Additional safety protocols have been set in place to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the Capitol when the Legislature convenes for the 2021 session. The Statehouse already operates with a mask guideline, hand-sanitizing stations, and temperature checks, as those were put in place by the state earlier this year.
The new additions are based on guidance that legislative leadership had requested last month from the University of Kansas Health System.
Changes being made include:
Installing technology for streaming in all 13 committee rooms
Transitioning House committees to be paperless with online access to documents
Social distancing of legislators on the House floor by utilizing House galleries to space members at least 6 feet apart
Providing the option for people to testify before committees remotely
An electronic voting system for floor votes
Making ongoing COVID-19 testing available for legislators and staff
Providing masks for all House members