How much more will Kansans pay legislators in 2025?
TOPEKA (KSNT) - In 2025, Kansas taxpayers will foot the bill to raise lawmaker's pay.
In 2024, Kansas lawmakers passed a bill to increase lawmakers' compensation after a resolution to reject the proposal died in committee. The bill to reject the proposal died after it didn't achieve a two-thirds majority.
27 News spoke to Legislative Administrative Services Director Tom Day to break down the salary increase for lawmakers. Day said that after Jan. 13, the 165-member legislature will get an annual salary of $43,000, paid biweekly.
Currently, legislators receive a salary of $88.66 per day for the 90-day session. Legislators are also given an allowance of $354.15 paid every two weeks between April and December for 20 pay periods, but this will disappear as of Jan. 13. The current cost to fund legislator salaries is approximately $2.5 million.
Day said that with the proposed changes the additional cost to fund lawmaker salaries will be approximately $4.6 million through the state general fund.
"From the KPERS perspective, the new pay will not impact or increase KPERS retirement benefits for legislators," KPERS Communications Officer Emily Wilson told 27 News.
The Kansas legislative session will convene on Monday, Jan 13 for its 90-day session.
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