Week 3 (1.11.25 to 1.17.25)
Weekly recap on Manhattan's elected officials in the KS Legislature and U.S. Congress
Editor’s note: For readability, only bills which may be of public interest have been included. Legislation is ordered from highest number of cosponsors to lowest. Bolded legislation indicates that more than 25% of the respective chamber demonstrated interest or support. We are in the process of improving our coverage. Weekly updates will be posted on the weekend, covering the previous Saturday through Friday. Phone numbers are included for your convenience, but you can find other methods to contact your legislator on our About page. Let your legislators know what you think of their work!
Revision (updated 1/19/25): We’ve included the committee assignments for state level legislators.
Federal level
BOTH Kansas Senators co-sponsored:
Gun rights: S.65 (44 cosponsors)- A bill to allow reciprocity for the carrying of certain concealed firearms.
Abortion: S.6 (44 cosponsors)- A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit a health care practitioner from failing to exercise the proper degree of care in the case of a child who survives an abortion or attempted abortion.
Immigration: S.84 (31 cosponsors)- A bill to require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to take into custody certain aliens who have been charged in the United States with a crime that resulted in the death or serious bodily injury of another person, and for other purposes.
Senator Roger Marshall (D.C. Office 202-224-4774)
On Pete Hegseth, the nominee for Secretary of Defense: “I think America got to see what a modern-day Patriot looks like. Look these nominees that President Trump has nominated, they are the cavalry… I think we’re going to see Pete address some of the biggest challenges in our military, and that’s recruiting, and that’s morale, as well as a lack of efficiency.” (Marshall on Fox)
Sponsored: Immigration: 4 amendments to the S.5 Laken Riley Act
Co-sponsored:
S.100 (24 cosponsors)- A bill to repeal the Corporate Transparency Act.
S.137 (21 cosponsors)- A bill to amend title 41, United States Code, to prohibit the Federal Government from entering into contracts with an entity that discriminates against firearm or ammunition industries, and for other purposes.
S.J.Res.1 (16 cosponsors)- A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to limiting the number of terms that a Member of Congress may serve.
S.89 (13 cosponsors)- A bill to reform restrictions on the importation of firearms and ammunition.
S.143 (14 cosponsors)- A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to repeal the natural gas tax.
S.Res.22 (13 cosponsors)- A resolution concerning the National Collegiate Athletic Association policy for eligibility in women's sports.
S.96 (10 cosponsors)- A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prohibit certain activities constituting preparation of tax returns by the Secretary of the Treasury, and for other purposes.
S.119 (8 cosponsors)- A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to discontinue the collection by the Federal Government of firearm transaction records of discontinued firearms businesses, to require the destruction of such already collected records, and for other purposes.
S.42 (5 cosponsors)- A bill to establish the Southern Border Wall Construction Fund and to transfer unobligated amounts from the Coronavirus State and local fiscal recovery funds to such Fund to construct and maintain physical barriers along the southern border.
Senator Jerry Moran (D.C. Office 202-224-6521, Manhattan Office 785-539-8973)
On Kash Patel, nominee for head of FBI: “Had a positive and productive meeting with President Trump’s nominee for the FBI, Kash Patel. We discussed the critical role the FBI plays in bolstering our national security, cracking down on violent crime & and being a productive partner to state and local law enforcement. I look forward to his testimony before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.” (1/17/25 post on X)
Sponsored:
S.124 (12 cosponsors)- A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for disciplinary procedures for supervisors and managers at the Department of Veterans Affairs and to modify the procedures of personnel actions against employees of the Department, and for other purposes.
S.73 (1 cosponsor)- A bill to amend title XVI of the Social Security Act to provide that the supplemental security income benefits of adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities shall not be reduced by reason of marriage.
Co-sponsored:
S.106 (10 cosponsors)- A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide Medicare coverage for all physicians' services furnished by doctors of chiropractic within the scope of their license, and for other purposes.
S.112 (7 cosponsors)- A bill to amend section 235(b)(2)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to require the implementation of the Migrant Protection Protocols.
House Representative Tracey Mann (D.C. Office 202-225-2715, Manhattan Office 785-370-7277)
Sponsored: H.R.522 (2 cosponsors)- To ensure equal treatment for certain faith-based organizations in certain Small Business Administration programs.
Mann previously introduced the same bill in 2024, where it died in Congress without a vote.
Co-sponsored:
Abortion: H.R.21 (130 cosponsors)- To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit a health care practitioner from failing to exercise the proper degree of care in the case of a child who survives an abortion or attempted abortion.
Gun rights: H.R.38 (166 cosponsors)- To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide a means by which nonresidents of a State whose residents may carry concealed firearms may also do so in the State.
