Greetings and Happy New Year 2026🎉
Members of our city management team ( Dr. Robert Perez and Mr. Avery Moore) joined us as Tuesday Topic speakers in December and shared many interesting updates on their strategic processes. Perez shared points on the upcoming budget and how the city is looking at creative options for flexible staffing while Moore shared a commitment to community oversight of public safety and the update of policies using a system known as Lexipol while also engaging community volunteers to assist in the review of policies. Their presentations were well received and of extreme interest and we thank them tremendously for sharing.
Kicking off the New Year 2026, we are providing a speaker that will educate us on how to detect and fight scams. How timely! Detective Joe Kinnett from the Financial Crimes Unit of the Topeka Police Department will be joining us to share information we will all find essential in knowing how not to become victims of scams.
Don’t forget we have slots open for members interested in working with a new initiative – Young adult legislative advocacy. If this is a passion for you, we need you. If you have skills or hobbies that include mentoring, teaching, debate, public speaking, research, legislative advocacy, social media and/ or tech marketing, this committee is for you! This role is very important in including our young adults in civic engagement while promoting the work of our organization.
We continue to engage in our active renewal and recruiting campaign effort. If you know anyone who would be a great fit for our organization, please forward them our contact information. In addition, we continue to send invitation letters to non-partisan organizations and individuals encouraging them to join us in defending and strengthening democracy, definitely a task where we continue to need all hands on deck.
We shared our engagement of work completed in 2025 and those accomplishments were highlighted in December’s newsletter. Additionally, I believe our active presence in Topeka and Shawnee County assisted in the increase of voters during the last November election. For instance, the Shawnee County election office reported 22% voting this year over the last voting period at 18%! We believe our efforts, joined with our partners, were essential in this increase. Wouldn’t it be amazing to reach 25% during our next local election? We can do it by staying active ( boots on the ground and minds activated)!
Yes, we have been busy in 2025 and look forward to continuing our work in 2026!
The 2026 LWV National Convention will be held in Columbus, Ohio at the Hilton Columbus Downtown. It starts on Thursday, June 25, 2026 and ends Sunday June 28, 2026. Registration for the Convention will open in January 2026. Check the LWVUS website for details. The convention is open to all members.
Please plan to join us at the Capitol on January 29 for LWVK Legislative Day at the Capitol. League members from across the state will be engaging with our legislators. Consider joining our LWVUS Unite & Rise 8.5 effort which aims to build a movement of 8.5 million individuals to unite and rise against the anti- democratic actions of this administration. Go to LWV.org to sign up!
Our recent membership is at 221 and growing! It is all because of you. You are our lifeblood. Thank you and for all you do!!
Welcome to our New members: Lesley, Maria, Marcia. We are glad you have joined us and we look forward to working with you!
Thank you to our renewing members: We appreciate all you do!
Feel free to continue to connect with our voter services team! Although many of the events are wrapping up for the year, our planning never ends. This is a great time to get on board and express your interest in participating. Join them on the POINT application and get in on the experience! They are outreaching to the community providing education on registration and voting.
Your thoughts and voices are needed on our state survey. Please consider sharing your views on how we can make our league better. Here is the link to complete the form: https://forms.gle/Yv4dBBP58vR82Uji9
Below is a listing of the legislative bills effective January 1, 2026 as extracted from the KSNT 27 News site:
House Bill 2110
● House Bill 2110 amends the Kansas 911 Act. This bill removes the requirement for the state 911 board to contract with a local collection point administrator for services among other changes.
● The bill took effect once it was published in the Kansas Register, according to the KLRD. However, some provisions inside the bill, such as distribution to 911 funds, will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
House Bill 2334
● House Bill 2334 amends multiple acts related to insurance in Kansas including the Insurance Holding Company Act, Uniform Agents Licensing Act and Captive Insurance Act. It also established the Protected Cell Captive Insurance Company Act.
● The bill became active on July 1, 2025, according to the KLRD. Some provisions of the bill related to insurance company premium tax rates and remittance will take effect and be in force starting on Jan. 1, 2026.
Senate Bill 4
● Senate Bill 4 requires the return of advance voting ballots by 7 p.m. on the day of the election.
● The bill took effect on July 1, 2025, according to the KLRD. The provisions of the bill will take effect and be in force on and after Jan. 1, 2026.
Senate Bill 42
● Senate Bill 42 makes changes to the Insurance Code of Kansas. This includes the establishment of a web-based online insurance verification system for the verification of evidence of motor vehicle liability insurance and removing certain entities from the definition of person for the purpose of enforcing insurance law.
● The KLRD reports this bill took effect on July 1, 2025 but provisions of the bill will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
House Bill 2122
● House Bill 2122 increases the annual license fees of electric and hybrid passenger vehicles, trucks and electric motorcycles and distributes the fees to the state highway fund along with the special city and county highway fund, among other changes.
