For over 15 years the Kansas Legislative Research Department has been issuing an annual publication called, "Kansas Legislator Briefing Book." The Briefing Book is an excellent guide to many of the major points of interest which may be considered in the upcoming legislative session. Anywhere from 50 to 80 summaries of important issues are contained within each yearly volume. The Books are written for legislators giving them short histories, current trends/issues, comparisons with other states, basic statistics and other information on topics which might prove helpful in decision making. The articles are nonpartisan, well informed and really, helpful for anyone interested in a particular issue which might come up during the legislative session or the interim.
The 2020 Legislator Briefing Book is available at the Kansas Legislative Research Department's website:
An online copy of the 2020 Briefing Book is also available at the KGI Online Library:
Older issues of the Legislator Briefing Book are available online at the KGI Online Library.
State Library staff have been cataloging each article within the Legislator Briefing Books going back to the 2005 Legislative Session. You can search our catalog and you'll find them. There are over 700 as of now and we're just starting to enter the 2020 articles.
Here are a few examples from the 2019 Legislative Session book. When you bring up the record in KGI click on the huge icon of the front cover to go to the document itself.
TAKE NOTE OF THE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER FOR EACH ARTICLE (A-1, B-3, D-9, etc.) WHEN YOU LOOK FOR AN ARTICLE. THE ARTICLES ARE LISTED BY THESE NUMBERS:
Industrial Hemp (2019 Legislative Session)
Career Technical Education (CTE) in Kansas (2019 Legislative Session)
Carrying of Firearms (2019 Legislative Session)
Regulation of Robocalls (2019 Legislative Session)
Sports Wagering (2019 Legislative Session)