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.

Kansas House of Representatives
Kansas State Legislature
Type
Type
Term limits
None
History
New session started
January 11, 2021
Leadership
Ron Ryckman Jr. (R)
since January 11, 2021
Speaker pro Tempore
Blaine Finch (R)
since January 11, 2021
Majority Leader
Daniel Hawkins (R)
since January 11, 2021
Minority Leader
Tom Sawyer (D)
since January 14, 2021
Structure
Seats125
Political groups
  •   Republican (86)
  •   Democratic (38)
  •   Independent (1)
Length of term
2 years
AuthorityArticle 2, Kansas Constitution
Salary$88.66/day + per diem
Elections
Last election
November 3, 2020
(125 seats)
Next election
November 8, 2022
(125 seats)
RedistrictingKansas Reapportionment Commission
Meeting place
House of Representatives Chamber
Kansas State Capitol
Topeka, Kansas
Website
Kansas House of Representatives

Representatives are elected to a two-year term. The Kansas House of Representatives does not have term limits. The legislative session convenes at the Kansas State Capitol in Topeka annually.

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

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

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 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
Latest voting share 68.8% 30.4% 0.8%

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 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
PositionNamePartyDistrict
Speaker of the HouseRon Ryckman Jr.Republican78
Speaker Pro TemBlaine FinchRepublican59
Majority LeaderDaniel HawkinsRepublican100
Assistant Majority LeaderLes MasonRepublican73
Majority WhipBlake CarpenterRepublican81
Caucus ChairSusan HumphriesRepublican99
Minority LeaderTom SawyerDemocratic95
Assistant Minority LeaderValdenia WinnDemocratic34
Minority Whip Stephanie ClaytonDemocratic19
Caucus ChairBarbara BallardDemocratic44
Agenda ChairBrandon WoodardDemocratic30
Policy ChairRui XuDemocratic25

