2020 Legislative Update 1

It was a busy week at the Capitol as the Kansas Legislature completed week two of the 2020 session. It is wonderful to see so many visitors from home attending events at the Statehouse and engaged in the legislative process!

The Wyandotte County/Leavenworth County Legislative Delegation’s first luncheon for the 2020 Session was held on Tuesday with KCK Board of Public Utilities as the sponsor. Bill Johnson, General Manager, and David Mehlhaff, Chief Communications Officer, provided a presentation about the utility and answered questions from Legislators. The discussion and information provided was very helpful. The Tuesday delegation lunches provide a good venue for members to learn and discuss various topics and issues.

On Wednesday I participated in a panel discussion with Senator Longbine and Representative Finch at Local Government Day sponsored by the Kansas Association of Counties and League of Kansas Municipalities. There were some great questions and I appreciated the opportunity to visit with our local officials about matters before the Kansas Legislature. By working together, we can better serve our communities and state.

It is a special honor to serve as your state representative. I value and appreciate your input on issues facing state government. Please feel free to contact me with your comments and questions. My office address is Room 452-S, 300 SW 10th, Topeka, KS 66612. You can reach me at (785) 296-7430 or call the legislative hotline at 1-800-432-3924 to leave a message for me. You can also e-mail me at pam.curtis@house.ks.gov.

On Monday, we celebrated the life and works of Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Each year he is honored for his devotion and sacrifice in the name of equality and for the Civil Rights movement.

A proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution, HCR 5019, was heard in a joint meeting of the House Federal and State Affairs Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. The amendment would strip women of their bodily autonomy and could potentially open the door to a full ban on abortion in the state of Kansas. 

The hearing went throughout the entire day, with proponents and opponents testifying. On Wednesday, the amendment passed out of both committees, and was read into the Senate agenda. Thursday, the amendment was read into the House agenda. Thus far there is no word on when the amendment will be worked on either floor.

Thursday was Equality Day in the State House. Much of the crowd consisted of students coming from all over Kansas -- many of whom it was their first time in the building. 

Speakers included Representative Brandon Woodard and Representative Susan Ruiz, the first LGBTQ state representatives to be elected in the state of Kansas; State Senator Barbara Bollier; and Tom Witt, the Executive Director for Equality Kansas. Among the topics mentioned by the speakers were amending the Kansas Discrimination Act to include Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Gender Expression; banning conversion therapy and more.