2026 Legislative Updates

The legislature returned on Thursday, April 9, for the veto session, when lawmakers typically consider veto overrides, reconcile the budget, and pass any remaining legislation, often tax-related measures. This session lasted two days before both chambers adjourned early Saturday morning, April 11. Although this is our final legislative session update, we will continue to share information about the midterm elections, including key dates, voter registration resources, legis

Friday, March 27, was the First Adjournment of the legislature, marking the end of the regular Session. The legislature will break and return for the Veto Session on April 9th.  Deliberations during the Veto Session are limited to: overriding vetoes by the Governor, the Omnibus appropriations act, and the Omnibus reconciliations spending limit bill. By agreement, the legislature can suspend the rules to consider other legislation.

Friday, March 20, was the last day for non-exempt bills to be passed out of the second chamber. The legislature spent most of the week on the floor debating dozens of bills. The week took an unexpected turn when the House abruptly adjourned early Thursday afternoon without taking action on several bills it had planned to discuss. On Friday, non-exempt bills left on the calendar were procedurally dead for the session. Next week, legislators will alternate between floor debates

A plan to lower property taxes remains elusive as the House rejects the Senate’s proposed constitutional amendment and the Senate skips debating the House’s protest petition bill. Legislators want to deliver a tax reduction to voters as they prepare for their reelection campaigns this summer. Next week, a few committees will meet on Monday and Tuesday, while the rest of the week is dedicated to floor action. Friday is the deadline for non-exempt bills to pass out of the se

There are only two weeks left for non-exempt committees to hold hearings and pass bills out to the House or Senate Chambers. There are still a few major issues to be settled this session, including property tax reform, the state budget, and some legislation to facilitate the Kansas City Chiefs' move to Kansas. The Senate stayed late on Tuesday, March 3, to debate and pass its budget proposal. Twenty-five amendments were proposed, but only a handful were accepted. One of the

After a hectic Turnaround week, it’s back to business as usual. The bills that survived are now being heard in the second chamber, while a few more are being introduced. The House convened on the evening of Wednesday, February 25, to advance its proposed budget. There were multiple attempts to amend the budget; however, none were adopted, and the House approved the budget as it passed out of committee, by a vote of 68-53. The Senate still has to approve its budget proposal,

A few committees met on Monday, but this week was dedicated to floor debate before the Turnaround deadline on Thursday, February 19. The Senate adjourned on Wednesday afternoon while the House continued to work through Thursday. Over 100 bills were passed by out of their chamber of origin and sent to the second chamber. Any bill not considered exempt that was not passed this week cannot advance and must be reintroduced in 2027.

The House Appropriations and Senate Ways & MeansCommittees held marathon meetings this week to put together their final budget proposals. The House Appropriations Committee finalized its budget proposal on Friday, February 13, but the Senate’s proposal will be finalized on Monday, February 16. Each chamber needs to vote on its respective budget proposals, and then the House and Senate budget committee leadership will meet to negotiate the differences between each proposal to

Legislators this week introduced a bill (SCR 1621) that would place a constitutional amendment on the ballot to prohibit property taxes. Another bill (SB 488) was introduced that, should the constitutional amendment pass, would put a “fair share purchase surcharge” on all purchases, with a few exceptions. No hearing has been set for either of these bills, but they are both exempt from deadlines and can advance at any time.

Happy Kansas Day! On Thursday, January 29, the state celebrated its 165th birthday with cake, songs, and stories. Governor Laura Kelly, Patrick Zollner, ED of the Kansas State Historical Society, and Academy Award-winning American film director and screenwriter Kevin Willmott, a Kansas native, spoke to an excited crowd in the rotunda.

The second week of the session means we’re 10% of the way through, and deadlines are looming. The budget subcommittees in the House and Senate are working quickly to have a final budget ready for each chamber to begin negotiations by the end of next week.

Legislators, lobbyists, and advocates returned to Topeka on Monday, January 12, for the opening of the legislative session. There were a few new faces sworn in, but the Legislature quickly got to work on budgets and bills.