Kansas House of Representatives

Last updated

Kansas House of Representatives
Kansas Legislature
Great Seal of the State of Kansas Colored.svg
Type
Type
Term limits
None
History
New session started
January 8, 2024
Leadership
Dan Hawkins (R)
since January 9, 2023
Speaker pro tempore
Blake Carpenter (R)
since January 9, 2023
Majority Leader
Chris Croft (R)
since January 9, 2023
Minority Leader
Vic Miller (D)
since January 9, 2023
Structure
Seats125
Kansas House of Reps 2022.svg
Political groups
  •    Republican (85)
  •    Democratic (40)
Length of term
2 years
AuthorityArticle 2, Kansas Constitution
Salary$88.66/day + per diem
Elections
Last election
November 8, 2022
(125 seats)
Next election
November 5, 2024
(125 seats)
Redistricting Kansas Reapportionment Commission
Meeting place
House of Representatives Chamber
Kansas State Capitol
Topeka, Kansas
Website
Kansas House of Representatives
Rules
Rules of the 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.

Contents

History

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]

The Kansas House of Representatives in 1905 1905 Kansas House of Representatives Topeka GeoRLawrenceCo LC 6a34855u.jpg
The Kansas House of Representatives in 1905

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 1888, Alfred B. Fairfax became the first African American elected to the House, serving as chairman of the House Committee on Immigration. [4]

In 1918, Minnie J. Grinstead became the first female elected to the House. [5]

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. [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

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

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 2023–2024 session:

AffiliationParty
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Republican Democratic Independent Vacant
Begin 2021863811250
February 8, 2021 [9] 863901250
Begin 2023854001250
Latest voting share
Map of current (2024) partisan composition of Kansas House of Representatives:
Republican Party
Democratic Party Kansas House of Representatives (2024).svg
Map of current (2024) partisan composition of Kansas House of Representatives:
  Republican Party
  Democratic Party

Leadership

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. The speaker 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

PositionNamePartyDistrict
Speaker of the House Daniel Hawkins Republican100
Speaker Pro Tem Blake Carpenter 81
Majority Leader Chris Croft 8
Assistant Majority LeaderVacant
Majority Whip Susan Estes 87
Caucus Chair Kristey Williams 77
Minority Leader Vic Miller Democratic58
Assistant Minority Leader Valdenia Winn 34
Minority Whip Stephanie Clayton 19
Caucus Chair Barbara Ballard 44
Agenda Chair Jerry Stogsdill 21
Policy Chair Christina Haswood 10

