Linda Featherston is a Democratic state representative who has represented District 16 since January 2021 and is seeking re-election on November 3, 2026.[1]A piano teacher and studio owner, she is the ranking minority member on the House Local Government and Agriculture committees.[1]
Linda Featherston was born in Topeka, Kansas, and graduated from Topeka High School.[1]She earned a bachelor's degree from Kansas State University in 1993 and a graduate degree there in 1997.[1]Her career experience includes working as an independent piano teacher and owning and operating an independent piano studio, and she is affiliated with the Kansas City Music Teachers Association, the Kansas Music Teachers Association and the Greater Kansas Women's Political Caucus.[1]
Featherston took office in the Kansas House on January 11, 2021, succeeding Cindy Holscher.[1]For 2025 and 2026 she is assigned to the House Education, House Local Government, Water and Agriculture committees, serving as ranking minority member on Local Government and Agriculture.[1]In a Ballotpedia survey, she said she has been an advocate for public schools and universities and listed laws she has led efforts on, including increasing the penalty for attacking an on-duty hospital worker, expanding protections for survivors of domestic abuse and human trafficking, and expanding coverage of diagnostic breast imaging.[2]She also said she supports fully funding public schools, including special education.[2]
Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Democrats voted. How topics are assigned
›Jobs & cost of living192 with · 14 against206 votes
Lets voters petition against local budgets whose property tax revenue exceeds last year's plus inflation (capped at 3 percent). If 10 percent of registered voters sign, the budget is disapproved and limited to prior-year property taxes. Moves the school budget deadline to October 1.
On the version voted Feb 26, 2026: Makes supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2026 and appropriations for later fiscal years for state agencies, authorizing certain transfers, capital improvement projects, and fees.
Limits the ban on prepayment penalties more than six months after signing to home loans made for personal, family or household purposes, which lets lenders charge prepayment penalties on business-purpose home loans.
Requires political subdivisions to hold an open meeting and make written findings before approving a contingent-fee legal services contract, and requires Attorney General approval before it takes effect; the provisions expire July 1, 2029.
Repeals the Mail Ballot Election Act and all provisions authorizing elections conducted exclusively by mail ballot, without changing advance voting by mail in primary, general, or special elections.
On the version voted Mar 24, 2025: Renames the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission the Kansas Public Disclosure Commission, requires closing campaign accounts of officeholders who decline to run or lose re-election, and amends other campaign finance rules.
Directs the Department for Children and Families to request a federal waiver to bar buying candy and soft drinks with SNAP food assistance, and to bar those purchases if approved. If denied, it must reapply each year.
Directs the children and families secretary to request a federal waiver barring purchase of candy and soft drinks with SNAP benefits, to re-request it yearly if denied, and to implement it within six months if granted.
Requires public school districts to give elementary students 30 minutes of organized recess daily from 2027-28, bars withholding recess as discipline unless a student is an immediate threat, and requires an annual state physical fitness test for grades 1 through 12.
On the version voted Mar 17, 2026: Has Kansas elect to take part in the federal tax credit for contributions to scholarship granting organizations for tax years after 2026, and raises the aggregate cap on the state's low-income scholarship tax credit program.
Requires public school districts to give elementary students 30 minutes of organized recess daily from 2027-28, bars withholding recess as discipline unless a student is an immediate threat, and requires an annual state physical fitness test for grades 1 through 12.
Requires nursing school faculty to hold a nursing degree at least one level above the degree of the program they teach, bars the Board of Nursing from requiring more advanced credentials, and lets the Board grant exemptions to schools with hiring hardships.
Bars cities and counties from enforcing building codes, ordinances, or permit and license requirements against non-public registered agritourism locations: working farms of 160 acres or less with an agricultural education facility, open to the public by invitation only.
Deems a pesticide label to satisfy state health or safety warning requirements if it matches the most recent federal health assessment or EPA carcinogenicity classification, without barring claims unrelated to warnings or labeling.
Requires local governments to approve or deny single-family building permits within 60 days of a complete application or the permit is deemed approved, and requires the health department to act on construction stormwater notices within 45 days.