Members of the Kansas House of Representatives
DistrictRepresentativePartyResidence
1 Michael Houser Republican Columbus
2 Ken Collins Republican Mulberry
3 Chuck Smith Republican Pittsburg
4 Trevor Jacobs Republican Fort Scott
5 Mark Samsel Republican Wellsville
6 Samantha Poetter Republican Louisburg
7 Richard Proehl Republican Parsons
8 Chris Croft Republican Overland Park
9 Kent Thompson Republican Iola
10 Christina Haswood Democratic Lawrence
11 Jim Kelly Republican Independence
12 Doug Blex Republican Independence
13 Joe Newland Republican Neodesha
14 Charlotte Esau Republican Olathe
15 John Toplikar Republican Olathe
16 Linda Featherston Democratic Overland Park
17 Tom Cox Republican Shawnee
18 Cindy Neighbor Democratic Shawnee
19 Stephanie Clayton Democratic Overland Park
20 Mari-Lynn Poskin Democratic Overland Park
21 Jerry Stogsdill Democratic Prairie Village
22 Lindsay Vaughn Democratic Overland Park
23 Susan Ruiz Democratic Shawnee
24 Jarrod Ousley Democratic Merriam
25 Rui Xu Democratic Westwood
26 Adam Thomas Republican Olathe
27 Sean Tarwater Republican Stilwell
28 Carl Turner Republican Leawood
29 Brett Parker Democratic Overland Park
30 Brandon Woodard Democratic Lenexa
31 Louis Ruiz Democratic Kansas City
32 Pam Curtis Democratic Kansas City
33 Tom Burroughs Democratic Kansas City
34 Valdenia Winn Democratic Kansas City
35 Broderick Henderson Democratic Kansas City
36 Kathy Wolfe Moore Democratic Kansas City
37 Aaron Coleman Independent Kansas City
38 Timothy Johnson Republican Bonner Springs
39 Owen Donohoe Republican Shawnee
40 David French Republican Lansing
41 Pat Proctor Democratic Leavenworth
42 Lance Neelly Republican Tonganoxie
43 William Sutton Republican Gardner
44 Barbara Ballard Democratic Lawrence
45 Mike Amyx Democratic Lawrence
46 Dennis Highberger Democratic Lawrence
47 Ronald Ellis Republican Meriden
48 Jennifer Day Democratic Overland Park
49 Megan Lynn Republican Olathe
50 Fred Patton Republican Topeka
51 Ron Highland Republican Wamego
52 Jesse Borjon Republican Topeka
53 Jim Gartner Democratic Topeka
54 Ken Corbet Republican Topeka
55 Annie Kuether Democratic Topeka
56 Virgil Weigel Democratic Topeka
57 John Alcala Democratic Topeka
58 Vic Miller Democratic Topeka
59 Blaine Finch Republican Ottawa
60 Mark Schreiber Republican Emporia
61 Francis Awerkamp Republican St. Marys
62 Randy Garber Republican Sabetha
63 John Eplee Republican Atchison
64 Suzi Carlson Republican Clay Center
65 Lonnie Clark Republican Junction City
66 Sydney Carlin Democratic Manhattan
67 Mike Dodson Republican Manhattan
68 Dave Baker Republican Council Grove
69 Clarke Sanders Republican Salina
70 John Barker Republican Abilene
71 Steven Howe Republican Salina
72 Avery Anderson Republican North Newton
73 Les Mason Republican McPherson
74 Stephen Owens Republican Hesston
75 Will Carpenter Republican El Dorado
76 Eric Smith Republican Burlington
77 Kristey Williams Republican Augusta
78 Ron Ryckman Jr. Republican Olathe
79 Cheryl Helmer Republican Mulvane
80 Bill Rhiley Republican Wellington
81 Blake Carpenter Republican Derby
82 Jesse Burris Republican Mulvane
83 Henry Helgerson Democratic Eastborough
84 Gail Finney Democratic Wichita
85 Patrick Penn Republican Wichita
86 Stephanie Byers Democratic Wichita
87 Susan Estes Republican Wichita
88 Elizabeth Bishop Democratic Wichita
89 KC Ohaebosim Democratic Wichita
90 Steve Huebert Republican Valley Center
91 Emil Bergquist Republican Park City
92 John Carmichael Democratic Wichita
93 J. C. Moore Republican Haysville
94 Leo Delperdang Republican Wichita
95 Tom Sawyer Democratic Wichita
96 Stephanie Yeager Democratic Wichita
97 Nick Hoheisel Republican Wichita
98 Ron Howard Republican Wichita
99 Susan Humphries Republican Wichita
100 Daniel Hawkins Republican Wichita
101 Joe Seiwert Republican Pretty Prairie
102 Jason Probst Democratic Hutchinson
103 Ponka-We Victors Democratic Wichita
104 Paul Waggoner Republican Hutchinson
105 Brenda Landwehr Republican Wichita
106 Bill Pannbacker Republican Washington
107 Susan Concannon Republican Beloit
108 Steven C. Johnson Republican Assaria
109 Troy Waymaster Republican Luray
110 Ken Rahjes Republican Agra
111 Barbara Wasinger Republican Hays
112 Tory Marie Arnberger Republican Great Bend
113 Brett Fairchild Republican Ellinwood
114 Michael Murphy Republican Cunningham
115 Boyd Orr Republican Fowler
116 Kyle Hoffman Republican Coldwater
117 Tatum Lee-Hahn Republican LaCrosse
118 Don Hineman Republican Dighton
119 Bradley Ralph Republican Dodge City
120 Adam Smith Republican Weskan
121 John Resman Republican Olathe
122 Russell Jennings Republican Lakin
123 John Wheeler Republican Garden City
124 Marty Long Republican Ulysses
125 Shannon Francis Republican Liberal

Committee Leadership

2021–2022
CommitteeChairmanVice ChairmanRanking Minority Member
Agriculture Ken Rahjes Eric Smith Sydney Carlin
Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Ken Corbet Joe Newland Sydney Carlin
Appropriations Troy Waymaster Kyle Hoffman Kathy Wolfe Moore
Calendar and Printing Daniel Hawkins Ron Ryckman Jr. Brandon Woodard
Children and Seniors Susan Concannon Charlotte Esau Jarrod Ousley
Commerce, Labor and Economic Development Sean Tarwater Marty Long Stephanie Clayton
Corrections and Juvenile Justice Russell Jennings Stephen Owens Dennis Highberger
Education Steve Huebert Adam Thomas Jerry Stogsdill
Elections Blake Carpenter Emil Bergquist Vic Miller
Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Joe Seiwert Mark Schreiber Annie Kuether
Federal and State Affairs John Barker Tory Marie Arnberger Louis Ruiz
Financial Institutions and Rural Development Jim Kelly Nich Hoheisel Rui Xu
General Government Budget Bill Sutton Paul Waggoner Mike Amyx
Health and Human Services Brenda Landwehr John Eplee Brett Parker
Higher Education Budget Susan Humphries Barbara Wasinger Brandon Woodard
Insurance and Pensions Steven C. Johnson Chris Croft Cindy Neighbor
Interstate Cooperation Ron Ryckman Jr. Blaine Finch Valdenia Winn
Judiciary Fred Patton Bradley Ralph John Carmichael
K-12 Education Budget Kristey Williams Kyle Hoffman Valdenia Winn
Legislative Budget Troy Waymaster Kyle Hoffman Kathy Wolfe Moore
Local Government Kent Thompson Doug Blex Pam Curtis
Redistricting Chris Croft Bradley Ralph Tom Burroughs
Rules and Journal Blaine Finch Dennis Highberger No Rules and Journal Committee RMM
Social Services Budget Will Carpenter Megan Lynn Barbara Ballard
Taxation Adam Smith Les Mason Jim Gartner
Transportation Richard Proehl Leo Delperdang Henry Helgerson
Transportation and Public Safety Budget Shannon Francis John Resman Virgil Weigel
Veterans and Military Lonnie Clark Ronald Ellis Susan Ruiz
Water Ron Highland Boyd Orr Elizabeth Bishop

