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HB 2057

Requiring the governor to appointment persons to fill vacancies in the offices of United States senator, state treasurer and the commissioner of insurance from a list of names approved by the legislature.

2025-2026 Regular Session

HB 2057 requires the Legislature to nominate candidates for temporary vacancies in three statewide offices, and the Governor must appoint one of those nominees from the same party.

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Bill Summary · HB 2057

Summary — HB 2057 (2025 session)

Status: Withdrawn from Committee on Elections and re‑referred to Committee of the Whole. Introduced: Jan 24, 2025. Effective: upon publication in the Kansas Register.

Main purpose

HB 2057 changes how vacancies are temporarily filled in three statewide offices — United States Senator, State Treasurer, and Commissioner of Insurance — by:
- giving the Legislature a formal role in nominating candidates, and
- directing the Governor to appoint one of the Legislature’s nominees who belongs to the same political party as the vacating officeholder (with specified residency and party‑registration history).

The bill also creates a standing process and a Joint Committee on Vacancy Appointments to manage nominations and public review.

Key provisions

  • Joint Committee on Vacancy Appointments

    • Composition: 14 legislators — 5 majority‑party Senators, 2 minority‑party Senators, 5 majority‑party Representatives, 2 minority‑party Representatives.
    • Chair/vice‑chair appointment alternates between chambers after the first instance. Committee may meet on the chair’s call; members receive standard legislative compensation/travel allowances.
    • Only legislators may nominate candidates; each legislator may nominate one person. Nominees may decline in writing.
    • Committee validates eligibility (federal/state requirements), holds public hearings, and reports five nominees to the Legislature.

  • Legislative joint session to consider nominees

    • Either during regular session or at the next session/special session, the Legislature may adopt a concurrent resolution to convene a joint session limited to considering the Committee’s nominees.
    • Voting is by voice vote; the Secretary calls Senators first, then the House clerk calls Representatives. Members in attendance must vote unless excused by majority.
    • Nominees are considered separately in alphabetical order. Any nominee who receives a majority of each house is designated a candidate. When three nominees have been so designated, voting stops.
    • If fewer than three are designated, the Committee must reconvene to provide additional nominees.

  • Governor’s appointment authority

    • The Legislature must adopt a concurrent resolution identifying three candidates within 21 calendar days after the vacancy (extension up to 7 days by two‑thirds vote of each house).
    • Within two calendar days of receiving that concurrent resolution, the Governor must appoint one of the three candidates to temporarily fill the vacancy.
    • Appointment eligibility: appointee must be a Kansas resident and meet the bill’s party‑registration history requirement (the bill requires registration with the same political party as the incumbent for the specified prior period).

  • Statutory changes

    • Amends/repeals specified K.S.A. sections governing appointments to these offices (e.g., K.S.A. 25‑101b, 40‑106, repealing K.S.A. 25‑318).

Who is affected

  • Governor: restricted to appointing from the Legislature’s slate and to a candidate of the same party.
  • Legislature: gains a formal nomination and confirmation‑style role and incurs procedural responsibilities.
  • Potential appointees: must meet residence and party‑registration history criteria and be nominated by a legislator.
  • State budget: periodic, infrequent legislative costs when the Committee convenes.

Fiscal impact

Legislative Administrative Services estimated potential one‑time/session costs if the Joint Committee met three days (14 members + staff) at about $35,173 (FY2025), all State General Fund, with future year costs projected to grow ~3% annually. Costs occur only when a vacancy arises.

Timeline / procedural highlights

  • Committee forms upon vacancy.
  • Legislature must adopt concurrent resolution naming three candidates within 21 days of vacancy (possible 7‑day extension by two‑thirds vote).
  • Governor must appoint one of the three within 2 calendar days of receiving the concurrent resolution.
  • Effective upon publication in the Kansas Register.

(Information compiled from the bill text, committee supplemental notes, and fiscal note.)

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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