Limits the ban on prepayment penalties more than six months after signing to home loans made for personal, family or household purposes, which lets lenders charge prepayment penalties on business-purpose home loans.
Proposes a constitutional amendment, from tax year 2028, taxing residential, commercial, industrial and farm-building property at the lesser of fair market value or average fair market value, and letting the Legislature set valuation limits for property classes.
On the version voted Apr 10, 2026: Bars cities and counties from adopting or enforcing local rules that stop landlords from refusing housing-voucher payments, restrict tenant screening criteria, cap security deposits, or require a right of first refusal for tenants; voids such rules adopted before July 1, 2026.
Requires driver's licenses to list citizenship status and lets a person whose license lists them as a noncitizen but who claims to be a citizen obtain a provisional ballot.
Requires the Division of Vehicles to give the Secretary of State a quarterly list of noncitizens with driver's licenses, checked against voter rolls; county officials must remove matching noncitizens within five business days and notify them they can be reinstated with proof of citizenship.
On the version voted Mar 13, 2025: Authorizes a Hunter Nation license plate starting January 1, 2026, for passenger vehicles and trucks up to 20,000 pounds. Hunter Nation, Inc. sets a royalty of $25 to $100, paid at issuance and renewal.
Enacts the SAVE Act, barring compensation for referring a veteran to others, and for services on claims filed within one year of active-duty release unless the veteran signs a waiver; requires written fee agreements before services.
Expands veteran's preference in government hiring to certain National Guard and reserve members and eligible spouses, creates a Capitol kiosk listing Kansas military members killed in service, creates a Kansas Military Affairs Commission, and limits fees for help with veterans benefits claims.
Declares the World Health Organization, United Nations and World Economic Forum have no jurisdiction in Kansas and bars the state, its agencies and local governments from enforcing any of their rules, fees, taxes, policies or mandates.
Limits online voter registration to .gov websites or sites approved by the Secretary of State under data-protection criteria, and makes running an unapproved voter registration website a crime.
Bars state agencies from letting employees access designated foreign-adversary AI platforms such as DeepSeek on state devices and networks, and bars medical and research facilities from using genetic sequencers and software made by foreign adversaries.
Requires public school districts, and permits accredited nonpublic schools, to adopt policies banning student cell phone use during the school day, with phones turned off and stowed, sets enforcement procedures, and provides indemnity for lost or damaged devices.
Voted against most of their party on 18 of 310 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Rights & public safety (6), Health & care (4), Education & families (2)
Allowing licensed physical therapists to perform certain capillary blood tests, adding advanced practice registered nurse to the definition of healthcare provider for purposes of the healthcare provider insurance availability act, adding an advanced practice registered nurse position to the board of governors of the healthcare stabilization fund and requiring advance practice registered nurses to maintain professional liability insurance as a condition of active licensure.
A yes vote adopted the conference committee report on HB 2509, which adds advanced practice registered nurses to the Health Care Stabilization Fund from 2028 and lets physical therapists perform certain capillary blood tests. (AI-written)
What it does: Adds advanced practice registered nurses to the Health Care Stabilization Fund from January 2028, adds an APRN seat to its governing board, and lets licensed physical therapists perform certain capillary blood tests.
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 8–29, Republicans 84–4
Providing for the crime victims compensation board to establish fees chargeable for conducting examinations of persons who may be victims of sexual assault, authorizing the board to adopt rules and regulations to administer such fees and to use moneys in the crime victims compensation fund for the payment of such fees and allowing certain exceptions to the confidentiality of records and information given to the board.
What it does: Makes the Crime Victims Compensation Board, not the county, pay sexual assault examination fees, with the Board setting the fees by rule and payment limited to eligible victims. Also adds exceptions to the confidentia…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 8–27, Republicans 88–0
Changing the name of juvenile crisis intervention centers to juvenile stabilization centers, modifying the intake criteria for such centers, prohibiting certain rules and regulations for such centers, modifying the treatment and services provided by such centers, increasing the cumulative detention limit for juvenile offenders and criminal penalties for juvenile offenders who use a firearm in the commission of an offense or who are repeat offenders, providing for increased placement of offenders in non-foster home beds in youth residential facilities, requiring the secretary of corrections to pay for the costs associated with such placements, authorizing the secretary to make expenditures from the evidence-based programs account of the state general fund moneys to contract for such beds and transferring moneys from such account of the state general fund to the department for children and families to provide juvenile stabilization services.
