Legislative Session Preview
Lawmakers return to Topeka for the start of the 2021 Kansas Legislative Session on Monday, January 11. If there was ever a feeling of uncertainty in the air, this is the year. Until this week, it was unclear where lawmakers would conduct their business in the middle of a pandemic.
All 13 committee rooms in the Statehouse used by the Legislature have been installed with both audio and visual streaming. A virtual communication platform will be used and made available for committee members, conferees, and the public to participate in hearings remotely if they choose. Seating in both the House and Senate chambers has been rearranged for lawmakers to social distance when they need to be in the same room to vote on legislation. Masks and COVID-19 testing will also be made available on request.
While the building will be closed to anyone not conducting official business with the Legislature, lobbyists are still unsure of proper protocols in interacting with legislators.
Legislative leaders are taking hefty precautions to prevent a coronavirus outbreak at the Statehouse. Some Democrat lawmakers have voiced concern over returning to Topeka this early, asking to postpone the legislative session to spring or summer when infection numbers have decreased across the state.
Every year, the session schedule is fluid, and with lawmakers often making changes. This year, however, folks are prepared for anything. Leaders have a priority list of legislation that they will address as early as next week, should an outbreak occur, and an early adjournment is required. The state budget, changes to the Kansas Emergency Management Act, and economic recovery items top that list.
Kansas State of the State Address
Governor Kelly's State of the State Address will be Tuesday, January 13, 7:00 p.m. You can catch the broadcast live from the Governor's
Facebook page or on public television stations:
KTWU, KPTS, Smoky Hills Public Broadcasting. Kansas Legislature Live Streaming Upgrades
This year, all committee rooms and both the House and Senate chambers won't only broadcast in audio but will now have both audio and visual streaming available to the public. This approach allows you to listen to lawmakers introduce legislation, debate bills, and follow issues that are important to you. To access live streams of legislative proceedings, visit
www.kslegislature.org and click on "Audio/Video" in the upper right hand corner.
Tax collections Up again in December
Total tax collections during the last month of 2020 were up $64.5 million - 9.1 percent - in December, with $770.2 million collected. Compared to the same month the previous year, this was a 1.8 percent increase.
Kansas Legislative Calendar
| January 11 | Session Begins @ 2:00 p.m.
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| January 12 | State of the State Address @ 7:00 p.m.
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| January 29 | Kansas Day
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| February 12 | Last Day for Bill Introductions
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| March 5 | Turnaround Day (last day to consider non-exempt bills in house of origin)
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| March 31 | Last Day to Consider Non-exempt Bills
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| April 9 | Drop Dead Day & First Adjournment
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| May 3 | Veto Session Begins |
