Senator Elaine Bowers’ Senate Scene Week #7 – 3/2/2025

2025 SENATE SCENE WEEK 7

SENATE HIGHLIGHTS

Senate Committees continued to review bills which have been sent over from the House, and we had one day of General Orders this week in the Senate.  As we work though committee bills on the floor, we will also begin to have Conference Committee reports to vote on as well.  A Conference Committee is a small, bipartisan and bicameral committee that works to smooth out the differences between the House’s and Senate’s version of a similar bill.  Once the Conference Committee comes to a compromise, the committee’s version of the bill will be sent to both the House and the Senate for a final vote, before advancing the bill to the Governor’s desk. 

SENATE FLOOR ACTION

SCR 1604, a resolution calling for the Convention of States.  Under Article V of the United States Constitution, a convention of states may be called to propose amendments to the United States Constitution.  It takes 34 states ratifying identical resolutions to call for such a convention, and then 38 states to ratify any amendments emerging from that convention. So far, 19 states have adopted a version of SCR 1604, which calls for a convention “limited to proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and for members of Congress.”  SCR1604 passed 29-11.  I voted yes.

SB 33 would authorize the sales tax exemption provided for in continuing law for sales of the services of slaughtering, butchering, custom cutting, dressing, processing, or packaging of an animal for the customer’s own use or consumption to be claimed without a requirement that exemption certificates or forms be provided by the purchaser or collected or maintained by the seller.  This a follow-up bill from 2024 which removed sales tax on the processing of meat but customers were required to fill out extra Department of Revenue paperwork each time and keep on file for future review of the state.  SB 33 passed 40-0.  I voted yes.

SB 137 would amend the Kansas Standard Asset Seizure and Forfeiture Act to permit firearms forfeited under the Act to be sold or transferred to a properly licensed federal firearms dealer.  SB 137 passed 39-1.  I voted yes.

Full texts of the bills and supplemental notes as well as the Final Action vote on these measures can be found at www.kslegislature.org. 

WATCH AND LISTEN TO THE KANSAS LEGISLATURE

Kansas Legislature YouTube – Here you can follow the legislature live as it happens, or access archives of past sessions and committee meetings.

Kansas Legislature Audio – Here you can listen in on session or committees when they are in session, or access prior committee meetings, as well.

Kansas Legislature website – www.kslegislature.org – has extensive information on legislators, committees, bills, and past sessions.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

COGE Portal – Committee on Government Efficiency Portal
WhiteHouse.gov –Executive Actions are included here

UPDATE FROM KANSAS INSURANCE COMMISSIONER VICKI SCHMIDT

If you or someone you know has an issue with their insurance, we are happy to help!  We may not always like the answers we get, but we will do our best to get you an answer.  Please use the contact information below to reach out to us if we can be of assistance.

Main Line: (785) 296-3071
Consumer Assistance Hotline: 1-800-432-2484
Consumer Complaint: kid.webcomplaints@ks.gov
Producer Licensing: kid.licensing@ks.gov
Email: KID.Commissioner@ks.gov
Website: Insurance.kansas.gov

THANK YOU FOR ENGAGING

Thank you for all of your calls, emails, and letters regarding your thoughts and concerns about happenings in Kansas. I always encourage you to stay informed of the issues under consideration by the Kansas Legislature.  Committee schedules, bills, and other helpful information can be easily accessed through the legislature’s website at www.kslegislature.org.  You are also able to ‘listen in live’ at this website.  Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and suggestions.  An email is the best at this point in the session.

Thank you for the honor of serving you!

Senator Elaine Bowers

Kansas State Capitol Building
Room 223-E
300 SW 10^th St.
Topeka, KS  66612
elaine.bowers@senate.ks.gov
785 296-7389
https://elainebowers.com
www.kslegislature.org