RYCKMAN RECAP, Ron Ryckman, 38th District Senator
The old saying “last but not least” can be applied to “Conference” Week 11 of the Legislature in two completely opposite ways: It is certainly not the least important, but it is my least favorite. By way of explanation, many of the really big, important decisions we make necessarily occur right before adjournment; however, they come at a time when there is a feverish “rush” to get them done without the usual opportunity for extended thoughtful contemplation. For someone like me who is a “steady as she goes” regular-order type person, that pushes me to the edge of my comfort zone where things are simply not as calm and measured as I like them to be.
There’s also a lot of down time from the topsy-turvy “hurry up and wait” syndrome, only adding to the frustration. With four or even five caucuses a day and up to two dozen House-Senate conferences going on at any one time, everything seems to get done, but safe to say it’s not the well-oiled machine I’d like to think it would be if you or I were in charge. Agreed?
Agreed is exactly what both bodies did on two election integrity bills this week, as they overrode the Governor’s veto of SB 4 — doing away with the three-day grace period on ballot counting — and adopted HCR 5004, requiring United States citizenship for voting eligibility (curiously, on the same day as President Trump’s related Executive Order). The two-thirds margins were 30-10 in the Senate and 84-41 in the House on the first and 37-3 Senate, 90-28 House on the second. This means the three-day elimination begins immediately — and the constitutional amendment proposal will appear on the General Election ballot of Nov. 3, 2026. This follows the already-in-place citizen vote on election of Supreme Court justices scheduled for Aug. 4 of next year, thereby allowing a singular focus on each. For those of you displeased by the return to election night finality, consider the recent ruling in a Mississippi case declaring that state’s five-day counting extension as preempted by federal “DAY for the election” law.
Unquestionably, the biggest drama of the past seven days has been on the fate of HCR 5011, discussed previously as the “compromise” resolution intended to bring about property tax cuts by capping home valuation increases at 4 percent. After first falling one vote short of the necessary 27 in the Senate, a prevailing side senator moved to reconsider and change her vote to get it across the line, only to have the House give it a thumping rejection, 37-88. What that means is that the much-hyped prospect of any relief this year (or after a 2026 vote anyway) is pretty well gone. There is always the possibility of something happening next session — either in the form of a single income tax rate or incentives for cities and counties to hold down spending and thus avoid increases, but those would have to have gubernatorial approval. Since 2026 is an election year that presents a whole new dynamic and perspective. Amazing, isn’t it, how voters can have such an influence on things? Don’t give up on us just yet.
Besides the second attempt at a budget, SB 125, finally getting through at the last minute (though not by enough in the Senate, 24-16, to overcome a veto without a few vote changes), we had an extraordinarily qualified rural area Court of Appeals nominee, 11th District Chief Judge Lori Bolton Fleming, confirmed unanimously on our final day. The day before, I had a great “double” pleasure in introducing both my grandson and two of his friends to the chamber, as well as welcoming in the gallery a wonderful group of constituents from Plains Mennonite Church. They are much too modest and humble to take the credit, but because the announcement was made by KDOT the same day they were there, I’m going to attribute the much-needed Highway 54 bridge repair — starting Monday — between them and Meade to their being at the Capitol. While at it, deserved kudos to all my clerks and city managers who articulated their concerns about the new property tax deadlines in HB 2125, resulting in that conference report being shelved.
One of the more interesting visits I get every other year is from the Director of Legislative Affairs for the State Treasurer’s office, bringing attention to their unclaimed property cases. This week she delivered a flash drive listing over 20,000 persons and entities in our District alone, with claims ranging from a minimum $25 to a high of $40,272.33 and totaling more than $6 million. Most seem to be from estates of deceased persons with unlocated heirs, but not necessarily. Anyway, go to https://unclaimedproperty.ks.gov to see if your name pops up. You may be surprised, as I was when my predecessor, former Senator Garrett Love (2011-2017) showed up in the Chamber this week. While he was at the time the youngest to ever serve, I may now be the oldest to represent you. Regardless of age, that is an honor in which I take great pride, whether in Topeka or back home. Hope to see lots of you at my Town Hall in Liberal April 16 to share in person my April 11-12 veto session “recap.” Until then, as of 9:41 p.m. Thursday night, Happy First Adjournment!
