(Feb. 11, 2025) – Today, the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee worked on Senate Bill 105. The legislation requires the governor to appoint a person to fill vacancies in the offices of United States senator, state treasurer and commissioner of insurance from a list of names approved by the legislature. The committee amended the bill in the following ways:

• Requires approval by the Kansas secretary of state
• Added a severability clause
• If the vacancy is after May of an even number year, the election would not occur until two years following
• Language prohibiting any member of the appointment committee from being on the list
• The Legislative Committee must have someone from each Congressional district
• The governor would have three calendar days to make the appointment after a list of recommendations is given

The bill passed out favorably and will now go to the Senate floor.