Members of the Kansas House of Representatives

DistrictRepresentativePartyResidenceFirst Elected
1 Michael Houser Republican Columbus 2012
2 Ken Collins Republican Mulberry 2018
3 Chuck Smith Republican Pittsburg 2014
4 Trevor Jacobs Republican Fort Scott 2016
5 Carrie Barth Republican Baldwin City 2022
6 Samantha Poetter Parshall Republican Paola 2020
7 Dan Goddard Republican Parsons 2022
8 Chris Croft Republican Overland Park 2018
9 Fred Gardner Republican Garnett 2022
10 Christina Haswood Democratic Lawrence 2020
11 Ron Bryce Republican Coffeyville 2022
12 Doug Blex Republican Independence 2016
13 Duane Droge Republican Eureka 2022
14 Dennis Miller Democratic Olathe 2022
15 Allison Hougland Democratic Olathe 2022
16 Linda Featherston Democratic Overland Park 2020
17 Jo Ella Hoye Democratic Lenexa 2020
18 Cindy Neighbor Democratic Shawnee 2002
19 Stephanie Sawyer Clayton Democratic Overland Park 2012
20 Mari-Lynn Poskin Democratic Leawood 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 Heather Meyer Democratic Overland Park 2020
30 Laura Williams Republican Lenexa 2022
31 Louis Ruiz Democratic Kansas City 2004
32 Pam Curtis Democratic Kansas City 2014
33 Mike Thompson Republican Bonner Springs 2022
34 Valdenia Winn Democratic Kansas City 2000
35 Wanda Brownlee Paige Democratic Kansas City 2024
36 Lynn Melton Democratic Kansas City 2022
37 Melissa Oropeza Democratic Kansas City 2022
38 Timothy Johnson Republican Basehor 2020
39 Owen Donohoe Republican Shawnee 2006
40 David Buehler Republican Lansing 2022
41 Pat Proctor Republican Leavenworth 2020
42 Lance W. 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 2020
49 Nikki McDonald Democratic Olathe 2023
50 Kyle McNorton Republican Topeka 2023
51 Kenny Titus Republican Manhattan 2022
52 Jesse Borjon Republican Topeka 2020
53 Kirk Haskins Democratic Topeka 2022
54 Ken Corbet Republican Topeka 2012
55 Tobias Schlingensiepen Democratic Topeka 2022
56 Virgil Weigel Democratic Topeka 2012
57 John Alcala Democratic Topeka 2012
58 Vic Miller Democratic Topeka 1978
59 Rebecca Schmoe Republican Ottawa 2022
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 Lewis Bloom Republican Clay Center 2022
65 Jeff Underhill Republican Junction City 2022
66 Sydney Carlin Democratic Manhattan 2002
67 Mike Dodson Republican Manhattan 2020
68 Nathan Butler Republican Junction City 2022
69 Clarke Sanders Republican Salina 2020
70 Scott Hill Republican Abilene 2022
71 Steven Howe Republican Salina 2020
72 Avery Anderson Republican Newton 2020
73 Lori Shultz Republican Lindsborg 2024
74 Stephen Owens Republican Hesston 2018
75 Will Carpenter Republican El Dorado 2012
76 Eric Smith Republican Burlington 2016
77 Kristey Williams Republican Augusta 2014
78 Robyn Essex Republican Olathe 2022
79 Webster Roth Republican Winfield 2022
80 Bill Rhiley Republican Wellington 2018
81 Blake Carpenter Republican Derby 2014
82 Leah Howell Republican Derby 2022
83 Henry Helgerson Democratic Eastborough 1982
84 Ford Carr Democratic Wichita 2022
85 Patrick Penn Republican Wichita 2020
86 Silas Miller Democratic Wichita 2022
87 Susan Estes Republican Wichita 2020
88 Sandy Pickert Republican Wichita 2022
89 KC Ohaebosim Democratic Wichita 2018
90 Carl Maughan Republican Colwich 2022
91 Emil Bergquist Republican Park City 2022
92 John Carmichael Democratic Wichita 2012
93 Brian Bergkamp Republican Wichita 2020
94 Leo Delpergang Republican Wichita 2018
95 Tom Sawyer Democratic Wichita 1986
96 Tom Kessler Republican Wichita 2020
97 Nick Hoheisel Republican Wichita 2018
98 Cyndi Howerton Republican Wichita 2020
99 Susan Humphries Republican Wichita 2016
100 Daniel Hawkins Republican Wichita 2012
101 Joe Seiwert Republican Pretty Prairie 2008
102 Jason Probst Democratic Hutchinson 2016
103 Angela Martinez Democratic Wichita 2022
104 Paul Waggoner Republican Hutchinson 2018
105 Brenda Landwehr Republican Wichita 1994
106 Lisa Moser Republican Wheaton 2020
107 Susan Concannon Republican Beloit 2012
108 Brandon Woodard Democratic Lenexa 2018
109 Troy Waymaster Republican Bunker Hill 2012
110 Ken Rahjes Republican Agra 2014
111 Barbara Wasinger Republican Hays 2018
112 Tory Marie Blew Republican Great Bend 2016
113 Brett Fairchild Republican St. John 2020
114 Michael Murphy Republican Sylvia 2020
115 Gary White Republican Ashland 2022
116 Kyle Hoffman Republican Coldwater 2010
117 Adam Turk Republican Shawnee 2022
118 Jim Minnix Republican Scott City 2020
119 Jason Goetz Republican Dodge City 2022
120 Adam Smith Republican Weskan 2016
121 John Resman Republican Olathe 2016
122 Bill Clifford Republican Garden City 2020
123 Bob Lewis Republican Garden City 2022
124 Marty Long Republican Ulysses 2024
125 Shannon Francis Republican Liberal 2014

