The Interim Period Explained: What Happens When the Legislature Isn’t in Session

Heather Braum | July 29, 2026

The work doesn’t end when the Legislature adjourns its legislative session. Known as the "interim" period, many lawmakers meet periodically throughout the rest of the calendar year to fulfill other legislative duties, such as providing oversight to government programs and legislative processes, investigating emerging issues, and developing recommendations for the next year's Legislature. 

Here's a brief guide to unlocking what happens during this interim period.  

Purpose and Goals 

Legislative business continues throughout the rest of the year, not just during the annual session that takes place from January to April.  

From April to December, legislative leaders continue to make decisions for the Legislative Branch; as required by law, interim committees meet to discuss relevant topics; and special committees and task forces further investigate and discuss important issues that take too much time during the legislative session. 

For interim committees or task forces focused on a specific topic, members often hear presentations and testimony from experts and the public, ask questions of agencies, request further research from legislative staff, and craft recommendations to inform the next Legislature’s work.  

At times, bill drafts are created by these committees so the incoming Legislature may begin bill hearings quickly.  

Interim Committee Decisionmakers 

The lawmakers involved with these committees vary, depending on the committee’s topic and depending on the lawmakers’ chamber. In most cases, interim committees consist of both Senate and House members, and they are appointed by the Senate President and the House Speaker, respectively. Each committee’s chair and vice chair depends on the type of committee, but represents each chamber. 

Often, lawmakers are appointed to interim committees based on their committee assignments during the legislative session. For instance, the Education Funding Task Force consists of lawmakers assigned to the Senate and House education committees. 

Leadership Oversight – the Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC)

One key committee that is critical during the interim is the Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC), which is made up of both chambers’ leadership. 

LCC 2026 Membership
Senate		House
President (Masterson) – Vice Chair		Speaker (Hawkins) – Chair
Vice President (Shallenburger)		Speaker Pro Tem (B. Carpenter)
Majority Leader (Blasi)		Majority Leader (Croft)
Minority Leader (Sykes)		Minority Leader (Woodard)

 

The LCC meets monthly during the interim period to conduct legislative business, vote on decisions, hire Legislative Branch leadership, and exercise authority on behalf  of the Legislature when the chambers are not in session but legislative approval is required, such as during emergency declarations.  

The LCC also determines the number of meeting days allotted to interim committees established by Kansas law. In addition, it decides which special topics warrant further study and establishes select or special committees during the interim period, including defining their scope of work and duration. 

Committee Types 

There are generally four types of interim committees. For 2026, 11 joint committees, 10 special and select committees, and three task forces have had meeting days approved by the LCC.  

	Committee Type		Description
	Legislative Administrative/Governance		Oversees the Legislative Branch, state funding decisions, and audits of government programs. Meeting dates are as needed. Examples include the LCC, the State Finance Council, and Legislative Post Audit.
	Joint Oversight Committees		Established by Kansas law, these committees are tasked with periodic (typically, quarterly) oversight of a government program. The number of committee members from each chamber is established through state law, with appointments from chamber leadership. Meeting date minimums are in state law; the LCC must approve additional meeting days. An example is the Robert G. (Bob) Bethell Home and Community Based Services & KanCare Oversight.
	Special/Select Committees		Lawmakers (typically chairs of committees) send requests to study a certain topic to the LCC, which must then be approved. Special committees are made up of members from both chambers. Select committees are single-chamber committees. These types usually meet for one or two days. Leadership and membership decisions are made by chamber leadership. An example in 2026 is the Special Committee on the State Budget.
	Task Forces		Established by state law, with the number of meeting dates approved by the LCC, task forces are made up of lawmakers from both chambers and certain members of the public. A 2026 example is the Education Funding Task Force.

 

Outcomes of Interim Committees 

On the final meeting day of most interim committees, lawmakers discuss and make recommendations for further inquiry and potential legislation. Sometimes, these may be based on requests from interested groups. These recommendations are compiled into a report issued by the Kansas Legislative Research Department and given to lawmakers early in the next session. 

During the legislative session, committees may review and act upon these recommendations. However, no committee is required to use interim committees’ work to introduce specific bills or hold additional informational meetings on certain topics. 

Monitoring during the Off-Season 

Just like the regular legislative session, interim committee meetings are open to the public and live streamed, with agendas posted online.

Legislative Administrative Services (LAS) releases the upcoming interim schedule each Thursday, with up to three weeks’ notice. That schedule is posted at the bottom of the legislative website, under Recent Documents. The public may contact LAS to be added to the weekly email distribution list for the schedule. Committee meetings are open to the public and can usually be attended in person at the Statehouse or live streamed via the Legislature’s YouTube channel.  

The interim period may not receive intense scrutiny and be constricted by deadlines, but it’s the time when lawmakers show what priorities may be at play in the next legislative session. For advocates who want a say in how policies take shape, interim committees provide a key opportunity to provide expertise and collaborate on policy solutions with invested lawmakers.

Following along now is one of the simplest ways to understand where the Legislature is headed before it’s back in session in January.