● This bill became active on July 1, 2025, according to the KLRD. However, some provisions that pertain to electric and hybrid vehicle registration fees will become active at the start of next year.
Substitute for House Bill 2152
● Substitute for House Bill 2152 established the public moneys pooled method and amends the deposit of public of moneys in financial institutions and the investment of public moneys by financial institutions.
● The KLRD reports this bill took effect earlier this year in July, but contains some provisions that will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
House Bill 2201
● House Bill 2201 authorizes the issuance of three new license plates in Kansas.
● This bill became active on July 1, 2025, according to the KLRD. The issuance and acquisition of the new license plates will start on Jan. 1, 2026.
House Bill 2335
● House Bill 2335 authorizes the issuance of the Hunter Nation distinctive license plate.
● The KLRD reports this bill takes effect on July 1, 2025. However, the issuance and acquisition of the new plates will start on Jan. 1, 2026.
House Bill 2359
● House Bill 2359 enacts the Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act. It also enacts the Kansas Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship and Other Protective Arrangements Act.
● The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025, according to the KLRD. Some provisions within the bill will take effect and be in force starting on Jan. 1, 2026.
House Bill 2045
● House Bill 2045 established the Kansas Office of Early Childhood. It also updates state law regulating childcare centers, housing and staffing.
● The KLRD reports this bill took effect on July 1, 2025. Some provisions within the bill, regarding governor appointments, will become active on Jan. 1, 2026.
House Substitute for Senate Bill 9
● House Substitute for Senate Bill 9 creates the Kansas Land and Military Installation Protection Act. This also prohibits the purchase or acquisition of drones whose critical components originated in a “country of concern” or were created or owned by a foreign principal.
● This bill took effect on July 1, 2025, according to the KLRD. However, some provisions relating to the attorney general will become active on or before Jan. 1, 2026.
House Bill 2050
● House Bill 2050 amends the Insurance Code of Kansas, grants the commissioner of insurance certain authorities related to board membership and meetings and authorizes the commissioner to set and publish certain fines and fees. It also amends Kansas law related to non-admitted insurers and renames the Kansas Insurance Department to the Kansas Department of Insurance.
● The KLRD reports this bill took effect on July 1, 2025. Some provisions in the bill will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
Senate Substitute for House Bill 2007
● Substitute for House Bill 2007 reconciles several amendments to certain statutes in Kansas.
● The bill took effect on July 1, 2025, according to the KLRD. However, some parts of it will become active starting on Jan. 1, 2026
May you and your families have a wonderful and blessed year! Remember as we work to protect
democracy, Teamwork makes the dream work!
Best regards,
Dr. Glenda Overstreet Vaughn, President
Remember: If you have a community group interested in learning about the recent proposed
amendment to the Kansas Constitution, which eliminates the merit selection of Supreme Court
Justices, please reach out to the League and we will connect you with a resource to come make
presentations to your group(s).
Legislative Session Resource
I encourage you to contact members of the Shawnee County legislative delegation, by phone or email, regarding proposed or passed legislation. Included below is their Statehouse contact information.
- Sen. Brenda Dietrich Room #223-E 785.296.7648Brenda.Dietrich@senate.ks.gov
- Sen. Rick Kloos Room # 418-E 785.296.7645Rick.Kloos@senate.ks.gov
- Sen. Patrick Schmidt Room #135-E 785.296-7372 Patrick.Schmidt@senate.ks.gov
- Sen. Kenny Titus Room #124-E 785.296.7656Kenny.Titus@senate.ks.gov
- Rep. John Alcala Room #173-W 785.296-7371 John.Alcala@house.ks.gov
- Rep. Jesse Borjon Room #512-N 785.296.7374Jesse.borjon@house.ks.gov
- Rep. Ken Corbett Room #187-N 785.296-7679 ken.corbet@house.ks.gov
- Rep. Kirk Haskins Room #43-S 785.296.7673Kirk.Haskins@house.ks.gov
- Rep. Kyle McNorton Room #561-W 785.296.7460Kyle.McNorton@house.ks.gov
- Rep. Tobias Schlingensiepen 785.296.7669 Room #174-W Tobias.Schlingensiepen@house.ks.gov
- Rep. Alexis Simmons Room #43-S 785.296.7632Alexis.Simmons@house.ks.gov
- Rep. Virgil Weigel Room #451-S 785.296.7104virgil.weigel@house.ks.gov
Furthermore, you may access the Kansas Legislative website at http://kslegislature.gov to review bill status and content, house and senate calendars and committee schedules. Through this website you may listen to or via video streaming follow committee hearings and General Session proceedings.
An additional resource is the State Library. You may access their services in the following ways:
- Phone:800-432-3919 or 785-296-2149
- Legislative Hotline: 800-432-3924
- Email: infodesk@ks.gov
- Download the Ask a Librarian app to your mobile device.
