims Compensation Board	Stuart Hite	36-0
Employment Security Board of Review	Valorie Jacobs	36-0
Commander, KS Air National Guard	Chris Ioder	36-0
Board of Healing Arts	Tucker Poling	36-0
State Corporation Commission	Andrew French	36-0
Kansas Human Rights Commission	Christal Watson	36-0
State Lottery Commission	Margaret LaRue	36-0
State Lottery Commission	Pete Brungardt	36-0
KPERS Board of Trustees	James Zakoura	36-1
Kansas Racing & Gaming Commission	David Moses	37-0
Kansas Racing & Gaming Commission	Larry Turnquist	37-0
Kansas Water Office	Constance Owen	37-0
Pooled Money Investment Board	Dennis McKinney	37-0
Pooled Money Investment Board	Tracie Thomas	37-0
State Board of Tax Appeals	Thomas Browne	37-0
State Civil Service Board	Thomas Wright	37-0
State Banking Board	Mary Berry	37-0
State Banking Board	Irvin Mitchell	37-0
State Banking Board	Lea Tatum-Haskell	37-0
State Banking Board	Leonard Wolfe	37-0
University of Kansas Hospital Authority	Monte Coffman	37-0
University of Kansas Hospital Authority	Greg Graves	37-0
University of Kansas Hospital Authority	Talal Khan	37-0
University of Kansas Hospital Authority	Elizabeth King	37-0
University of Kansas Hospital Authority	Maureen Mahoney	37-0
University of Kansas Hospital Authority	Robba Moran	37-0

 

Senate Confirms Amy Cline
to Kansas Court of Appeals

By a vote of 36-0-1, we confirmed the nomination of Amy Fellows Cline to the Kansas Court of Appeals.  Amy Cline was nominated by Governor Kelly and received a hearing from the Senate Judiciary Committee, who recommended her nomination favorably.  There was no discussion on her nomination on the floor of the Senate.

Amy Cline is a graduate of Wichita State University with a degree in political science and earned her law degree from the University of Kansas. She has a wide breadth of experience, arguing a wide variety of cases including consumer protection, construction, employment, personal injury and business disputes. She also has argued in front of both the Kanas Court of Appeals and the Kansas Supreme Court.
 

Senate Does Not Confirm Carl Folson
to Kansas Court of Appeals

In May of 2020, Governor Kelly nominated Carl Folsom, a public defender, to the Kansas Court of Appeals. During the Special Session in June of 2020, the Kansas Senate voted on the nomination of Mr. Folsom. After a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee and a vote of the Senate he did not receive the 21 votes necessary for confirmation.

Governor Kelly again nominated Mr. Folsom to the Kansas Court of Appeals to a different vacant position.  The Senate held a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee, which forwarded his nomination to the floor without recommendation.  The Senate thoroughly debated his nomination.  I received numerous emails and recommendations from constituents, attorneys and judges in support of Carl Folsom. He was supported by the US Attorney from Kansas, Stephen McAllister and former Republican Vice-President of the Kansas Senate, Jeff King. The vote on the nomination of Mr. Folsom was 18-17-3. The 3 votes were recorded as a “pass”. 21 votes were required for confirmation, and as a result, Mr. Folsom was not confirmed. I voted YES.
 

Follow our work in the Legislature

In this time of COVID and a lack of public access to our Chambers, if you are interested in actually seeing what we are doing, then I encourage you to find us “virtually.”

Here are links to help you:

Kansas Legislature YouTube – Here you can follow the legislature live as it happens, or access archives of past sessions and committee meetings.

Kansas Legislature Audio – Here you can listen in on session or committees when they are in session, or access prior committee meetings, as well.

Kansas Legislature website – www.kslegislature.org - has extensive information on legislators, committees, bills, and past sessions.

Contact Me

Please do not hesitate to contact me if there is anything I can do for you.  I am honored to represent you in the Kansas Legislature.