A yes vote adopted the conference committee report on HB 2329, which changes juvenile sentencing and placement rules, renames juvenile crisis intervention centers as stabilization centers (adding HB 2639), and lowers a corrections spending cap to $4.5 million. (AI-written)
What it does: On the version voted Apr 9, 2026: Renames juvenile crisis intervention centers as juvenile stabilization centers and changes their intake criteria and services. Directs the corrections secretary to contract for out-of…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 4–31, Republicans 85–1
House Subsitute for SB 260 by Committee on Federal and State Affairs - Relating to campaign finance; concerning a vacancy in the joint candidacy of the governor and lieutenant governor; relating to reasons for withdrawal of candidacy from national, state and local offices; relating to the election of the board of directors of certain irrigation districts; specifying when such elections may be conducted by the mail ballot election law; relating to the crime of corrupt political advertising; removing the requirements that treasurers be listed in political advertising attributions; clarifying campaign finance reports regarding vendor information.
A yes vote adopted the conference committee report on SB 260, which replaces the bill with provisions on candidate withdrawal, vacancies in the governor-lieutenant governor ticket, "paid for" attributions and campaign vendor expenditure reports. (AI-written)
What it does: Changes election and campaign finance law: lets some local candidates withdraw for severe medical hardship, sets rules for a vacancy in the Governor and Lieutenant Governor joint candidacy, changes paid-for attributio…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 11–26, Republicans 87–1
Establishing requirements for a portable benefit plan for independent contractors, determining types of contributions to such plans and providing a subtraction modification for Kansas income tax purposes.
A yes vote accepted the Senate's amendments to HB 2602, which add credit unions as portable benefit plan providers and require providers to make a benefit account available, sending the bill to the governor. (AI-written)
What it does: Sets requirements for portable benefit plans for independent contractors, administered by banks, credit unions or similar firms, covering health, disability, life or income replacement insurance or retirement. Lets hi…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 16–21, Republicans 85–0
Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.
HB 2763 · KS HOUSE
Requiring school districts to provide elementary students with a certain amount of daily recess, prohibiting limiting or withholding recess for disciplinary reasons, requiring a Kansas state fitness test and designating required recess time as part of the school term.
NoVOTED
Motion: Conference Committee Report was adopted
A yes vote adopted the conference committee report on HB 2763, the elementary school recess bill, accepting the compromise text negotiated between the House and Senate. (AI-written)
Requires public school districts to give elementary students 30 minutes of organized recess daily from 2027-28, bars withholding recess as discipline unless a student is an immediate threat, and requires an annual state physical fitness test for grades 1 through 12.
Proposing to amend section 1 of article 11 of the constitution of the state of Kansas to value residential real, commercial and industrial real property and mobile homes property based on the fair market value or average fair market value of the residential portion and providing the legislature the authority to establish valuation limits for any classes or subclasses of property.
NoVOTED
Motion: Motion to concur with amendments failed
A yes vote agreed to the Senate's amendments to HCR 5008, the constitutional amendment on valuing residential, commercial and industrial property. (AI-written)
Proposes a constitutional amendment, from tax year 2028, taxing residential, commercial, industrial and farm-building property at the lesser of fair market value or average fair market value, and letting the Legislature set valuation limits for property classes.
Providing that certain portions of the crime of cruelty to animals do not apply to any person who catches a feral cat to provide vaccination, spaying or neutering and returns such cat back to the location where such cat is caught.
YesVOTED
Motion: Motion to not adopt Conference Committee Report passed; (Bill is killed)
As rewritten by the conference report voted on, lets Butler, Labette and Leavenworth counties ask voters to approve extra countywide sales taxes for property tax relief, fire departments and emergency management, and keeps the current city-county sales tax sharing formula through 2027.
Making and concerning supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2026 and appropriations for fiscal years 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030 for various state agencies, authorizing certain capital improvement projects and fees, authorizing certain transfers.
