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Kansas Speaker
READ THE SPEAKER'S 2008 REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE VISION
Photo by Rep. Jim Morrison
Thank you for visiting the website of Kansas Speaker of the House Melvin Neufeld.
Speaker's Role
The Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives is elected by his or her fellow Members to preside over the House. The Speaker typically maintains three roles, as a representative for his or his district, as a leader of his or her political party, and as the leader of the House as a whole.
Current Speaker Neufeld with Former Speakers Doug Mays, Robin Jennison and Tim Shallenburger
As specified in the rules and customs of the House, responsibilities of the Speaker include:
- Calling the House to order.
- Presiding over debate, recognizing Members to speak on the floor, and preserving order; or delegating that power to another Member of the House.
- Setting the legislative calendar and assigning bills to various committees.
- Leading the appointment process for the chairs of House committees as well as establishing select committees and task forces as needed.
On January 8, 2007, Kansas House members elected Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls, to his first term as Speaker.
Read Speaker Neufeld's remarks to House members on the session's first day.