RYCKMAN RECAP, Ron Ryckman, 38th District Senator
The final — Week 12 — of the 2025 Legislature was called our “Veto Session” for a reason: the Senate overrode 15 of the bills rejected by the Governor, along with 33 line-items removed from the budget — a combined total of 48 — in a 24-hour period alone, during the process setting some sort of single day record.
In between Caucuses and Floor action, we also squeezed in a Judiciary hearing on confirmation of an appointment and returned to approve more than a dozen remaining conference reports. The House — for its part — only managed to restore half of the stricken budget sections, but still, it was not a good couple of days for the chief of the Executive Branch. As the most veto-issuing and overridden governor in the past 50 years, even some who had helped her get elected were starting to wonder whether this “middle of the road” business to which she subscribes is all it was cracked up to be. As one observer jokingly remarked, “Isn’t that where all the accidents happen?”
It would be overly tedious to try to summarize all the issues with which we dealt before leaving, so allow me instead to direct you to the official House and Senate website at www.kslegislature.org for access to those of particular interest, starting with the last-day “Journal” of April 11 for each body. You can also reference the vote tallies on particular matters by bringing up actual bill numbers. A few highlights of those that garnered a lot of attention, however, include three pro-life measures creating child support obligations from moment of conception; requiring schools to provide scientifically accurate fetal development videos in their science curriculum; and restoring $3 million in funding to pregnancy resource centers.
HB 2125, previously “shelved” over concerns by our county clerks about tax deadlines, was rehabilitated after making manageable changes — and candy and soda can still be purchased with food stamps under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Although at least a week shorter overall than most previous sessions, the Senate (good or bad) passed more bills than any of our predecessor bodies in the last 20 years. At the same time, our efficiency must have increased, because (as Senate President Ty Masterson pointed out) “this is the first year in recent memory where we have not once been on the Floor past midnight.” He went on to proclaim that Senate Republicans “… stood united in support of tax relief; defending constitutional rights; protecting our children from transgender ideology; securing our elections; reducing regulatory burdens on small businesses; supporting pregnant women; and scaling back the size and scope of government … (thereby demonstrating) our commitment to building a stronger, freer, more prosperous Kansas for all.”
This was not without disappointments, of course — the biggest being in the area of tax relief, but there’s always next year.
My fellow Meade residents will not have to wait that long for much-needed highway improvements, however, as we just got approval of an $800,000 KDOT High Risk Rural Roads (HRRR) award to “add shoulders at 26 Road, Cemetery Road, Old 54, 10th Avenue, and 27th Road.” Anyone disagree that those are needed and welcomed? And not that these upgrades themselves will lower your car coverage premiums, but our State Insurance Commissioner has created a constituent email “tipline” for such at https://insurance.kansas.gov/, website https://insurance.ks.gov/department/publications.php, or phone at 785-296-3071.
While you’re at it, go also to the Kansas Health Institute’s countyhealthrankings.org site to see that all seven of our 38th District counties are rated above the national average in at least three of the five Quality of Life categories, with Gray receiving a perfect green “+”in all. I feel younger just thinking about it.
That same sensation can be applied to our final “gaveling out” at a respectable 4:25 p.m. in the afternoon Friday, April 11. Although it is called “sine die,” the Latin term for “without a date,” that is not exactly true, as we’re already scheduled to reconvene next Jan. 12, 2026, at 2 p.m.
Before clearing out my desk, I just happen to have read a study on tornadoes stating that (contrary to popular belief) their frequency and intensity have not increased in recent years, only their reporting due to advanced technology rather than reliance on human sightings as we did a century ago. Anyway, the analogy did not escape me, as in true “tornadic” fashion we went from a frenzied “whirlwind” to a sudden sunny calm. While I expect that to continue for the most part “back home,” I will definitely remain active, with a Town Hall in Liberal Wednesday the 16th in between a water meeting in Garden City and personal commitments in Dodge and elsewhere.
I hope each of you will stay on a similar “steady as she goes” path with me over our remainder-of-spring, summer, fall, and beginning-of-winter “break,” maybe even missing my weekly “Recaps” as much as I will miss sending them.
Thank you as always for the honor, privilege, and trust of being your “voice” in Topeka, a responsibility in which I take great pride. Our Capitol phones will not be monitored, but I will continue to check emails at
“We are adjourned!”
