This is the Mainstream Coalition's Voting Scorecard for the 2021 Kansas Legislative Session, for all 165 members of the Kansas Legislature.

Unlike the previous year, in 2021 the Kansas Legislature did not have a shortened session, and under the new Legislative Leadership they churned out, and passed, 116 bills. Of those, we have chosen a handful to score this year. The votes taken on these bills, in our estimation, represent the intent of the legislators, and we try hard not to include overtly political votes orchestrated by one party to hurt the other (commonly called "postcard votes"). These are the bills:

• Voting Rights - HB 2183. This is one of the bills to suppress voting in Kansas. Among other provisions (it is a miss mash of several previous policies) it limits the number of ballots an individual may return for others, directly impacting disabled and elderly Kansans. Provisions of this bill are being contested in the courts. The vote scored was the override of Governor Kelly's veto. (Bill summary) Mainstream's position: Nay
  
  
• Public Health - HR 6015 and SR 1717. These resolutions were taken by both chambers and urged the Legislative Coordinating Council to revoke any mask mandate the Governor might make. Mainstream's position: Nay
  
  
• Equality - SB 55. This was the "Fairness in Women's Sports Act" that would have banned transgender girls from playing school sports with other girls. Part of a nationwide push to discriminate against children while not addressing any of the real barriers to women's sports in our country, this bill was vetoed, and that veto sustained by one vote in the Kansas Senate. The vote we scored was the original passage of the bill before it was vetoed (because only the Senate voted on the veto override as it was not successful). (Bill summary) Mainstream's position: Nay
  
  
• Gun Safety - HB 2058. This bill allows 18-year-olds to carry a concealed, loaded handgun, lowering the age from 21. We scored the veto override vote. (Bill summary) Mainstream's position: Nay
  
  
• Reproductive Rights - HCR 5003. This is the so-called "Value Them Both" resolution to place on the primary ballot in 2022 an amendment to the Kansas Constitution to remove from it the right to an abortion. The KS Supreme Court found that the Constitution contains that right, and this would undo that. The amendment will only need greater than 50% of the votes cast in that primary election to amend the constitution. (Resolution summary) Mainstream's position: Nay
  
  
• Medicaid Expansion. While no expansion bill was allowed on the floor for a vote, members of both chambers attempted to add it via amendments to other bills, and while neither was successful, the votes for and against expansion are on the record. In the Senate, Sen. Sykes introduced this amendment to SB 238 that was rejected by the body. In the House, Rep. Parker introduced this amendment to HB 2397 that was rejected by the body. Mainstream's position: Yea
  
  
• Taxes - SB 50. This bill gives tax breaks to high income Kansans and corporations with offices in Kansas, but will do little for lower and middle income Kansans. Bills similar to this have been introduced for several years, and this year the Legislature had to override the Governor's veto to get it finally on the books. We scored the override vote. (Bill summary) Mainstream's position: Nay
  
  
• Education - SB 175. This was dubbed the "Frankenstein" education bill because it contained numerous provisions from several other bills, and tied education budget allocations to policy changes, including two school voucher programs. This bill was ultimately defeated (though some of its provisions did eventually become law in different bills). (Supplemental note) Mainstream's position: Nay

Presented below are the 165 Kansas legislators in the 2021 Legislative Session, their lifetime *M score (incl. 2021), their votes on these bills, and their *M score this year. The *M score is simply a percentage of votes taken in which a legislator took the position supported by the Mainstream Coalition. Not voting and absences do not affect the score.

2021 *M Voting Scorecard

√ = Did vote with Mainstream
x = Did not vote with Mainstream