2026 Capitol Review
Week One
Jan. 12 – Jan. 16, 2026
The 2026 Kansas legislative session began on Monday, Jan. 12 as members of the House of Representatives and Senate returned to Topeka ahead of fall elections where statewide offices and 125 House seats stand for election. Senate President Ty Masterson (R-Andover) and Speaker of the House Dan Hawkins (R-Wichita) gaveled in their respective chambers for what could be the final time as Masterson embarks on a race for governor, while Hawkins is seeking to be elected as the state’s insurance commissioner.
Week Two
Jan. 20 – Jan. 23, 2026
The second week of the 2026 Kansas legislative session began with a shortened schedule due to the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday, with committee activity ramping up later in the week. Lawmakers continued to introduce bills and hold committee hearings across a range of policy areas, including education, taxation, tort reform, public safety, and economic development. The first bill of the session addressing property tax relief – a proposed constitutional amendment to cap annual assessments – was advanced favorably from the Senate Tax Committee. With limited floor action, much of the focus remained on early committee work and setting the stage for more substantive debate in the weeks ahead.
