Legislative Update: Kansas Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes

Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes

Interview with Dinah Sykes 6-5-26

7:58

Currently, the Kansas Government is at a time where it feels slow and nothing happens. The legislative session is over, bills have been passed or rejected, and legislators get to go back to their communities. And while it may seem that they get a break now, there really is a lot that they do during this off time that some people may not know about.

Kansas Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes sat down with Lucas Kenney to explain what this in between time looks and feels like for legislators, especially a leader in the government.

Firstly, they talked more specifically about what she does during this time between sessions. Sykes is a part of what's called the Legislative Coordinating Council, otherwise called the LCC, which consists of legislative leaders for both the House and Senate. She explained a little bit about what this council does.

"We meet monthly during the interim really for issues that have to go before the legislature...we meet to do performance reviews of legislative branches, the audit, auditors, and other legislative services."

So while it may seem like they just get some time off of work, the work never really stops.

Sykes also mentioned that in the period between sessions, she likes to take the time to go back to her communities, speak at different places with those folks about issues concerning them, and spending time out in her area.

"Good legislators are really talking to their constituents, having those conversations about important issues with communities and groups...I think it's a great time to get out and talk to Kansans."

Despite all that's still going on for legislators, Kansans can expect no new laws or bills being passed. That time is reserved for the legislative session held early in the year. However, you can expect releasing of funds from grants and other financial items from groups that meet throughout the next few months.

To find out more about Senator Dinah Sykes, you can visit her website at dinahsykes.com and you can find her on social media!