Kansas House of Representatives
Kansas House of Representatives | |
|---|---|
| Kansas State Legislature | |
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
Term limits | None |
| History | |
New session started | January 11, 2021 |
| Leadership | |
Speaker pro Tempore | |
Majority Leader | |
Minority Leader | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 125 |
 | |
Political groups |
|
Length of term | 2 years |
| Authority | Article 2, Kansas Constitution |
| Salary | $88.66/day + per diem |
| Elections | |
Last election | November 3, 2020 (125 seats) |
Next election | November 8, 2022 (125 seats) |
| Redistricting | Kansas Reapportionment Commission |
| Meeting place | |
| House of Representatives Chamber Kansas State Capitol Topeka, Kansas | |
| Website | |
| Kansas House of Representatives | |
The Kansas House of Representatives is the lower house of the legislature of the U.S. state of Kansas. Composed of 125 state representatives from districts with roughly equal populations of at least 19,000, its members are responsible for crafting and voting on legislation, helping to create a state budget, and legislative oversight over state agencies.
Representatives are elected to two-year terms. The Kansas House of Representatives does not have term limits. The legislative session convenes at the Kansas State Capitol in Topeka annually.
History[edit]
On January 29, 1861, President James Buchanan authorized Kansas to become the 34th state of United States, a free state. The ratification of the Kansas Constitution created the Kansas House of Representatives as the lower house of the state legislature.
Members of the Kansas House voted to impeach Governor Charles L. Robinson in 1862, but the impeachment trial did not lead to his conviction and removal of office.[1] The Kansas Senate did vote to impeach the secretary of state and state auditor for the unlawful sale of bonds, but only three state senators voted for the governor's impeachment.[1]
In 1870, the Kansas House of Representatives first met at the Kansas State Capitol, which was not officially completed until 1903.[2]
Populists and Republicans both claimed control of the Kansas House of Representatives in 1893, with the Populists accusing the Republican Party of election fraud.[3] The dispute led to separate Populist-led and Republican-led Houses in 1893 until the Kansas Supreme Court sided with the Republicans and the Populist-led House disbanded.[3]
In 1918, Minnie J. Grinstead became the first female elected to the House.[4]
In 1966, the state legislature began to hold annual general sessions and a constitutional amendment adopted at the 1974 general election extended the duration of the session held in the even-numbered years to 90 calendar days, subject to extension by a vote of two-thirds of the elected membership of each house.[5]
An early legislator who served from 1875 to 1883, Robert M. Wright, was also one of the founders of Dodge City and later its mayor as well.[6]
United States presidential candidate Bob Dole, the 1996 Republican nominee, began his political career with a two-year term in the Kansas House of Representatives after his election in 1950.[7]
Legislative procedure[edit]
State representatives introduce a proposed law in the Kansas House of Representatives in the form of a bill, which must be approved by a standing committee, the Committee of the Whole and the entire membership of the chamber.[8] Other state representatives can amend a bill in committee or on the floor of the chamber.[8]
A bill must be approved by both houses of the Kansas Legislature in order to be submitted to the governor, who can sign it into law or veto the bill.[8] State legislators can override the veto with the support of two-thirds majority of both houses.[8]
Party composition[edit]
Republicans have controlled the chamber for all but six years since statehood, and without interruption since 1993. The GOP presently holds a supermajority in the chamber. The following is the official make-up for the 2021-2023 session:
| Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Democratic | Independent | Vacant | ||
| 2019–2020 Legislature | 84 | 41 | 0 | 125 | 0 |
| Begin 2021 | 86 | 38 | 1 | 125 | 0 |
| February 8, 2021[9] | 86 | 39 | 0 | 125 | 0 |
| Latest voting share | 68.8% | 31.2% | 0% | ||
Leadership[edit]
The Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives is the leader of the chamber and is elected by his fellow state representatives.[8] The speaker presides over the legislative process on the floor of the chamber or appoints a presiding officer in his or her place. He or she also decides the committee structure.[8] The majority and minority leaders, are elected by their respective party caucuses relative to their party's strength in the chamber.