Committee leadership

2023–2024

CommitteeChairmanVice ChairmanRanking Minority Member
Agriculture and Natural Resources Ken Rahjes Lisa Moser Sydney Carlin
Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Ken Corbet Joe Seiwert Sydney Carlin
Appropriations Troy Waymaster Kyle Hoffman Henry Helgerson
Calendar and Printing Chris Croft Daniel Hawkins Vic Miller
Child Welfare and Foster Care Susan Concannon Timothy H. Johnson Jarrod Ousley
Commerce, Labor and Economic Development Sean Tarwater Jesse Borjon Jason Probst
Corrections and Juvenile Justice Stephen Owens Eric Smith Dennis Highberger
Education Adam Thomas Susan Estes Jerry Stogsdill
Elections Pat Proctor Paul Waggoner Brandon Woodard
Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Leo Delperdang Carl Turner KC Ohaebosim
Federal and State Affairs Will Carpenter Tom Kessler Jo Ella Hoye
Financial Institutions and Pensions Nick Hoheisel Bill Clifford Rui Xu
General Government BudgetKyle Hoffman Bill Rhiley Mike Amyx
Health and Human Services Brenda Landwehr John Eplee Susan Ruiz
Higher Education Budget Steven Howe Tory Marie Blew Brandon Woodard
Insurance Bill Sutton Patrick Penn Cindy Neighbor
Interstate CooperationDaniel HawkinsBlake Carpenter Valdenia Winn
Judiciary Fred Patton Mark Schreiber John Carmichael
K-12 Education Budget Kristey Williams Brenda LandwehrValdenia Winn
Legislative Budget (House)Troy WaymasterKyle HoffmanHenry Helgerson
Legislative Modernization Barbara Wasinger Blake CarpenterJerry Stogsdill
Local Government Barbara Wasinger Blake CarpenterJerry Stogsdill
Rules and JournalFred PattonDennis HighbergerNone
Social Services Budget Les Mason Will Carpenter Barbara Ballard
Taxation Adam Smith Brian Bergkamp Tom Sawyer
Transportation Shannon Francis Lance Neelly Barbara Ballard
Transportation and Public Safety Budget Avery Anderson John Resman Virgil Weigel
Veterans and Military Ronald Ellis Mike Dodson Virgil Weigel
Water Jim Minnix Cyndi Howerton Lindsay Vaughn
Welform Reform Francis Awerkamp Leah Howell Heather Meyer

Past composition

The Republican Party has controlled the Kansas House in most of Kansas History, with the Democratic control occurring less. Since 1992, the GOP has held most seats. The Democratic Party of Kansas had held most seats in the early 90s, but the party has never gained a trifecta in Kansas political history.

See also

Notes

    Related Research Articles

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Michigan Legislature</span> Legislative branch of the state government of Michigan

    The Michigan Legislature is the legislature of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is organized as a bicameral body composed of an upper chamber, the Senate, and a lower chamber, the House of Representatives. Article IV of the Michigan Constitution, adopted in 1963, defines the role of the Legislature and how it is to be constituted. The chief purposes of the Legislature are to enact new laws and amend or repeal existing laws. The Legislature meets in the Capitol building in Lansing.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Alaska State Legislature</span> Legislative branch of the state government of Alaska

    The Alaska State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is a bicameral institution consisting of the 40-member Alaska House of Representatives and the 20-member Alaska Senate. There are 40 House Districts (1–40) and 20 Senate Districts (A–T). With a total of 60 lawmakers, the Alaska State Legislature is the smallest bicameral state legislature in the United States and the second-smallest of all state legislatures. There are no term limits for either chamber. The Alaska State Legislature meets in the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau. The current meeting since 2023 is the 33rd Alaska State Legislature. The previous meeting, the 32nd Alaska State Legislature, met from 2021 to 2023.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Connecticut General Assembly</span> Legislative branch of the state government of Connecticut

    The Connecticut General Assembly (CGA) is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is a bicameral body composed of the 151-member House of Representatives and the 36-member Senate. It meets in the state capital, Hartford. There are no term limits for members of either chamber.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina General Assembly</span> Legislative branch of the state government of North Carolina

    The North Carolina General Assembly is the bicameral legislature of the state government of North Carolina. The legislature consists of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The General Assembly meets in the North Carolina State Legislative Building in Raleigh.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas Legislature</span> Legislative branch of the state government of Texas

    The Texas Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Texas. It is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The state legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin. It is a powerful arm of the Texas government not only because of its power of the purse to control and direct the activities of state government and the strong constitutional connections between it and the Lieutenant Governor of Texas, but also due to Texas's plural executive.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida Legislature</span> Legislative branch of the state government of Florida

    The Florida Legislature is the legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. It is organized as a bicameral body composed of an upper chamber, the Senate, and a lower chamber, the House of Representatives. Article III, Section 1 of the Florida Constitution, adopted in 1968, defines the role of the legislature and how it is to be constituted. The legislature is composed of 160 state legislators. The primary purpose of the legislature is to enact new laws and amend or repeal existing laws. It meets in the Florida State Capitol building in Tallahassee.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Assembly</span> Lower house of the California State Legislature

    The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature, the upper house being the California State Senate. The Assembly convenes, along with the State Senate, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Michigan Senate</span> Upper house of the Michigan Legislature

    The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. Along with the Michigan House of Representatives, it composes the state legislature, which has powers, roles and duties defined by Article IV of the Michigan Constitution, adopted in 1963. The primary purpose of the Legislature is to enact new laws and amend or repeal existing laws.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennessee General Assembly</span> Legislative branch of the state government of Tennessee

    The Tennessee General Assembly (TNGA) is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is a part-time bicameral legislature consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The Speaker of the Senate carries the additional title and office of Lieutenant Governor of Tennessee. In addition to passing a budget for state government plus other legislation, the General Assembly appoints three state officers specified by the state constitution. It is also the initiating body in any process to amend the state's constitution.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Alaska House of Representatives</span> Lower house in the Alaska Legislature

