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House Transportation Committee opens 2025 session; schedules digital ID informational hearing
Summary
The House Committee on Transportation convened for organizational remarks and member introductions, announced a digital ID informational hearing Thursday and said committee rule changes and 101 presentations (including KTA and ADOT) are planned in coming weeks. No bills were introduced at the meeting.
The House Committee on Transportation opened its 2025 session with organizational remarks, member and staff introductions and scheduling announcements, including an informational hearing on digital identification set for Thursday.
Committee Chair said the panel aims to stay bipartisan and work together on policy. “This is a relatively non partisan committee. I want us all to work together to try to make sure that we pass the best policy as we can for our constituents,” the Chair said. The chair also said committee rule changes are being prepared and will be reviewed next week, and urged members to bring laptops because the committee is trying to run paperless.
The meeting included introductions from committee staff and legislative support. Jill Shelley identified herself as legislative research staff; Walter Schmidt said he was with KLRD and noted this was his second session; Chris Wagner said he represents the Revisor’s Office; Adam Sievers identified himself as a supervisor in the Revisor’s Office; Meg Atwood introduced herself as the committee assistant for Representative Francis; and Cole Hill said he is the AV technician for the committee room.
Several members introduced themselves and their districts. Representative Robin Essex was introduced as the committee’s new vice chair. Members described priorities ranging from four‑lane advocacy on U.S. Highway 54 to constituent services related to driver licensing and KDOT issues. Representative Lindsey Vaughn, who said she had a personal safety incident involving a commercial vehicle, said transportation matters are “really important to me recently” and that she looked forward to advocating for west‑Kansas highway improvements.
The Chair announced the committee will hold an informational hearing on digital ID this Thursday and that in coming weeks the committee will begin a series of “101” presentations, including from KTA and ADOT. The Chair also said the committee planned to review updated committee rules next week, removing some COVID‑era items and aligning procedures across committees.
A request for bill introductions produced no submissions at the meeting; the committee moved on to member introductions and then adjourned.
The session closed after roughly introductory remarks and housekeeping items; the Chair encouraged members to collect contact lists and noted that many constituents bring DMV and KDOT issues to their offices, which makes committee contacts useful for constituent service.