Officers[edit]
| Position | Name | Party | District |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speaker of the House | Ron Ryckman Jr. | Republican | 78 |
| Speaker Pro Tem | Blaine Finch | Republican | 59 |
| Majority Leader | Daniel Hawkins | Republican | 100 |
| Assistant Majority Leader | Les Mason | Republican | 73 |
| Majority Whip | Blake Carpenter | Republican | 81 |
| Caucus Chair | Susan Humphries | Republican | 99 |
| Minority Leader | Tom Sawyer | Democratic | 95 |
| Assistant Minority Leader | Valdenia Winn | Democratic | 34 |
| Minority Whip | Stephanie Clayton | Democratic | 19 |
| Caucus Chair | Barbara Ballard | Democratic | 44 |
| Agenda Chair | Brandon Woodard | Democratic | 30 |
| Policy Chair | Rui Xu | Democratic | 25 |
Members of the Kansas House of Representatives[edit]
| District | Representative | Party | Residence | First elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Houser | Republican | Columbus | 2012 |
| 2 | Ken Collins | Republican | Mulberry | 2018 |
| 3 | Chuck Smith | Republican | Pittsburg | 2020 |
| 4 | Trevor Jacobs | Republican | Fort Scott | 2016 |
| 5 | Mark Samsel | Republican | Wellsville | 2018 |
| 6 | Samantha Poetter | Republican | Louisburg | 2020 |
| 7 | Richard Proehl | Republican | Parsons | 2004 |
| 8 | Chris Croft | Republican | Overland Park | 2018 |
| 9 | Kent Thompson | Republican | Iola | 2013 |
| 10 | Christina Haswood | Democratic | Lawrence | 2020 |
| 11 | Jim Kelly | Republican | Independence | 2010 |
| 12 | Doug Blex | Republican | Independence | 2016 |
| 13 | Joe Newland | Republican | Neodesha | 2019 |
| 14 | Charlotte Esau | Republican | Olathe | 2018 |
| 15 | John Toplikar | Republican | Olathe | 2018 |
| 16 | Linda Featherston | Democratic | Overland Park | 2020 |
| 17 | Jo Ella Hoye | Democratic | Lenexa | 2020 |
| 18 | Cindy Neighbor | Democratic | Shawnee | 2016 |
| 19 | Stephanie Clayton | Democratic | Overland Park | 2012 |
| 20 | Mari-Lynn Poskin | Democratic | Overland Park | 2020 |
| 21 | Jerry Stogsdill | Democratic | Prairie Village | 2016 |
| 22 | Lindsay Vaughn | Democratic | Overland Park | 2020 |
| 23 | Susan Ruiz | Democratic | Shawnee | 2018 |
| 24 | Jarrod Ousley | Democratic | Merriam | 2014 |
| 25 | Rui Xu | Democratic | Westwood | 2018 |
| 26 | Adam Thomas | Republican | Olathe | 2018 |
| 27 | Sean Tarwater | Republican | Stilwell | 2016 |
| 28 | Carl Turner | Republican | Leawood | 2020 |
| 29 | Brett Parker | Democratic | Overland Park | 2016 |
| 30 | Brandon Woodard | Democratic | Lenexa | 2018 |
| 31 | Louis Ruiz | Democratic | Kansas City | 2004 |
| 32 | Pam Curtis | Democratic | Kansas City | 2014 |
| 33 | Tom Burroughs | Democratic | Kansas City | 1996 |
| 34 | Valdenia Winn | Democratic | Kansas City | 2000 |
| 35 | Broderick Henderson | Democratic | Kansas City | 1994 |
| 36 | Kathy Wolfe Moore | Democratic | Kansas City | 2011 |
| 37 | Aaron Coleman | Democratic | Kansas City | 2020 |
| 38 | Timothy H. Johnson | Republican | Bonner Springs | 2020 |
| 39 | Owen Donohoe | Republican | Shawnee | 2018 |
| 40 | David French | Republican | Lansing | 2019 |
| 41 | Pat Proctor | Republican | Leavenworth | 2020 |
| 42 | Lance Neelly | Republican | Tonganoxie | 2020 |