2019–2020
CommitteeChairmanVice ChairmanRanking Minority Member
Agriculture Ron Highland Eric Smith Sydney Carlin
Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Willie Dove Larry Hibbard (2019)

Lonnie Clark (2020)

 Sydney Carlin
Appropriations Troy Waymaster Kyle Hoffman Kathy Wolfe Moore
Calendar and Printing Daniel Hawkins Ron Ryckman Jr. Brett Parker
Children and Seniors Susan Concannon Susan Humphries Jarrod Ousley
Commerce, Labor and Economic Development Sean Tarwater Ken Corbet Stan Frownfelter
Corrections and Juvenile Justice Russell Jennings Leo Delperdang Dennis Highberger
Education Steve Huebert Brenda Dietrich Jim Ward (January 2019–March 2020)

Stephanie Clayton (March 2020–present)

Elections Bill Sutton Blake Carpenter Brett Parker
Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Joe Seiwert Mark Schreiber Annie Kuether
Federal and State Affairs John Barker Francis Awerkamp Louis Ruiz
Financial Institutions and Pensions Jim Kelly Boyd Orr Gail Finney
General Government Budget J. R. Claeys Tory Marie Arnberger Tom Burroughs
Health and Human Services Brenda Landwehr John Eplee Monica Murnan
Higher Education Budget Ken Rahjes Tom Phillips Brandon Whipple (2019)

Brandon Woodard (2020)

Insurance Jene Vickrey Tom Cox Cindy Neighbor
Interstate Cooperation Ron Ryckman Jr. Blaine Finch Valdenia Winn
Judiciary Fred Patton Bradley Ralph John Carmichael
K-12 Education Budget Kristey Williams Kyle Hoffman Valdenia Winn
Legislative Budget Troy Waymaster Kyle Hoffman Kathy Wolfe Moore
Local Government Kent Thompson Emil Bergquist Pam Curtis
Rules and Journal Blaine Finch Tom Sawyer No Rules and Journal Committee RMM
Rural Revitalization Don Hineman (2019)

Adam Smith (2020)

 Ron Highland Jason Probst
Social Services Budget Will Carpenter Leonard Mastroni Barbara Ballard
Taxation Steven C. Johnson Les Mason Jim Gartner
Transportation Richard Proehl Jack Thimesch Henry Helgerson
Transportation and Public Safety Budget Shannon Francis John Resman Jeff Pittman
Veterans and Military Lonnie Clark Ronald Ellis Virgil Weigel

2017–2018

[9]

CommitteeChairmanVice ChairmanRanking Minority Member
Agriculture Kyle Hoffman Kent Thompson Sydney Carlin
Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Don Schroeder Larry Hibbard Sydney Carlin
Appropriations Troy Waymaster Erin Davis (2017)

Larry Campbell (January 2018-–February 2018)

Richard Proehl (2018)

 Kathy Wolfe Moore
Calendar and Printing Don Hineman Ron Ryckman Jr. Jim Ward
Children and Seniors Steve Alford (2017)

Erin Davis (2018)

 Linda Gallagher Jarrod Ousley
Commerce, Labor and Economic Development Les Mason Ken Corbet Brandon Whipple
Corrections and Juvenle Justice Russell Jennings John Whitmer Dennis Highberger
Education Clay Aurand Diana Dierks Valdenia Winn
Elections Keith Esau Blake Carpenter Vic Miller
Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Joe Seiwert Randy Garber Annie Kuether
Federal and State Affairs John Barker Ron Highland Louis Ruiz
Financial Institutions and Pensions Jim Kelly Randy Powell Gail Finney
General Government Budget Bill Sutton Chuck Webber Tom Burroughs
Government Technology and Security Pete DeGraaf (2017)

Tom Sloan (2018)

 Greg Lewis Pam Curtis
Health and Human Services Daniel Hawkins Susan Concannon John Wilson (2017)

Monica Murnan (2018)

Higher Education Budget Kevin Jones Susie Swanson Eber Phelps
Insurance Jene Vickrey Willie Dove Cindy Neighbor
Interstate Cooperation Ron Ryckman Jr. Scott Schwab Jim Ward
Judiciary Blaine Finch Bradley Ralph John Carmichael
K-12 Education Budget Larry Campbell (2017)

