2021 Legislative Update 1
2021 Legislative Update 1
The 2021 Legislative Session commenced on Monday, January 11th. The Legislature has several issues to address this year, and we are ready to get to work to find commonsense, bipartisan solutions to the issues that Kansans face.
The pandemic has shown us the importance of putting public health needs before political agendas. A special thanks to our healthcare professionals, first responders, teachers, so many others that continue to work on behalf of Kansans. You are the true heroes.
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 .
First Day of the 2021 Session
Monday, January 11th was the first day of the Kansas 2021 Legislative Session. Returning members and newly elected officials were sworn-in during the first day on the House floor. There are 125 Representatives in the Kansas House.
This year’s swearing-in ceremony looked much different, due to COVID-19, than in the past when elected officials were joined by family and friends as they took their oath of office. It took almost two hours for all 125 to take the oath of office as we were called to the House Chambers in groups of ten to adhere to social distancing.
There are new restrictions, new technology, a new voting system as well as other changes at the state capitol which we are all adjusting to as we learn. One benefit to some of the changes is the technology that allows people to participate, listen or view proceedings remotely.
The first week is off to a quick start, we need to operate as safely as possible so that we can continue to work throughout this session to address the needs of Kansans, especially those affected by this global pandemic.
2021 State of the State Address
The annual State of the State Address was delivered by Governor Laura Kelly on Tuesday, January 12th. Governor Kelly gave a strong speech stressing the need for bipartisanship in order to serve in the best interest of the people of Kansas. She focused primarily on the distribution of the vaccine, the economy, and education.
The Governor has released a comprehensive vaccination distribution plan. She worked diligently with federal and local partners to develop a plan that would prioritize the health of the most vulnerable, reduce the strain on hospitals, and help us kickstart our economy. The goal is to get everyone vaccinated in the most efficient way, but until the vast majority of Kansans are vaccinated then it is crucial that everyone does their part in slowing the spread of the virus.
The pandemic has hurt Kansans and our economy. To ensure that our economy is growing it is critical that we get Kansans back to work and create new and better paying jobs. The Governor pointed to infrastructure as an area for job growth. Last year, a 10-year infrastructure plan was put together in a bipartisan effort that is strategic and practical. This will prioritize the most urgently needed projects and also create a number of jobs.
Lastly, Governor Kelly noted the importance of keeping our children in schools. It has been a long 10 months for our children, their parents, and the teachers. The pandemic has created a new set of challenges. We want to get every Kansas student back in the classroom as soon as possible and provide their teachers with the tools and resources they need to get our children back on track. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain education funding and also improve access to broadband. We have learned that learning remotely is difficult enough without struggling with weak and unreliable internet.
This year, the focus has to be getting Kansas back on track. That starts with ensuring that everyone receives a vaccination, that our children are in school, and that our economy continues to grow. Success in these areas requires bipartisanship. The Governor has made it clear that public health is always put before politics and hopes that others will follow suit.
2021 Budget
On Wednesday, Budget Director Adam Proffitt presented the Governor’s budget to a joint session of the House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means Committees. The Governor’s budget priorities are to protect core services such as education, infrastructure, and economic development resources. This is a continuation of the Governor’s fiscal leadership to make sure we are putting tools back into Kansas’ toolbox.
Highlights from the Governor’s budget:
● Maintaining a positive ending balance to prevent an economic downturn and ensuring fiscal responsibility.
● Continuing economic growth despite a global pandemic in new investments from businesses like Urban Outfitters, Amazon, and Great Plains Manufacturing.
● Fully fund K-12 Public Schools.
● Closing the “Bank of KDOT” while continuing to make critical investments in the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Plan.
● Modernization of the State’s digital infrastructure, including $37.5 million in federal funds.
● Expanding the state’s Medicaid program.
The Constitutional Amendment
This week, the Constitutional Amendment, HCR 5003, was introduced by the House Committee on Federal and State Affairs. The amendment is a proposition to amend the bill of rights of the constitution of the state of Kansas by adding a new section stating that there is no constitutional right to abortion. This amendment would knowingly be put on an election date in 2022 that would disenfranchise many voters, and still contains no protections for rape, incest or the life of the mother,
KEMA
HB 2048 addresses the Governor’s emergency powers through the Kansas Emergency Management Act (KEMA) and outlines how long her emergency powers exist and also what she can, and cannot, do while they are enacted. The bill is similar to HB 2016 passed last year by the legislature, and extends the emergency declaration until June 1, 2021, but is more restrictive and limits the governor's ability to effectively manage the spread of COVID-19 at a critical time when we're so close to putting this pandemic behind us. It is very important to retain these tools to make it through the pandemic while simultaneously preserving economic growth. Without these tools, the Governor would not be able to effectively guide us through this pandemic and keep public safety and health as the top priority.
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