Tom Kessler is a Republican state representative from Kansas House District 96 who has served since January 2021 and is seeking re-election on November 3, 2026.[1][2]A business owner, he faces Democrat Jessica Maldonado and Libertarian Josef Trotter in the general election.[1][2]
Tom Kessler was born in Wichita, Kansas, and his career experience includes owning and operating Tom's Wine & Spirits.[1]He assumed office in the Kansas House on January 11, 2021, succeeding Stephanie Yeager.[1]
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 Republicans voted. How topics are assigned
›Jobs & cost of living201 with · 3 against204 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.
Mar 27, 2026 · Passed 63–59 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
Feb 25, 2026 · Failed 52–64 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
Mar 26, 2026 · Passed 74–51 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
Mar 27, 2025 · Passed 73–52 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
Feb 19, 2026 · Passed 72–50 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
Feb 14, 2025 · Passed 74–45 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
Mar 19, 2025 · Passed 65–58 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
Feb 19, 2026 · Passed 72–50 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
Apr 11, 2026 · Passed 74–47 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
Feb 12, 2026 · Passed 70–49 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
Apr 11, 2026 · Passed 74–47 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
Mar 18, 2026 · Passed 81–43 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
Apr 10, 2026 · Passed 71–49 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
Jan 29, 2026 · Passed 81–36 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
Mar 26, 2025 · Passed 83–40 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
Mar 26, 2026 · Passed 74–51 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
Apr 11, 2026 · Failed 59–62 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
Mar 18, 2026 · Passed 75–49 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
Feb 12, 2026 · Passed 77–41 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
Mar 20, 2025 · Passed 83–35 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
Mar 12, 2025 · Passed 75–43 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
Feb 18, 2026 · Passed 81–43 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
Jan 15, 2026 · Passed 85–35 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
Feb 10, 2026 · Passed 86–36 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
Mar 27, 2025 · Passed 87–38 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
Feb 17, 2026 · Passed 75–48 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Voted against most of their party on 4 of 309 party-divided votes on file.
Adding mitragynine to schedule I of the uniform controlled substances act and reconciling multiple amendments to certain statutes in the Kansas criminal code.
A yes vote adopted the conference committee report on SB 430, which adds mitragynine to schedule I of controlled substances, accepting the compromise text negotiated between the House and Senate. (AI-written)
What it does: Adds mitragynine, the main active compound in kratom, to Schedule I of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act and reconciles overlapping amendments to the theft and expungement statutes.
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 3–31, Republicans 75–13
Adding and removing certain substances in schedules I, III and IV of the uniform controlled substances act and making conforming changes to the criminal code definition of fentanyl-related controlled substances.
A yes vote adopted the conference committee report on HB 2365, which adds substances including 7-OH (kratom derivative) to Schedule I and conforms Kansas fentanyl and cannabis drug definitions to federal law. (AI-written)
What it does: Adds substances to Kansas's controlled substance schedules, including 14 to Schedule I such as synthetic opioids, hexahydrocannabinol and 7-hydroxymitragynine from kratom, and adjusts fentanyl and cannabis language to…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 4–33, Republicans 72–16
Prohibiting certain sex offenders from entering onto school property or attending school activities, prohibiting courts from assigning a defendant to work release if the defendant is required to register as a sex offender for certain crimes and prohibiting the secretary of corrections from granting an inmate leave from confinement except for specified purposes if theinmate is required to register as a sex offender for certain crimes or is serving a sentence for certain crimes that require registration as a sex offender.
A yes vote would have adopted the conference committee report on HB 2527, which bars certain registered sex offenders from school property and activities, with limits on who is covered and an exception for enrolled students. (AI-written)
What it does: Makes it a felony for registered sex offenders whose offense was committed at age 18 or older against a victim under 16 to enter school property or attend school activities. Also bars work release for certain registra…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 1–33, Republicans 45–42
Permitting beekeepers who meet certain requirements to sell packaged honey and honeycombs without holding a food establishment or food processing plant license under the Kansas food, drug and cosmetic act.
What it does: On the version voted Mar 24, 2026: Exempts beekeepers who meet listed requirements from needing a state food establishment or food processor license to sell packaged honey or honeycomb at retail.
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 2–31, Republicans 83–3
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.
YesVOTED
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.
YesVOTED
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.
YesVOTED
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.
YesVOTED
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.
YesVOTED
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.
YesVOTED
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.
YesVOTED
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.
YesVOTED
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.
