Kansas lawmakers returned to a snowy capital city on Monday for the start of the 2025 legislative session.

In a largely ceremonial first day at the Statehouse, the 125 representatives in the House and 40 senators in the Senate were sworn in.

“Today marks the first day of the 2025 legislative session,” Gov. Laura Kelly said in a tweet. “I look forward to collaborating with the legislature this year to make progress and continue moving Kansas forward.”

In the House, which had a full gallery of public onlookers, Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Marla Luckert administered the oath of office in groups of 10. Legislators raised their right hands as they swore to support the constitutions of the United States and of Kansas, and to “faithfully discharge the duties” of their office.

In the Senate, which also had a full gallery, Justice Dan Biles swore in 40 senators in groups of five.

Shawnee County delegation has 12 lawmakers

Shawnee County is in eight House districts and four Senate districts.

In the House, the local Republicans are Reps. Kyle McNorton, Jesse Borjon and Ken Corbet. The local Democrats are Reps. Kirk Haskins, Tobias Schlingensiepen, Virgil Weigel, John Alcala and Alexis Simmons. Simmons is the only freshman lawmaker, as all the rest were reelected in 2024.

In the Senate, the local lawmakers are Sens. Rick Kloos, R-Berryton; Kenny Titus, R-Manhattan; Brenda Dietrich, R-Topeka; and Patrick Schmidt, D-Topeka. Schmidt is a freshman lawmaker, while Titus is new to the Senate after previously serving in the House.

After being sworn in, Schmidt told The Capital-Journal there’s work to be done on public housing issues in Shawnee County.

Kloos told The Capital-Journal said lawmakers will “work overtime” to accomplish property tax relief. Titus also suggested property tax cuts will be the first priority.

“There’s a pretty strong message this election campaign that people are hurting in their wallets and that’s why so many Republicans got elected,” he said. “I think we start with that, and if we can get a good bill across the line and help people out then I think there’s a lot of other things we can turn to but it’s helping people in their wallet first and foremost.”

More: As Republicans push tax cuts, would Kansas governor veto property tax relief?

Simmons said that she is “inspired and wholly committed to making sure that my constituents know what’s happening here,” and offered to “be a messenger as their representative” for people who would like to provide input but don’t want to share it directly.

Borjon said it is an honor to serve.

“This is my third term, and basically today is all about getting us organized so we can start getting work done for our constituents and for the great state of Kansas,” he said. “So I’m glad to be back.”

“It’s exciting when we start, always seems like a new opportunity,” Haskins said. “I feel that we are pretty organized as far as our caucus, and looking forward to seeing what lies ahead.”

McNorton said he is excited for the year and “doing some good things” for his North Topeka district and the entire state. He said he thinks Republicans and Democrats both “have good leadership” and thinks “we’ll work together and do what’s good for everybody.”

More: Here’s what committees Topeka lawmakers will serve on in Kansas Statehouse

McNorton, who also serves on the Seaman USD 345 school board, will serve on two education committees in the House.

“Being on both those committees, I’m really honored to be on them and hopefully do some good things for our kids so they can improve and be the best — each one of them can be the best — that they can be,” he said.

What Republican leaders said

Lawmakers also made official the results of legislative leadership elections last month.

“The trust that you all have placed in me to serve as House speaker for another two years is a responsibility that I do not take lightly, and I accept this responsibility with a profound sense of duty to each of you, to this institution and to the people of this great state,” said House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita. “We accomplished much in the last two years, and I’m even more excited about what lies ahead for the next two years: a better way for the people of Kansas.”

Hawkins said he hopes for civility following “an especially heated election cycle.”

“It is easy to focus on what divides us, but our strength lies in finding common ground,” he said. “The challenges we face and the people we serve demand that we rise above partisanship and work together for the good of all Kansans.”

Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, also gave a message of civility.

“I congratulate you on winning your election but you’re about to have to shift gears,” Masterson said. “We go out and do things in elections, put out a message and you get elected, it’s a different operation inside this chamber. Now we need to harmonize to the best of our ability.”

He stipulated, though, that harmony doesn’t mean the Legislature won’t tackle divisive and emotionally charged subjects.

“There will be tears, there will be emotion, we’ll get angry at times but I’m telling you take a step back take a breath you may need that very person on the next round, and it’s really something we’re losing in general society is that ability to have a very difficult conversation on a very complicated subject and still love the person on the other side of the argument,” Masterson said.

More: With bigger supermajorities, will Kansas Republicans go ‘too far to the right’?

What Democrat leaders said

House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard, D-Lenexa, said he looks forward to working with Republican leadership. He urged new lawmakers to soak in the feeling of the first day.

“When the days of our public service feel tough — and I promise you that there will be very tough days ahead — please remember how you feel right now,” Woodard said. “That feeling, the ability to be present and soak up every moment, each lesson and experience in this job, will get you through even the fiercest debates in this chamber.”

Addressing his fellow Democrats, Woodard said that “we have an uphill battle before us.”

“We have a responsibility to offer a different perspective, an outside voice and to stand up for our morals and our ideals,” he said. “And at the same time, I would challenge each of you to approach working with Republicans in our chamber to identify solutions for the people of Kansas.”

Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, D-Lenexa, also congratulated new members, but veered into policy topics. She called for fully funding special education, to avoid “culture war” issues and for policies that prioritize working families.

“We face challenges, while we work hard, often that work benefits shareholders and corporations leaving workers and their families behind,” Sykes said. “Senate Democrats support policies that generate good jobs, that provide wages that allow families to get ahead, and I look forward to collaborating on policies that reward workers and help them put food on the table and care for their families.”

More: With fewer seats, how will Democrats work with or against GOP supermajorities?

Reporters will have less floor access in Kansas Legislature

News reporters in the Statehouse press corps will have less access to the chamber floors in the 2025 session.

House leadership no longer allows reporters on the floor during session except to take photos and videos from the back and sides of the chamber. Reporters previously had access to a desk at the front of the floor.

Staff indicated the move was to clear up congested space at the front of the chamber, and the media desk is now referred to as a staff desk.

Senate leadership made a similar move in recent years. Reporters previously had access to a desk in the back of the chamber, but now are generally only allowed on the floor for photos and videos while otherwise being restricted to the gallery.