Kansas Senate adopts rules resolution, expands committee that selects committee leaders and tightens voting procedures

The Kansas Senate on Jan. 22 adopted Senate Resolution 1704, a package of permanent rules that expands a committee that handles committee leadership changes, sets a seven-legislative-day limit before a motion to withdraw a bill from committee may be made, clarifies that recorded votes should be clear and audible, and updates language in the Senate dress code. The final vote on SR 1704 was 39-0.

Senator Schallenbarger of Cherokee, who carried the resolution on the floor, told colleagues that "Senate resolution 1704 will be the permanent rules of the senate for the next 4 years" and outlined four changes being proposed: creation of a committee on committees (under the organization, calendar and rules — OCR) limited to chair or vice chair changes; a rule making a motion to withdraw a bill from committee an order only after it has been in committee for seven legislative days; guidance that members be "clear and audible" when casting recorded votes; and a small wording change to the dress code (adding the phrase "dress pants").

Debate focused chiefly on two issues: how much authority the new OCR would have over chair and vice-chair appointments, and whether the seven-day waiting period before withdrawing a bill should be lengthened. Under the adopted language the OCR will be composed of five elected majority leadership positions — the president of the Senate, the majority leader, the vice president, the assistant majority leader and the whip — and would exercise authority when replacing or removing a chair or vice chair. Several senators asked whether that structure would reduce the president's control over committee leadership and whether the committee's role was advisory or a binding vote.

Senator Blue of Barton proposed an amendment (RS0664) to change the seven legislative days in the withdrawal rule to 10 legislative days, saying "10 allows essentially 2 weeks" and would give chairs more time to work bills. The amendment was defeated; 10 senators voted in favor and 26 opposed, and the motion failed.

Senator Owens of Harvey offered an amendment (RS0665) that added the requirement that "for any changes to be made in the appointment of a chairperson or vice chairperson by the committee, the president of the senate must be voting on the prevailing side." Owens described the amendment as ensuring that the Senate president would be on the prevailing side of any future committee votes removing or replacing chairpersons. That amendment passed on a division, 25 in favor and 9 opposed.

After debate and the successful Owens amendment, the Committee of the Whole recommended SR 1704 be reported as amended. On final action the Senate adopted the resolution as amended with a roll-call vote of 39 in favor, none opposed.

The session also included a short list of newly introduced bills (Senate Bills 55–63 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 1605), which were read for introduction but were not the subject of substantive floor debate during this session.

Why it matters: SR 1704 reshapes how some leadership decisions are made inside the Kansas Senate by formalizing a five-member organization committee for chair and vice-chair changes and by codifying timing and procedural expectations for committee management and recorded votes. Supporters said the changes create clearer, consistent processes; critics warned the change shifts some authority from the senate president to a larger leadership group and sought guarantees that the president retain a decisive role — a concern partially addressed by the Owens amendment.

Looking ahead: SR 1704 will govern Senate procedure for the coming years unless further amended. The newly introduced policy language will take effect for the body’s organization and procedures starting with the 2025 regular session as specified in the resolution text.