The bill establishes a new process for filling vacancies in the offices of United States senator, state treasurer, and commissioner of insurance in Kansas. It mandates that the governor appoint a person from the same political party as the incumbent, following a nomination process by the legislature. The joint committee on vacancy appointments will be formed, consisting of members from both the Senate and House, to review nominations and conduct public hearings. The committee will then submit a report identifying five nominees for consideration by the legislature, which will convene in a joint session to vote on the nominees. The bill also specifies that the governor must make a temporary appointment within two calendar days of receiving a concurrent resolution and that the appointed individual must be certified by the secretary of state.

Key amendments include changing the requirement for political party registration from the previous ten general elections to the two immediately preceding general elections for the respective offices. Additionally, the bill introduces new provisions that ensure no appointee can take office without certification from the secretary of state, and it repeals existing laws that are inconsistent with these new procedures. The act will take effect upon publication in the Kansas register.

Statutes affected:
As introduced: 25-101b, 40-106, 25-318
As Amended by House Committee: 25-101b, 40-106, 25-318