Nate Butler, District 68
Week of January 16, 2023
It is hard to believe the first two weeks of the 2023 session have come to an end. Agendas have been fast and furious. As a Freshman Legislator, it feels as though I am drinking from a firehose. Gratefully, I have many veteran legislators that I can call on to gain insight on daily operations. I have been busy learning the House Rules and finding my way around the Capital Building. The House Leadership assigned me to serve on three committees: Veterans and Military; Corrections and Juvenile Justice; and Taxation. Several briefings have taken place during committee meetings. We have heard from the Secretary of Revenue and the Secretary of Corrections, as well as others who serve in significant roles in the State of Kansas.
There have been several bills introduced through all three of the committees on which I serve. Of particular interest, is a bill that I have co-sponsored, HB 2036, creating a property tax exemption for certain retired and disabled veterans. HB 2036 was introduced and has since been referred to the Taxation Committee. The Kansas Disabled Veterans Lobby group will host two gatherings to show support for HB 2036. The first gathering will take place February 17, 12:00 P.M., on the south steps of the Kansas State Capital building. The second gathering will be Saturday, February 18, 12:00 p.m., at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Gage Park, Topeka.
Kansas currently ranks 17th out of the 50 states for veteran friendliness. I was recently asked if 17th was good enough. Although 17th places our state into the category of being a veteran friendly state, there is absolutely room for improvement. I would like to see Kansas move up to the top 10. Legislation such as HB 2036, if passed, will be one catalyst that may begin the trend upward in ranking.
Are you aware that Kansas ranks 10th in youth suicides for ages 15-24, and 11th for ages 10-14? This statistic should cause us to take a step back and ask why. There are possibly several reasons, one of which is the lack of mental health care providers. Mental health professionals provide needed council and often can identify citizens at risk. I am hopeful Kansas will work to improve access to mental health professionals throughout the state. Some school districts have implemented programs to meet with youth and possibly identify those who may be having difficulty and possibly be at risk, increasing the chances of intervention. Whatever the cause, hopefully, Kansas can work to reduce the number of suicide deaths.
There is still much to learn as a Freshman Representative. My goal is to provide a short weekly update so that the constituents of the 68th District can be informed. Thank you again for trusting me to represent you at the Kansas House of Representatives.
Nate Butler