| 43 | Bill Sutton | Republican | Gardner | 2012 |
| 44 | Barbara Ballard | Democratic | Lawrence | 1992 |
| 45 | Mike Amyx | Democratic | Lawrence | 2018 |
| 46 | Dennis Highberger | Democratic | Lawrence | 2014 |
| 47 | Ronald Ellis | Republican | Meriden | 2016 |
| 48 | Dan Osman | Democratic | Overland Park | 2021 |
| 49 | Megan Lynn | Republican | Olathe | 2018 |
| 50 | Fred Patton | Republican | Topeka | 2014 |
| 51 | Ron Highland | Republican | Wamego | 2012 |
| 52 | Jesse Borjon | Republican | Topeka | 2020 |
| 53 | Jim Gartner | Democratic | Topeka | 2016 |
| 54 | Ken Corbet | Republican | Topeka | 2013 |
| 55 | Annie Kuether | Democratic | Topeka | 1996 |
| 56 | Virgil Weigel | Democratic | Topeka | 2016 |
| 57 | John Alcala | Democratic | Topeka | 2012 |
| 58 | Vic Miller | Democratic | Topeka | 2020 |
| 59 | Blaine Finch | Republican | Ottawa | 2013 |
| 60 | Mark Schreiber | Republican | Emporia | 2016 |
| 61 | Francis Awerkamp | Republican | St. Marys | 2016 |
| 62 | Randy Garber | Republican | Sabetha | 2010 |
| 63 | John Eplee | Republican | Atchison | 2016 |
| 64 | Suzi Carlson | Republican | Clay Center | 2018 |
| 65 | Lonnie Clark | Republican | Junction City | 2014 |
| 66 | Sydney Carlin | Democratic | Manhattan | 2002 |
| 67 | Mike Dodson | Republican | Manhattan | 2020 |
| 68 | Dave Baker | Republican | Council Grove | 2016 |
| 69 | Clarke Sanders | Republican | Salina | 2020 |
| 70 | John Barker | Republican | Abilene | 2012 |
| 71 | Steven Howe | Republican | Salina | 2020 |
| 72 | Avery Anderson | Republican | North Newton | 2020 |
| 73 | Les Mason | Republican | McPherson | 2014 |
| 74 | Stephen Owens | Republican | Hesston | 2018 |
| 75 | Will Carpenter | Republican | El Dorado | 2018 |
| 76 | Eric Smith | Republican | Burlington | 2016 |
| 77 | Kristey Williams | Republican | Augusta | 2014 |
| 78 | Ron Ryckman Jr. | Republican | Olathe | 2016 |
| 79 | Cheryl Helmer | Republican | Mulvane | 2018 |
| 80 | Bill Rhiley | Republican | Wellington | 2018 |
| 81 | Blake Carpenter | Republican | Derby | 2014 |
| 82 | Jesse Burris | Republican | Mulvane | 2017 |
| 83 | Henry Helgerson | Democratic | Eastborough | 2016 |
| 84 | Gail Finney | Democratic | Wichita | 2008 |
| 85 | Patrick Penn | Republican | Wichita | 2020 |
| 86 | Stephanie Byers | Democratic | Wichita | 2020 |
| 87 | Susan Estes | Republican | Wichita | 2020 |
| 88 | Elizabeth Bishop | Democratic | Wichita | 2016 |
| 89 | KC Ohaebosim | Democratic | Wichita | 2016 |
| 90 | Steve Huebert | Republican | Valley Center | 2000 |
| 91 | Emil Bergquist | Republican | Park City | 2018 |
| 92 | John Carmichael | Democratic | Wichita | 2013 |
| 93 | Brian Bergkamp | Republican | Wichita | 2020 |
| 94 | Leo Delperdang | Republican | Wichita | 2016 |
| 95 | Tom Sawyer | Democratic | Wichita | 2012 |
| 96 | Tom Kessler | Republican | Wichita | 2020 |
| 97 | Nick Hoheisel | Republican | Wichita | 2018 |
| 98 | Cyndi Howerton | Republican | Wichita | 2021 |
| 99 | Susan Humphries | Republican | Wichita | 2016 |
| 100 | Daniel Hawkins | Republican | Wichita | 2012 |
| 101 | Joe Seiwert | Republican | Pretty Prairie | 2008 |
| 102 | Jason Probst | Democratic | Hutchinson | 2017 |
| 103 | Ponka-We Victors | Democratic | Wichita | 2010 |