NoVOTED
Motion: Motion to override line item veto prevailed; Line item veto 88(k), 88(m) overridden
A yes vote overrode the governor's line-item veto of two provisions in the state budget bill (HB 2513) creating a school-district penalty process for student walkouts and setting education program spending. (AI-written)
Sets state agency spending for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, including about $27.8 billion in fiscal year 2026 and $26.8 billion in fiscal year 2027 from all funds, and funds a new Office of Early Childhood.
Making and concerning supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2026 and appropriations for fiscal years 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030 for various state agencies, authorizing certain capital improvement projects and fees, authorizing certain transfers.
NoVOTED
Motion: Motion to override line item veto prevailed; Line item veto 26(a), 53(b), 54(w) overridden
A yes vote overrode the governor's line-item vetoes in the budget bill (HB 2513), including a provision letting state employees and legislators park in ungated state lots from 5 to 11 p.m. (AI-written)
Sets state agency spending for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, including about $27.8 billion in fiscal year 2026 and $26.8 billion in fiscal year 2027 from all funds, and funds a new Office of Early Childhood.
Making and concerning supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2026 and appropriations for fiscal years 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030 for various state agencies, authorizing certain capital improvement projects and fees, authorizing certain transfers.
NoVOTED
Motion: Motion to override line item veto failed; Line item veto 37(e) sustained
A yes vote overrode the governor's line-item veto of the budget bill's aviation loan program, which authorizes loans to airport authorities and aircraft maintenance firms funded by up to $50 million. (AI-written)
Sets state agency spending for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, including about $27.8 billion in fiscal year 2026 and $26.8 billion in fiscal year 2027 from all funds, and funds a new Office of Early Childhood.
Making and concerning supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2026 and appropriations for fiscal years 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030 for various state agencies, authorizing certain capital improvement projects and fees, authorizing certain transfers.
NoVOTED
Motion: Motion to override line item veto prevailed; Line item veto 54(u), 54(y) overridden
A yes vote overrode the governor's line-item vetoes of two budget provisions: performance-metric requirements for state-funded program applicants, and unlimited access to state accounting systems for legislative fiscal auditors. (AI-written)
Sets state agency spending for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, including about $27.8 billion in fiscal year 2026 and $26.8 billion in fiscal year 2027 from all funds, and funds a new Office of Early Childhood.
Making and concerning supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2026 and appropriations for fiscal years 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030 for various state agencies, authorizing certain capital improvement projects and fees, authorizing certain transfers.
NoVOTED
Motion: Motion to override line item veto prevailed; Line item veto 15(b), 15(c) overridden
A yes vote overrode the governor's line-item vetoes in the budget bill (HB 2513) of the Board of Nursing's nurse fair treatment and recovery fund and a $500,000 transfer into it. (AI-written)
Sets state agency spending for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, including about $27.8 billion in fiscal year 2026 and $26.8 billion in fiscal year 2027 from all funds, and funds a new Office of Early Childhood.
Making and concerning supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2026 and appropriations for fiscal years 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030 for various state agencies, authorizing certain capital improvement projects and fees, authorizing certain transfers.
NoVOTED
Motion: Motion to override line item veto prevailed; Line item veto 37(a) overridden
A yes vote overrode the governor's line-item veto of the State Treasurer's $3 million pregnancy compassion awareness program (formerly the alternatives to abortion program) in the budget bill. (AI-written)
Sets state agency spending for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, including about $27.8 billion in fiscal year 2026 and $26.8 billion in fiscal year 2027 from all funds, and funds a new Office of Early Childhood.
Making and concerning supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2026 and appropriations for fiscal years 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030 for various state agencies, authorizing certain capital improvement projects and fees, authorizing certain transfers.
NoVOTED
Motion: Motion to override line item veto prevailed; Line item veto 72(l), 74(p) overridden
A yes vote overrode the governor's line-item vetoes of two budget provisions requiring spending to implement the CDC immunization schedules in effect July 1, 2026, including Medicaid coverage. (AI-written)
Sets state agency spending for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, including about $27.8 billion in fiscal year 2026 and $26.8 billion in fiscal year 2027 from all funds, and funds a new Office of Early Childhood.
