Kansas Legislature 101
What is the Kansas Legislature?
The Kansas Legislature has two chambers, with 125 members of the House of Representatives and 40 members of the Senate. Representatives serve two-year terms and are elected in even-numbered years, while Senators serve four-year terms and are elected in presidential election years.
Each chamber elects one member to preside over the body – the Speaker of the House in the House of Representatives and the Senate President in the Senate.
Chamber Breakdown
House
Senate
When does the legislature meet?
The legislature meets annually from January – May for 90 days total. The regular session lasts from January to early April, at which point legislators take a three-week break before returning to override vetoes and pass the final budget bill, known as the omnibus appropriations bill.
What is the role of the Governor?
The governor has veto power over bills passed by the legislature and can make line-item vetoes in budget bills. The governor is responsible for carrying out the laws passed by the legislature.
How a bill becomes law in Kansas
