Kansas Senate to have new committees, including ethics panel
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December 27, 2020
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Senate will have two new committees, including one focusing on ethics and government transparency issues.
Incoming Senate President Ty Masterson's appointments of new committee leaders for 2021 reflect turnover in the Republican supermajority's top leadership. Masterson, incoming Majority Leader Gene Suellentrop and Vice President-elect Rick Wilborn are giving up committee chairmanships.
Republicans will lead all committees, but nine of the 14 chairs will be new.
Masterson, from Andover, created a new Transparency and Ethics Committee instead of having the Local Government Committee handle those issues.
Masterson also created separate Insurance and Financial Institutions committees, rather than having a single panel. But both will be led by Sen. Jeff Longbine of Emporia, who declined to seek another term as Senate vice president.
Wilborn, from McPherson, will be replaced as chairman of the Judiciary Committee by freshman Sen. Kellie Warren of Leawood. Suellentrop, from Wichita, will be replaced as chairman of the Public Health and Welfare Committee by Sen. Richard Hilderbrand of Galena.
Sen. Rick Billinger of Goodland will take over as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, which handles budget issues. Previous Chairwoman Carolyn McGinn of Sedgwick will lead the Local Government Committee after losing the race for majority leader to Suellentrop.
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