Are you at least 60 years of age and interested in being an advocate for older adults and older adult issues? If so, the Kansas Silver Haired Legislature may be right for you.
The Kansas Silver Haired Legislature is a unicameral legislature composed of 125 representatives from across Kansas. All delegates are 60+ years old and are elected from their county of residence. The Central Plains Area Agency on Aging represents Butler, Harvey and Sedgwick Counties and will accept filing applications from all three counties. Butler County has one delegate, Harvey County has one delegate and Sedgwick County has six delegates (one is designated at-large).
The Silver Haired Legislature provides an educational experience in the political process and delivers an opportunity to identify priority concerns of Kansas’ older adults. It develops bills and resolutions which are presented to the Kansas Legislature and the Governor as recommendations for state policy.
“Within the last two years as a SHL, I have been able to make a lot of new friends, meet a lot of senior citizens, talk about their problems and investigate ways to resolve their concerns,” said Leroy Burton, the Butler County delegate.
The 2025 Kansas Silver Haired Legislature elections are scheduled to be held in the spring across Kansas. Any Kansan age 60 and over who is a registered voter may file for candidacy. The term of office is two years and members may be re-elected continuously.
The CPAAA deadline for filing as a candidate is Monday, Feb. 10, and the final elections for candidates being contested will be held on Wednesday March 12. Voting options will include ballot by email, postal mail and at limited in-person locations.
You can find more information about the Silver Haired Legislature on CPAAA’s website at www.cpaaa.org. Contact Jennifer Lasley at CPAAA at Jennifer.Lasley@cpaaa.org or by phone at 316-660-5128 for additional details or to request a candidate application packet.
Jennifer Lasley is director of information and community services for the Central Plains Area Agency on Aging. CPAAA is here to help when you need us. For information on resources to assist older adults and caregivers call 316-660-7298 or visit www.cpaaa.org.
