Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Legislative Organization topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Kansas Senate elects leadership, adopts temporary organization resolutions
Summary
The Kansas Senate selected its leadership for the 2025 session and adopted three organization resolutions and a concurrent resolution by voice vote, with Senators Ty Masterson and Tim Schallenberger elected president and vice president by acclamation.
The Kansas Senate elected Ty Masterson as president of the senate and Tim Schallenberger as vice president, and adopted resolutions organizing the chamber and setting temporary rules during its organizational session.
Senators formally nominated and elected leadership by acclamation. Senator Chase Blasey nominated Masterson and Senator Dinah Sykes seconded; Masterson was elected "by acclamation," the clerk announced. Senator Blasey later nominated Tim Schallenberger as vice president and Sykes seconded; Schallenberger was likewise elected by acclamation.
The Senate adopted Senate Resolution 1701 (organization of the senate), Senate Resolution 1702 (seat assignments), and Senate Resolution 1703 (temporary rules) after motions to declare emergencies and suspend rules. Each resolution was adopted by voice vote on motions presented by Senator Chase Blasey. The Senate also adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 1601 informing the governor that the two houses were organized and ready to receive communications.
Senator Ty Masterson, after taking the gavel, said he was "deeply humbled and honored to have regained," and urged colleagues to "assume the best" about one another and to take difficult debates in stride. Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes delivered the Democratic caucus response, congratulating new members and calling for attention to education, funding for special education and policies that support workers and families. Sykes said, "we gather again to serve our neighbors as we start the 2025 legislative session."
Corey Carnahan served as acting secretary of the senate "until such time a permanent secretary is appointed," the clerk announced during roll call earlier in the session.
The Senate adjourned the organizational meeting and set its next convening for 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, by a motion from Senator Blasey adopted by voice vote.
Votes and formal actions in this organizational session were recorded as voice votes or acclamations; the clerk did not record individual roll-call tallies for the adoptions and elections.
