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Kansas Senate passes two elections measures and a vacancies bill
Summary
The Senate voted to approve changes to two election-related bills and a measure addressing legislative vacancies, adopting House amendments and a conference committee report after brief floor debate and roll-call votes.
The Kansas Senate on March 17 approved changes to two election bills and adopted a conference committee report on a vacancies measure, voting to concur with House amendments on Senate Bill 5 and Senate Bill 6 and to adopt the conference committee report on Senate Bill 105.
Senate Bill 5, which limits the spending of undesignated federal funds for election activities unless appropriated by Congress or the state, was amended in the House to clarify that the restriction "shall not apply to the receipt and expenditures of monies for election security." Senator Thompson, who carried the measure on the floor, said that change preserves the ability to accept and spend money specifically earmarked for election security. The Senate concurred in the House amendments and passed the bill 32-8.
Senate Bill 6 received only an enactment-date change to publication in the Kansas Register; the Senate concurred in the House amendment and passed the bill 30-10. The conference committee report on Senate Bill 105 — legislation addressing the process for filling vacancies in offices including U.S. Senator (state reference appears in the bill title), state treasurer and insurance commissioner — returned the Senate's original requirements in key respects. Conference committee members restored a requirement that, to be eligible as a nominee to fill a legislative vacancy, a person must have been a member of the same political party for six years; the report also establishes a five-day window after a vacancy is announced during which a special session could be called to participate in the nominating process. The Senate adopted the conference committee report on Senate Bill 105 by a 31-9 vote.
Why it matters: The changes to SB5 preserve a path for election-security funding while limiting use of undesignated federal monies; SB105 changes clarify the timeline and party affiliation criteria for filling certain statewide vacancies, affecting how quickly and by what process replacements may be chosen.
On the floor, Senator Francisco asked whether the House language on SB5 changed the scope of the election-security exemption; Senator Thompson responded that the House wording exempts money specifically designated for election security from the bill's restriction. The measures were held briefly for final action and then decided on a roll call.
Votes at a glance: Senate Bill 5 (concur with House amendments) ' Passed 32-8. Senate Bill 6 (concur with House amendments) ' Passed 30-10. Senate Bill 105 (adopt conference committee report) ' Passed 31-9.
Formal actions recorded on the floor list enactment by publication in the Kansas Register as the effective-date language for several measures.
The Senate moved on after the votes to resolve into the committee of the whole to consider a slate of House bills under general orders.
