Panel weighs bill to require governor pick vacancy appointees from three legislature‑approved nominees

A Kansas Senate committee heard testimony Wednesday on Senate Bill 105, which would require the governor to appoint temporary replacements for vacancies in the U.S. Senate, state treasurer and commissioner of insurance from a list of three individuals approved by a legislative joint committee.

The bill’s sponsor staffer Jason told the committee, “Senate bill 105 addresses when there are vacancies in the office of a US Senator, or in the state elected offices of state treasurer and commissioner of insurance,” and summarized that the change would make the governor choose an appointee from a slate of three names approved by the legislature rather than name a temporary replacement unilaterally.

Supporters said the change would add a layer of legislative review and help preserve continuity in statewide offices. State Treasurer Steven Johnson told the committee he favored the bill as “a more robust process to be able to consider something different in the people that we would look at to fill those vacancies,” saying it…