The Senate Ways and Means Committee began its session with staff introductions from the Legislative Research Department (KLRD) and the Revisor's Office, during which analysts listed the agency budgets they will cover this legislative session and offered contact availability.

"Thank Mr. Chairman, David Weese with the Revisor's Office. So we are the bill drafters of course. We are, Jesse and I will be staffing again. We've been doing the ways and means for a few years now," said David Weese of the Revisor's Office, who also invited members to come to him or Jesse for bill requests and proviso language.

KLRD staff who introduced themselves and their primary agency assignments included: Megan Leopold (KDHE Health; Board of Nursing; Pharmacy and Healing Arts; EMS Board); Stephen Wu (Department of Administration; Labor; CAPERS; State 911 Board); Shardae Kane (Board of Accountancy; Board of Tax Appeals; Office of State Treasurer; Department of Revenue; Department of Commerce); Julia Kofoid (abstractor's board of examiners; board of barbering; dental board; Kansas guardianship program; Kansas board of hearing aid examiners); James Fisher (Office of Information Technology Services); Jacob Crespi (Real Estate Appraisal Board; Real Estate Commission; Board of Cosmetology; Board of Technical Professions; Human Rights Commission); Dayton Lamonian (Department for Aging and Disability Services; state hospitals; Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board); Kyle Anderson (Adjutant General; Highway Patrol; Bureau of Investigation; Department of Transportation; State Fire Marshal); Brianna Horton (Kansas Board of Regents and universities); Arianna Waddell (Office of Attorney General; State Bank Commissioner; Kansas Department of Credit Unions; Governmental Ethics Commission; Kansas Insurance Department; Secretary of State office); Jennifer Light (State Board of Education; State Library; State Historical Society); Amanda Prosser (Department for Children and Families; Office of the Child Advocate; State Schools for the Blind and Deaf; Mortuary Arts Board; Optometry; Healthcare Stabilization Fund); Molly Pratt (judicial branch; administrative hearings; Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission; Kansas Lottery; Kansas Office of Veteran Services; coordinator for expanded lottery act revenue fund); Nicole Rencher (Department of Corrections; Sentencing Commission; Kansas Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training); and Shirley Morrow (director, Lidsley Research).

Staff emphasized availability and coordination: members were told to contact the named analysts for agency or budget questions, and KLRD staff said detailed program spending information and performance-based budget submissions are available on request. Committee Chair Senator Rick Billinger noted staff copies of committee rules were available and encouraged members to raise issues as they arise.

A personal note: staff informed the committee that Luke Drury is on paternity leave after his wife had a baby on Dec. 25; staff said Drury is answering emails while on leave and that David Weese and others will route ag budget questions as needed.

Ending: Committee members introduced themselves after staff remarks and the meeting adjourned; staff reiterated their availability for follow-up questions during the session.