Kansas Senate Republicans

05/02/2024

04/05/2023

Today, the Kansas Senate took a major step towards reducing Kansans’ property taxes by adopting a constitutional amendment which would limit annual valuation increases to 4% for real property for purposes of property taxation. The amendment contains exceptions in the event a property is renovated or sold, yet would provide predictability for Kansans already feeling the pinch of high taxes.

Combined with the Truth in Taxation legislation adopted in previous sessions, the amendment represents a significant step in the effort by Republicans to fight the sharp increases in property taxes that have repeatedly burdened property owners and made it hard for many Kansans to simply stay in their homes.

Kansans are rightfully fed up with shocking property valuation changes that defy logic. For years, Republicans have championed property tax reform - now it’s time we act. If we truly believe property ownership is a cornerstone of freedom, then it must be possible for people to afford the taxes on that property. Simply put, the current appraisal system is not working in a way that protects our fixed-income neighbors. Kansans deserve a direct say in whether they want their property values to grow at a steady and predictable rate, or to continue with the current system where their livelihoods are subject to sudden spikes in property taxes.

SCR 1611 now heads to the House.

04/05/2023

After three years of a hard-fought battle, the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act will now become law, after the Kansas Senate followed in the footsteps of the Kansas House in voting to override the veto of HB 2238 by Governor Kelly.

Senator Renee Erickson, who spearheaded the debate over three sessions and offered powerful remarks in support of the bill and in defense of fairness for female athletes, celebrated passage of the bill.

“Now that the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act will become law, Kansas will be able to uphold Title IX and protect fair play for Kansas girls, as it has done for 50 years. Today is truly a victory for all women,” Erickson said.

Erickson noted that the successful effort would not have been possible if not for courageous women like swimmer Riley Gaines, who came to Kansas to testify in support of the bill.

“Women like Riley personified the trophies, placements, and championships that would have been lost by Kansas women if we didn’t pass this. Their courage and testimony – in the face of charges of hatred and bigotry - changed hearts and minds. They made today’s victory possible,” said Erickson.

Senate President Ty Masterson also celebrated the bill’s passage, noting that Republicans vowed they would never give up in the fight for fairness for Kansas women.

“The Fairness in Women’s Sports Act is about just that – fairness. It simply sets guidelines that ensure the fair playing field continues for women and girls that we have recognized for decades. When the override attempts on the governor’s previous two vetoes came up a bit short, we vowed we would never give up - and of course, we did not. While we were hopeful the governor would meet us in the middle and honor her campaign rhetoric, we stood firm on our commitment to fairness for Kansas women. Today, the hard work of so many prevailed when this important bill got across the goal line.”

04/05/2023

Kansas UPDATED: House approves state-funded presidential primaries By Brad Cooper - April 3, 2023 0 281 Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp (Updated to include latest reconsideration vote) The Kansas House reversed itself Tuesday, passing a bill that clears the path for a state-funded presiden...

04/05/2023

Last week, the Senate passed the Born-alive Infants Protection Act, which will provide legal protections for infants who are born alive regardless of the intent of the delivery. The bill would require, in the event an abortion or attempted abortion results in a child being born alive, any health care provider present at the time the child is born alive to exercise the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence, to preserve the life and health of the child as a reasonably diligent and conscientious health care provider would render to any other child born alive at the same gestational age; and ensure that the child who is born alive is immediately transported to a hospital.

HB 2313 passed on a bi-partisan vote of 31-9. Today, the House followed suit, passing the bill on a vote of 86-36. It is now headed to the governor.

03/09/2023

The Kansas Senate just passed the Fairness in Women's Sports Act with 28 votes, a veto-proof majority! Thank you to Senator Renee Erickson for her leadership in carrying the bill and her powerful remarks in support of fairness for women athletes!

02/24/2023

The Kansas Senate on Thursday became the first chamber to pass the Women’s Bill of Rights, a measure that defines “woman” and “man” in state law. The distinction is central to the push to preserve single-sex areas such as public restrooms, school sports, prisons and shelters.

“What this does is simply codify in the law the definition of sex,” state Sen. Renee Erickson, a Republican, told The Washington Times.

Legislators in red states are determined this year to do what Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson could not: provide a definition for the word “woman.”

02/16/2023

Yesterday, the Kansas Senate adopted two pieces of legislation protect the citizens of Kansas.

SB 73 amends elements of the crimes of burglary and aggravated burglary to add domestic battery and violation of a protection order to the list of crimes that a person can have the intent to commit when they enter or remain in a location specified in the law. During the hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee, law enforcement testified in favor of the legislation, saying it addresses a gap in the law that makes it difficult to prosecute certain offenders. Thank you to Senator Kellie Warren for carrying this legislation!

SB 106 protects consumers by prohibiting fake air bags – which the bill defines as knowingly or intentionally manufacturing, importing, distributing, selling, offering for sale, installing, or reinstalling a device intended to replace a supplemental restraint system component in a vehicle if the device is counterfeit, a nonfunctional airbag, or an object not designed in accordance with federal safety regulations for the make, model, and year of the vehicle. Thank you to Senator Kellie Warren for carrying this legislation and Senator Mike Petersen, Chair of the Transportation Committee, for his work in shepherding this bill through his committee.

Throughout this session, we will pursue similar legislation that honors our commitment to a safe and secure Kansas.

01/10/2023

Republican leaders released our legislative agenda for 2023 entitled, “A Better Way: Our Commitment to Kansas.” The eight-point plan outlines Republican priorities ranging from tax reform and free-market health care solutions to growing the Kansas workforce and upholding the constitutional rights of Kansans.

Republican legislative leaders from both chambers offered the following statements in support of the plan:

“We asked people all over the state what’s important to them and this is what they told us. We’re committed to those concerns - taxes and the economy, law and order, education, healthcare, and individual liberties. A Better Way is our commitment to Kansans that we’re listening and we have a path forward.”
- Dan Hawkins, House Speaker

“Republicans are committed to a policy agenda that puts Kansans first by protecting our communities, honoring the value of work, and ensuring our children have a bright future. While the governor’s party desires to expand government and impede freedom, our commitment to Kansans is truly a better way by expanding freedom and making Kansas a land of opportunity for all.”
- Ty Masterson, Senate President

“Republicans in both chambers are dedicated to hit the ground running for the people of Kansas. This agenda spells out a better way that addresses all Kansans, from the children who will one day inherit our state, to the retirees who have worked so hard and deserve some relief. These common-sense policies and pro-family, pro-business, and pro-growth and will bring opportunity and prosperity to all Kansans.”
- Chris Croft, House Majority Leader

“Republicans are unified and committed to working together across both chambers to deliver meaningful results for Kansans, and this is what our agenda is about. By expanding freedom and removing barriers to success for people in all walks of life, our plan will help ensure Kansas remains on a path to a brighter and more prosperous future.”
- Larry Alley, Senate Majority Leader

“This plan is a common-sense approach to laying out a roadmap that will focus our legislative efforts in the coming months. It goes beyond the rhetoric and puts our principles and ideas into action to benefit all Kansans. We are committed to this State and to achieving the goals for a better future.”
- Blake Carpenter, House Speaker Pro-Tem

“This is a common-sense forward-looking agenda that addresses a number of issues important to Kansans, confronting challenges head-on with solutions that have been proven to work.”
- Rick Wilborn, Senate Vice President

04/29/2022

Kansas Republicans overrode Gov. Laura Kelly's veto of a food stamp work training requirement bill amid a workforce shortage.