    The Alaska State House of Representatives is the lower house in the Alaska State Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alaska. The House is composed of 40 members, each of whom represents a district of approximately 17,756 people per 2010 census figures. Members serve two-year terms without term limits. With 40 representatives, the Alaska House is the smallest state legislative lower chamber in the United States. The House convenes at the State Capitol in Juneau.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Mississippi Legislature</span> Legislative branch of the state government of Mississippi

    The Mississippi Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Mississippi. The bicameral Legislature is composed of the lower Mississippi House of Representatives, with 122 members, and the upper Mississippi State Senate, with 52 members. Both representatives and senators serve four-year terms without term limits. The Legislature convenes at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Wisconsin Legislature</span> Legislative branch of the state government of Wisconsin

    The Wisconsin Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The legislature is a bicameral body composed of the upper house, Wisconsin State Senate, and the lower Wisconsin State Assembly, both of which have had Republican majorities since January 2011. With both houses combined, the legislature has 132 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. The legislature convenes at the state capitol in Madison.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Kansas Legislature</span> Legislative branch of the state government of Kansas

    The Kansas Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Kansas. It is a bicameral assembly, composed of the lower Kansas House of Representatives, with 125 state representatives, and the upper Kansas Senate, with 40 state senators. Representatives are elected for two-year terms, senators for four-year terms.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma Legislature</span> Legislative branch of the state government of Oklahoma

    The Legislature of the State of Oklahoma is the state legislative branch of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The Oklahoma House of Representatives and Oklahoma Senate are the two houses that make up the bicameral state legislature. There are 101 state representatives, each serving a two-year term, and 48 state senators, who serve four-year terms that are staggered so only half of the Oklahoma Senate districts are eligible in each election cycle. Legislators are elected directly by the people from single member districts of equal population. The Oklahoma Legislature meets annually in the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Utah State Legislature</span> Legislative branch of the state government of Utah

    The Utah State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Utah. It is a bicameral body, comprising the Utah House of Representatives, with 75 state representatives, and the Utah Senate, with 29 state senators. There are no term limits for either chamber.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma House of Representatives</span> Lower house of Oklahomas legislature

    The Oklahoma House of Representatives is the lower house of the legislature of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its members introduce and vote on bills and resolutions, provide legislative oversight for state agencies, and help to craft the state's budget. The upper house of the Oklahoma Legislature is the Oklahoma Senate.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma Senate</span> Upper house of the Oklahoma Legislature

    The Oklahoma Senate is the upper house of the two houses of the Legislature of Oklahoma, the other being the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The total number of senators is set at 48 by the Oklahoma Constitution.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Kansas Senate</span> Upper House of the Kansas government

    The Kansas Senate is the upper house of the Kansas Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. State of Kansas. It is composed of 40 senators elected from single-member districts, each with a population of about 73,000 inhabitants. Members of the Senate are elected to a four-year term. There is no limit to the number of terms that a senator may serve. The Kansas Senate meets at the Kansas State Capitol in Topeka.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Louisiana House of Representatives</span> Lower house of the legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana

    The Louisiana House of Representatives is the lower house in the Louisiana State Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. This chamber is composed of 105 representatives, each of whom represents approximately 42,500 people. Members serve four-year terms with a term limit of three terms. The House is one of the five state legislative lower houses that has a four-year term, as opposed to the near-universal two-year term.

    The following table indicates the party of elected officials in the U.S. state of Minnesota:

    References

    1. 1 2 Ewing, Cortez A. M (August 1932). "Early Kansas Impeachments". Kansas Historical Quarterly . 1 (4): 307–325.
    2. Kansas State Capitol, Kansapedia, Kansas Historical Society. (accessed July 25, 2013)
    3. 1 2 Cool Things – Legislative War Artifacts, Kansapedia, Kansas Historical Society, November 1997. (accessed July 25, 2013)
    4. "Alfred Fairfax - Kansapedia - Kansas Historical Society". www.kshs.org. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
    5. 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.
    6. "Kansas Legislative Research Manual Kansas Legislative Procedures," Archived May 10, 2013, at the Wayback Machine March 12, 2009.
    7. Kansas Legislators Past & Present-Robert Dole Archived November 13, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
    8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Legislative Procedure in Kansas Archived May 10, 2013, at the Wayback Machine , Kansas Legislative Research Department, November 2006. (accessed July 24, 2013)
    9. "Kansas Rep. Aaron Coleman rejoins Democratic Party". Associated Press . KSHB. February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.

    39°02′54″N95°40′41″W / 39.04833°N 95.67806°W / 39.04833; -95.67806