CAMPAIGN NEWS

As debate over election policy continues at the Statehouse, Representative Kirk Haskins of Topeka  joined lawmakers reviewing a series of election-related bills advancing through a Kansas House committee. According to reporting from Sunflower State Journal , the measures had previously stalled in the Senate but are gaining renewed attention as part of broader legislative efforts addressing voting procedures and election administration. The developments reflect ongoing disagre

During a contentious meeting of the Kansas House Elections Committee, Representative Kirk Haskins of Topeka  joined other Democratic members in leaving the hearing after accusing the committee chair of making antisemitic remarks during debate over election legislation. According to reporting from Kansas Reflector , the dispute arose during discussion of proposed voting-related policies and quickly escalated as lawmakers challenged the language used during the meeting. Haskins

Representative Kirk Haskins of Topeka , who also serves as a professor at Baker University, raised concerns about legislation aimed at restricting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and critical race theory (CRT) content at Kansas public universities. According to reporting from Kansas Reflector , Republican lawmakers renewed efforts to pass a bill that would limit certain course requirements and mandate a civics course focused on foundational American documents. Haskins q

Representative Kirk Haskins of Topeka partnered with arts advocates and educators to support Kansas Thespians’ Theatre in Our Schools Advocacy Day at the State Capitol. According to coverage from Fort Scott Biz, more than 200 students, teachers, and supporters from across Kansas gathered to highlight the importance of arts education and theatre programs in schools. Haskins and Senator Cindy Holscher worked with the organization to bring attention to the economic and educatio

According to reporting from The Topeka Capital-Journal , a dispute between two Kansas lawmakers escalated during debate on the House floor, leading Rep. Ford Carr to file a complaint alleging threatening language from Rep. Nick Hoheisel. During the tense exchange, lawmakers urged calm as the situation unfolded in the chamber. Representative Kirk Haskins of Topeka  called for de-escalation during the confrontation, saying, “Everyone needs to breathe,”  as members worked to res

Representative Kirk Haskins of Topeka  joined other Kansas lawmakers raising concerns about a new state law affecting gender markers on identification documents. According to reporting from CountOn2 and the Associated Press , two transgender men have filed a lawsuit challenging the law after it invalidated their driver’s licenses along with roughly 1,700 others  that reflected gender identity rather than sex assigned at birth. The case argues the measure violates constitution

Representative Kirk Haskins of Topeka  is among the Kansas lawmakers speaking out about the impact of a new state law requiring identification documents to reflect a person’s sex assigned at birth. The measure, enacted after the Legislature overrode Governor Laura Kelly’s veto, has drawn national attention and raised questions about how the policy will affect transgender Kansans and state recordkeeping. Coverage from PennLive  highlights how the law could affect thousands of

According to reporting from KAKE News, a new Kansas law requiring driver’s licenses and birth certificates to reflect a person’s sex assigned at birth has drawn national attention and renewed debate at the Statehouse. The policy, enacted after the Legislature overrode a veto from Governor Laura Kelly, requires state agencies to enforce new rules around gender markers on official identification documents. The issue has generated strong reactions from lawmakers, advocates, and

During debate over a Kansas law requiring identification documents to reflect a person’s sex assigned at birth, Representative Kirk Haskins of Topeka  joined fellow lawmakers raising concerns about the policy’s impact on transgender Kansans. According to coverage from The Post Register , the law will invalidate driver’s licenses and birth certificates that previously reflected gender identity, affecting roughly 1,700 Kansas driver’s licenses and a similar number of birth cert

According to reporting from Kansas Reflector , a tense exchange between lawmakers during debate on firearm-related legislation in the Kansas House led to a heated confrontation that forced the chamber into a two-hour recess. Representative Kirk Haskins of Topeka  was among the lawmakers who urged colleagues to de-escalate the situation and restore order so the chamber could continue its work. The incident highlighted the intensity of policy debates taking place during the 202

Questions about ethics and campaign conduct surfaced at the Kansas Statehouse after allegations that a state lawmaker used their role as a committee chair to advance campaign messaging. According to reporting from The Topeka Capital-Journal , the accusation prompted discussion among legislators about the appropriate boundaries between official legislative duties and political campaigning. The situation has drawn attention to broader concerns about transparency and accountabil

Representative Kirk Haskins of Topeka  raised concerns during debate on a Kansas House bill that would require driver’s licenses to display a person’s citizenship status. According to reporting from KAKE News , the measure was approved by the House and supporters argued it would help ensure only U.S. citizens participate in elections. Critics in the Legislature, including Haskins, questioned whether the change would create unnecessary complications for residents and whether e

Representative Kirk Haskins of Topeka , a professor at Baker University, joined other lawmakers questioning proposed cuts to Kansas public university budgets during a House committee debate. According to reporting from Kansas Reflector , the House Higher Education Budget Committee advanced a plan that would reduce funding for need-based student aid and freeze tuition rates while lawmakers review spending across the state’s public universities. The proposal sparked concern amo

According to reporting from Kansas Reflector , Kansas House Democrats criticized a proposed constitutional amendment related to voting requirements, arguing it could be unnecessary and politically motivated. During the debate, Representative Kirk Haskins of Topeka  questioned whether additional constitutional language was needed given that Kansas law already requires voters to be U.S. citizens. The discussion highlighted broader concerns among lawmakers about how proposed ele

According to reporting from Kansas Reflector , debate over press access in the Kansas House continued as lawmakers discussed rules that changed where journalists can work while covering legislative proceedings. Representative Kirk Haskins of Topeka  raised concerns during the discussion, warning that restricting traditional press access could create legal and transparency issues for the Legislature. Haskins urged lawmakers to reconsider the rule change and emphasized the impo

During discussions about health-insurance prior authorization requirements, Representative Kirk Haskins of Topeka  joined lawmakers reviewing concerns about how the process affects patients and medical providers. According to reporting from The Topeka Capital-Journal , Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt told legislators the current prior-authorization system used by insurers is widely considered problematic and often delays care. Lawmakers are examining potential ref

According to reporting from Kansas Reflector , members of the Kansas House debated changes to chamber rules that limited where journalists could work on the House floor during the 2025 legislative session. Representative Kirk Haskins of Topeka  proposed an amendment aimed at restoring the longstanding press access that had previously allowed reporters to observe and report more closely from inside the chamber. During the debate, Haskins argued that maintaining transparency he

According to reporting from The Topeka Capital-Journal , members of the Kansas Legislature gathered at the State Capitol to be sworn in for the 2025 legislative session following the November elections. The ceremony marked the start of the new legislative term for all 165 lawmakers who serve in the Kansas House and Senate. Representative Kirk Haskins joined colleagues from across the state in taking the oath of office as lawmakers prepared to begin work on the issues expected

According to reporting from Kansas Reflector , debate over new Kansas House rules included discussion about restrictions on where journalists can work inside the House chamber. Representative Kirk Haskins  proposed an amendment that would restore longstanding press access to the chamber, arguing that transparency helps the public stay informed about legislative decisions. House leadership said the change was made to provide additional seating space for staff, but the proposal

According to reporting from The Topeka Capital-Journal , Kansas lawmakers returned to the Statehouse on January 13 to begin the 2025 legislative session, marking the start of the new legislative cycle following the 2024 elections. The session opened with lawmakers preparing to debate major issues expected to shape the year ahead, including the state budget, tax policy, and election laws. As part of the 125-member Kansas House, Representative Kirk Haskins joined colleagues fro