Kansas House of Representatives

Coordinates: 39°02′54″N 95°40′41″W / 39.04833°N 95.67806°W / 39.04833; -95.67806
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Kansas House of Representatives
Kansas State Legislature
Coat of arms or logo
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
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)
RedistrictingKansas 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]

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[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 2023-2024 session:

Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Republican Democratic Independent Vacant
Begin 2021 86 38 1 125 0
February 8, 2021[9] 86 39 0 125 0
Begin 2023 85 40 0 125 0
Latest voting share 68% 32% 0%
Current House districts and party affiliation
  Republican Party
  Democratic Party

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. 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[edit]

Position Name Party District
Speaker of the House Daniel Hawkins Republican 100
Speaker Pro Tem Blake Carpenter 81
Majority Leader Chris Croft 8
Assistant Majority Leader Les Mason 73
Majority Whip Susan Estes 87
Caucus Chair Kristey Williams 77
Minority Leader Vic Miller Democratic 58
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[edit]

District Representative Party Residence First 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 Democrat Lawrence 2020
11 Ron Bryce Republican Coffeyville 2022
12 Doug Blex Republican Independence 2016
13 Duane Droge Republican Eureka 2022
14 Dennis Miller Democrat Olathe 2022
15 Allison Hougland Democrat Olathe 2022
16 Linda Featherston Democrat Overland Park 2020
17 Jo Ella Hoye Democrat Lenexa 2020
18 Cindy Neighbor Democrat Shawnee 2002
19 Stephanie Sawyer Clayton Democrat Overland Park 2012
20 Mari-Lynn Poskin Democrat Leawood 2020
21 Jerry Stogsdill Democrat Prairie Village 2016
22 Lindsay Vaughn Democrat Overland Park 2020
23 Susan Ruiz Democrat Shawnee 2018
24 Jarrod Ousley Democrat Merriam 2014
25 Rui Xu Democrat Westwood 2018
26 Adam Thomas Republican Olathe 2018
27 Sean Tarwater Republican Stilwell 2016
28 Carl Turner Republican Leawood 2020
29 Heather Meyer Democrat Overland Park 2020
30 Laura Williams Republican Lenexa 2022
31 Louis Ruiz Democrat Kansas City 2004
32 Pam Curtis Democrat Kansas City 2014
33 Mike Thompson Republican Bonner Springs 2022
34 Valdenia Winn Democrat Kansas City 2000
35 Marvin Robinson Democrat Kansas City 2022
36 Lynn Melton Democrat Kansas City 2022
37 Melissa Oropeza Democrat 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 Democrat Lawrence 1992
45 Mike Amyx Democrat Lawrence 2018
46 Dennis Highberger Democrat Lawrence 2014
47 Ronald Ellis Republican Meriden 2016
48 Dan Osman Democrat Overland Park 2020
49 Nikki McDonald Democrat Olathe 2023
50 Kyle McNorton Republican Topeka 2023
51 Kenny Titus Republican Manhattan 2022
52 Jesse Borjon Republican Topeka 2020
53 Kirk Haskins Democrat Topeka 2022
54 Ken Corbet Republican Topeka 2012
55 Tobias Schlingensiepen Democrat Topeka 2022
56 Virgil Weigel Democrat Topeka 2012
57 John Alcala Democrat Topeka 2012
58 Vic Miller Democrat 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 Democrat 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 Les Mason Republican McPherson 2014
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 Democrat Eastborough 1982
84 Ford Carr Democrat Wichita 2022
85 Patrick Penn Republican Wichita 2020
86 Silas Miller Democrat Wichita 2022
87 Susan Estes Republican Wichita 2020
88 Sandy Pickert Republican Wichita 2022
89 KC Ohaebosim Democrat Wichita 2018
90 Carl Maughan Republican Colwich 2022
91 Emil Bergquist Republican Park City 2022
92 John Carmichael Democrat Wichita 2012
93 Brian Bergkamp Republican Wichita 2020
94 Leo Delpergang Republican Wichita 2018
95 Tom Sawyer Democrat 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 Democrat Hutchinson 2016
103 Angela Martinez Democrat 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 Democrat 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 David Younger Republican Ulysses 2022
125 Shannon Francis Republican Liberal 2014

Committee leadership[edit]

2023–2024[edit]

Committee Chairman Vice Chairman Ranking 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 Budget Kyle 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 Cooperation Daniel Hawkins Blake Carpenter Valdenia Winn
Judiciary Fred Patton Mark Schreiber John Carmichael
K-12 Education Budget Kristey Williams Brenda Landwehr Valdenia Winn
Legislative Budget (House) Troy Waymaster Kyle Hoffman Henry Helgerson
Legislative Modernization Barbara Wasinger Blake Carpenter Jerry Stogsdill
Local Government Barbara Wasinger Blake Carpenter Jerry Stogsdill
Rules and Journal Fred Patton Dennis Highberger None
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[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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. ^ 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)
  9. ^ "Kansas Rep. Aaron Coleman rejoins Democratic Party". Associated Press. KSHB. February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.

External links[edit]

39°02′54″N 95°40′41″W / 39.04833°N 95.67806°W / 39.04833; -95.67806