Senate Bill 355 has passed both chambers of the Kansas Legislature and is off to Governor Laura Kelly for her signature. That step is unlikely.
If that bill designation doesn’t catch your attention, perhaps the subject matter will — the Congressional redistricting map. The Kansas House passed changes to the map by a 79-37 margin Wednesday, with Mark Schreiber of the 60th District and Eric Smith of the 76th District, both Republicans, voting for the bill. Fellow Republican Ron Highland of the 51st District voted present.
The House vote followed approval by the Kansas Senate on a 26-9 margin. 17th District Senator Jeff Longbine of Emporia, a Republican, was absent.
Areawide, the proposed map moves Lyon, Chase, Morris and Wabaunsee counties of the so-called Big First District and into the Second along with Coffey and Osage Counties. Greenwood County stays in the Fourth District. The main concerns from Democrats and certain voting rights groups center on moving part of Wyandotte County from the Third District alongside Johnson County into the Second District as well as the move of the Lawrence area from the Second District into the First. Both moves involve moving Democratic strongholds into more Republican territory.
A veto from Governor Kelly would mean a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate to override. At this time, both the House and Senate fall short — meaning court action on the map is likely.