H.R.142 (79 cosponsors)- To amend chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, to provide that major rules of the executive branch shall have no force or effect unless a joint resolution of approval is enacted into law.
This bill would require that major rules proposed by the executive branch must receive explicit Congressional approval via a joint resolution before they can take effect. Under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), Congress can review and overrule major rules, but this requires an active effort to disapprove the rule via a joint resolution. Rules go into effect unless Congress acts to disapprove them. H.R.142 would reverse this process by making major rules ineffective unless Congress actively approves them.
H.R.45 (76 cosponsors)- To amend title 41, United States Code, to prohibit the Federal Government from entering into contracts with an entity that discriminates against the firearm and ammunition industry, and for other purposes.
H.J.Res.12 (53 cosponsors)- Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the number of terms that a Member of Congress may serve.
H.R.272 (36 cosponsors)- To prohibit Federal funding to entities that do not certify the entities will not perform, or provide any funding to any other entity that performs, an abortion.
H.R.343 (27 cosponsors)- To amend title X of the Public Health Service Act to prohibit family planning grants from being awarded to any entity that performs abortions, and for other purposes.
H.R.163 (25 cosponsors)- To immediately resume construction of the border wall system along the international border between the United States and Mexico to secure the border, enforce the rule of law, and expend appropriated funds as mandated by Congress, and for other purposes.
H.Con.Res.3 (18 cosponsors)- Expressing support for the Geneva Consensus Declaration on Promoting Women's Health and Strengthening the Family and urging that the United States rejoin this historic declaration.
This Declaration was launched in 2020, which states that there is no international right to abortion and emphasizes the sovereignty of nations to determine their own laws on this issue without external interference. The U.S. withdrew in 2021.
State level
Senator Brad Starnes (Topeka: 785-296-7360)
Sponsored: SB10 (27 sponsors)- Providing property tax exemptions for certain personal property including watercraft, marine equipment, off-road vehicles, motorized bicycles and certain trailers.
Co-sponsored: SCR 1603 (18 sponsors)- Proposing to amend section 1 of article 11 of the constitution of the state of Kansas to limit property tax valuation increases for real property
Implication: Real property (land and buildings) and mobile homes used for residential purposes would have a maximum valuation increase of 3% annually, regardless of market trends.
Assessment and Taxation: Daily @ 9:30 am - Room: 548-S
Agriculture and Natural Resources: Daily @ 8:30 am - Room: 144-S
Education: Daily @ 1:30 pm - Room: 144-S
Federal and State Affairs: Daily @ 10:30 am - Room: 144-S
Election Laws
SB4- Sponsored by the Committee. Requiring the return of advance voting ballots by 7:00 p.m. on the day of the election.
SB5 - Sponsored by the Committee. Prohibiting the use of funds provided by the United States government for the conduct of elections and election-related activities unless approved by the legislature.
SB6 - Sponsored by the Committee. Prohibiting the use of ranked-choice voting methods for conducting elections.
Immigration and Governance:
SCR1602 - Sponsored by the Committee. Encouraging the governor to fully cooperate with federal enforcement of immigration laws. (refer to S.5 Laken Riley Act)
SCR1604 - Sponsored by the Committee. Making application to the United States congress to call a convention of the states for the purpose of proposing amendments to limit the federal government.
David Schneider on behalf of Convention of States requested the introduction of this sponsored resolution. Article V of the U.S. Constitution allows states to initiate the process of amending the Constitution if two-thirds (34 states) apply for such a convention.
Rep. Sydney Carlin of District 66 (Topeka: 785 296-7657)
No sponsorships of public interest this week.
Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget: Daily @ 1:30 pm - Room: 118-N, ranking minority member
Taxation: Daily @ 3:30 pm - Room: 346-S
Veterans and Military: Tue/Thu @ 9:00 am - Room: 281-N
Rep. Angel Roeser of District 67 (Topeka: 785-296-7402)
Co-sponsored: HB 2005 (28 sponsors)- Establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals.
Welfare Reform: Tue/Thu @ 1:30 pm - Room: 152-S
Financial Institutions and Pensions: Mon/Wed @ 9:00 am - Room: 582-N
Agriculture and Natural Resources: Daily @ 3:30 pm - Room: 112-N
Child Welfare and Foster Care: Mon/Wed @ 1:30 pm - Room: 152-S
Noteworthy
“Kansas House speaker bans reporters from chamber floor, doesn’t say why” (KS Reflector)
“Legislative budget proposes $7 million cut to Kansas public defenders, despite shortage” (KS Reflector)
“Kansas governor proposes another $30M to address dwindling water supply” (KS Reflector)
“Some parts of western Kansas don’t have the groundwater to last another 75 years.” -Governor Laura Kelly
2025 Everytown Gun Law Rankings rated Kansas as #37 for another year, deeming it a national failure in terms of gun safety policies.