Kansas Senate - Senate Leadership

Senate Leadership

The President of the Senate presides over the body, Is a member of the Organization,Calendar and Rules Committee that appoints members to all of the Senate's committees and joint committees, and may create other committees and subcommittees if desired. Unlike many other states, the Lieutenant Governor of Kansas does not preside over the Senate. Since a 1972 amendment to the Kansas Constitution, the Lieutenant Governor's duties have been severed from the legislative branch, and is active in other areas of the Kansas state government such as commissions on military affairs and health insurance. In the Senate President's absence, the Vice-President presides. The President of the Kansas Senate assigns proposed bills to committees and the Majority Leader determines the calendar and order of bills to be debated on the floor of the Kansas Senate. The Organization, Rules and Calendar Committee is made up of the President, Vice-President, Majority leader, Assistant Majority Leader, Minority Leader and 4 senators elected by the majority caucus.

The current President of the Senate is Republican Stephen Morris of District 39 (Garden City, Ulysses). The Senate Majority Leader is Jay Emler of District 35 (McPherson, Ellsworth). The Senate Minority Leader is Democrat Anthony Hensley of District 19 (Topeka, Burlingame, Osage City).