Fred Patton (2018)

 Steve Huebert Ed Trimmer
Legislative Budget Troy Waymaster Richard Proehl Jim Ward
Local Government Kristey Williams Jack Thimesch John Alcala
Rules and Journal Blaine Finch Tom Sawyer No Rules and Journal Committee RMM
Social Services Budget Brenda Landwehr Stephanie Clayton Barbara Ballard
Taxation Steven C. Johnson Tom Phillips Tom Sawyer
Transportation Richard Proehl Shannon Francis Adam Lusker
Transportation and Public Safety Budget J. R. Claeys Michael Houser Henry Helgerson (2017–March 2018)

Brett Parker (March 2018–January 2019)

Veterans and Military Les Osterman Lonnie Clark Virgil Weigel
Water and Environment Tom Sloan Ken Rahjes Ponka-We Victors

2015–2016

[10]

CommitteeChairmanVice ChairmanRanking Minority Member
Agriculture and Natural Resources Sharon Schwartz Sue Boldra Ponka-We Victors
Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Kyle Hoffman Don Schroeder Sydney Carlin
Appropriations Ron Ryckman Jr. Sharon Schwartz Jerry Henry
Calendar and Printing Jene Vickrey Ray Merrick Tom Burroughs
Children and Seniors Connie O'Brien Erin Davis Ponka-We Victors
Commerce, Labor and Economic Development Mark Hutton Les Mason Stan Frownfelter
Corrections and Juvenile Justice John Rubin (Jan. 2015–March 2016)

Ramon Gonzalez (March 2016–Jan. 2017)

 Ramon Gonzalez (Jan. 2015–March 2016)

Janice Pauls (March 2016–Jan. 2017)

 Dennis Highberger
Education Ron Highland Jerry Lunn Valdenia Winn
Education Budget Amanda Grosserode Bill Sutton Valdenia Winn
Elections Mark Kahrs Keith Esau Tom Sawyer
Energy and Environment Dennis Hedke Ken Corbet Annie Kuether
Federal and State Affairs Steve Brunk (2015)

Janice Pauls (2016)

 Travis Couture-Lovelady (2015)

James Todd (2016)

 Louis Ruiz
General Government Budget Troy Waymaster Craig McPherson Kathy Wolfe Moore
Health and Human Services Daniel Hawkins Willie Dove Jim Ward
Insurance and Financial Institutions Scott Schwab Jim Kelly Roderick Houston
Interstate Cooperation Ray Merrick Peggy Mast Tom Burroughs
Judiciary John Barker Charles Macheers John Carmichael
Legislative Budget Ron Ryckman Jr. Sharon Schwartz Tom Burroughs
Local Government Steve Huebert Tom Phillips John Alcala
Pensions and Benefits Steven C. Johnson Kent Thompson Ed Trimmer
Rules and Journal John Barker (Jan. 2015–March 2016)

Janice Pauls (March 2016–Jan. 2017)

 Tom Sawyer No Rules and Journal Committee RMM
Social Services Budget Will Carpenter Peggy Mast Barbara Ballard
Taxation Marvin Kleeb Gene Sullentrop Tom Sawyer
Transportation Richard Proehl Ron Ryckman Adam Lusker
Transportation and Public Safety Budget J. R. Claeys Russell Jennings Gail Finney
Utilities and Telecommunications Joe Seiwart Steve Alford Annie Kuether
Veterans, Military and Homeland Security Mario Goico Les Osterman Adam Lusker
Vision 2020 Tom Sloan (2015)

Larry Campbell (2016)

 Larry Campbell (2015)

Tom Sloan (2016)

 Pam Curtis

Past composition of the House of Representatives
Main article: Political party strength in Kansas

See also

References
  1. 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. Cool Things – Legislative War Artifacts, Kansapedia, Kansas Historical Society, November 1997. (accessed July 25, 2013)
  4. 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.
  5. "Kansas Legislative Research Manual Kansas Legislative Procedures," Archived May 10, 2013, at the Wayback Machine March 12, 2009.
  6. "George Laughhead, Robert M. Wright (1840–1915), Dodge City, Kansas: Town President, founder, pioneer, September 23, 2009". kansashistory.us. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  7. Kansas Legislators Past & Present-Robert Dole Archived November 13, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  8. Legislative Procedure in Kansas Archived May 10, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, Kansas Legislative Research Department, November 2006. (accessed July 24, 2013)
  9. "Kansas Legislative Committees". Kslegislature.org. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  10. "Kansas Legislative Committees". Kslegislature.org. Retrieved December 8, 2019.

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