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Dear Friends:
The legislative session will begin on Monday, January 14th! The Senate will convene at 2 pm to have all senators sworn in. And then we will be off!
Monday will be mostly ceremonial. Family and friends will be present to watch the proceedings, and the committees will start to meet on Tuesday, January 15th. Most of the committees will receive reports from interim committees and educate the members on issues that may be presented during the session. While some bills will be filed ahead of time, most will be introduced through the committee meetings in the next few weeks. The President of the Senate will decide which committee will be assigned the bill. Of course then it is up to the committee chairperson to schedule a hearing.
The Governor will deliver the State of the State address to members of the Senate and House on Tuesday, January 15th at 6:30 pm. KTPS will broadcast the address. The Governor's budget will be available the following day.
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Committees play an integral part in the legislative process. Bills are assigned to a particular committee based on their subject. Once a bill has been assigned to a committee, it is reviewed thoroughly before it is passed through to the full chamber for consideration, amended or not acted upon where it may "die" without ever being seen by the full chamber for consideration.
I have been assigned the following committees:
TRANSPORTATION
8:30 am
This standing committee deals with matters relating to all forms of transportation in the state and sometimes tourism issues. Legislation considered by the committee concerns motor vehicles, highways, fuel taxes, motor carriers, railroads and drivers' licenses. State agencies which appear before this committee include the Department of Transportation and the Department of Commerce, the Division of Motor Vehicles of the Department of Revenue and the Highway Patrol.
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND INSURANCE
9:30 am More information on this committee later!
EDUCATION
1:30 pm More information on this committee later! |
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- In December the state revenues were $30 million above the estimates. This was lead by individual income taxes. The Governor's new tax plan took effect on 1-1-2013. I will update you as the numbers come in!
- A three judge panel in Shawnee County issued a 251 page opinion yesterday on school finance. Their opinion stated that the Governor and Legislature are in violation of the provisions of school finance that were established in the 2005 Montoy school finance case. Attorney General Derek Schmidt filed notice yesterday after the opinion was issued that the state will appeal the ruling to the Kansas Supreme Court. Here is a link to the 251 page document:
School Finance 2013 Opinion
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Click here to see a copy of Senate District 20. |
