GUEST COLUMN, Shannon Francis, 125th District Representative
My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and families of those involved in a deadly disaster caused by the dirt storm Friday afternoon on I-70 between Goodland and Colby. More than 71 vehicles were involved and at least eight people died in the crash.
The Kansas Highway Patrol has set up a phone number for family members searching for loved ones who were involved in the crash, which is 785-827-4437.
I extend my deepest gratitude to the local first responders, law enforcement, KHP, KDOT, and many others who have been tirelessly working during this disaster. Interstate 70 remained closed on Saturday afternoon as crews continued their investigation and cleanup of the crash.
Topeka
The 2025 session is winding down, with only 10 workdays left before adjournment on March 28. We’ll return for the veto session on April 10 to handle veto overrides and finalize remaining tasks. Non-exempt committees must meet by Tuesday, March 18. Much needs to be accomplished in the next two weeks.
Budget
The Senate Ways and Means Committee has completed their work on the budget. Once the Senate passes their version, a conference committee between the Senate and the House will convene to resolve the differences.
Supreme Court selection
The Constitutional amendment has passed the Senate and is heading to the House. Senate Concurrent Resolution 1611 seeks to amend the Kansas Constitution to allow for the direct election of Kansas Supreme Court justices and eliminate the Supreme Court Nominating Commission. Currently, justices are appointed by the Governor from a list provided by the Commission. This is known as the Missouri model and is used by 13 states. Kansas uniquely allows lawyers to choose for most seats on this commission, with five of the nine members being elected by Kansas lawyers, while the Governor appoints the other four.
Proponents of the amendment have argued this restricts the voting rights of non-lawyer Kansans, and has resulted in several overturned results. Kansas has one of the most frequently reversed state supreme courts in the United States. Since 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned decisions made by the Kansas Supreme Court in 87.5% of cases heard by them.
The most common method for selecting state supreme court justices is through competitive elections, used by 22 states. Of these, eight states employ partisan elections, while 14 use nonpartisan elections. A change in Kansas would bring our supreme court justice selection in line with our selection method for local judges, which is election-based and generally not considered partisan.
Southwest Kansas highway mobility and expansion
The Kansas Department of Transportation is conducting a study as part of the Southwest Kansas Highway Mobility and Expansion Strategy. The purpose of the study is to improve mobility, safety, and accessibility in southwest Kansas. A public input meeting will take place at the Activity Center in Liberal March 25 with two sessions, one starting at 5 p.m. and the other at 6 p.m. Please attend this meeting to provide your input on road improvements in Southwest Kansas.