| 104 | Paul Waggoner | Republican | Hutchinson | 2018 |
| 105 | Brenda Landwehr | Republican | Wichita | 2016 |
| 106 | Lisa Moser | Republican | Wheaton | 2020 |
| 107 | Susan Concannon | Republican | Beloit | 2012 |
| 108 | Steven C. Johnson | Republican | Assaria | 2010 |
| 109 | Troy Waymaster | Republican | Luray | 2012 |
| 110 | Ken Rahjes | Republican | Agra | 2016 |
| 111 | Barbara Wasinger | Republican | Hays | 2018 |
| 112 | Tory Marie Arnberger | Republican | Great Bend | 2016 |
| 113 | Brett Fairchild | Republican | Ellinwood | 2020 |
| 114 | Michael Murphy | Republican | Cunningham | 2020 |
| 115 | Boyd Orr | Republican | Fowler | 2016 |
| 116 | Kyle Hoffman | Republican | Coldwater | 2010 |
| 117 | Tatum Lee-Hahn | Republican | LaCrosse | 2020 |
| 118 | Jim Minnix | Republican | Scott City | 2020 |
| 119 | Bradley Ralph | Republican | Dodge City | 2016 |
| 120 | Adam Smith | Republican | Weskan | 2016 |
| 121 | John Resman | Republican | Olathe | 2016 |
| 122 | Russell Jennings | Republican | Lakin | 2012 |
| 123 | John Wheeler | Republican | Garden City | 2016 |
| 124 | Marty Long | Republican | Ulysses | 2019 |
| 125 | Shannon Francis | Republican | Liberal | 2014 |
Committee Leadership[edit]
2021–2022[edit]
2019–2020[edit]
2017–2018[edit]
2015–2016[edit]
Past composition of the House of Representatives[edit]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Ewing, Cortez A. M (August 1932). "Early Kansas Impeachments". Kansas Historical Quarterly. 1 (4): 307–325.
- ^ Kansas State Capitol, Kansapedia, Kansas Historical Society. (accessed July 25, 2013)
- ^ a b Cool Things – Legislative War Artifacts, Kansapedia, Kansas Historical Society, November 1997. (accessed July 25, 2013)
- ^ Enicks-Knissr, Lori Lynn (April 2014). "The Lady from Seward" – Minnie J. Grinstead, the First Woman Elected to the Kansas House of Representatives (PDF) (M.A. thesis). Emporia State University.
- ^ "Kansas Legislative Research Manual Kansas Legislative Procedures," Archived May 10, 2013, at the Wayback Machine March 12, 2009.
- ^ "George Laughhead, Robert M. Wright (1840–1915), Dodge City, Kansas: Town President, founder, pioneer, September 23, 2009". kansashistory.us. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
- ^ Kansas Legislators Past & Present-Robert Dole Archived November 13, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d e f Legislative Procedure in Kansas Archived May 10, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, Kansas Legislative Research Department, November 2006. (accessed July 24, 2013)
- ^ "Kansas Rep. Aaron Coleman rejoins Democratic Party". Associated Press. KSHB. February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ "Kansas Legislative Committees". Kslegislature.org. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
- ^ "Kansas Legislative Committees". Kslegislature.org. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
External links[edit]
- Kansas House of Representatives
- Interactive Map of Kansas House and Senate Districts
- Search Kansas Legislators Past & Present
- Kansas Oral History Project
| General | |
|---|---|
| National libraries | |
Coordinates: 39°02′54″N 95°40′41″W / 39.04833°N 95.67806°W