Senate committee advances four nominees, refers Meredith Schnug to full Senate for further review
June 30, 2026 | Legislative, Kansas
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A Kansas Senate committee on June 30 voted to advance four executive-branch nominees to serve until confirmation by the full Senate and referred a fifth nominee, Meredith Schnug, to the full Senate for separate review.
Leader Sykes moved to approve Meredith Schnug, Greg Smith, Victor Braden, Julie Allen Murray and Greg Graves to serve until confirmed by the full Senate; Senator Bowser seconded the motion. After Vice President Shamburgger objected to bundling Schnug with the other nominees and asked that her nomination be handled separately, the committee approved a substitute motion to confirm Greg Smith, Victor Braden, Julie Allen Murray and Greg Graves to serve until confirmation and to send Meredith Schnug to the full Senate for further consideration. The transcript records the motion carrying but does not show a roll-call tally.
Meredith Schnug, who introduced herself to the committee as associated with the Kansas State Board of Indigent Defense Services (BIDS), spoke about her legal-aid background and her work in clinical legal education at the University of Kansas School of Law. Vice President Shamburgger questioned Schnug about past political activity, participation in amicus briefs and continuing-legal-education programs; Schnug said she had done some canvassing years earlier, that a prior internship was community-education focused, and that a signatory brief she joined argued Kansas courts can interpret the state constitution independently of federal law.
Greg Smith and Victor Braden, both nominees to the newly constituted Prisoner Review Board, were advanced by the committee. The committee packet also listed reappointments for Julie Allen Murray as administrator for the Department of Credit Unions and Greg Graves to the University of Kansas Hospital Authority; neither reappointee appeared in person.
The committee chair said nominees approved by the committee may serve in their roles on an acting basis until the full Senate votes. The committee adjourned after taking the action.
Next steps: Meredith Schnug is to be considered by the full Senate; the other four nominees will proceed to the full Senate for final confirmation.
Leader Sykes moved to approve Meredith Schnug, Greg Smith, Victor Braden, Julie Allen Murray and Greg Graves to serve until confirmed by the full Senate; Senator Bowser seconded the motion. After Vice President Shamburgger objected to bundling Schnug with the other nominees and asked that her nomination be handled separately, the committee approved a substitute motion to confirm Greg Smith, Victor Braden, Julie Allen Murray and Greg Graves to serve until confirmation and to send Meredith Schnug to the full Senate for further consideration. The transcript records the motion carrying but does not show a roll-call tally.
Meredith Schnug, who introduced herself to the committee as associated with the Kansas State Board of Indigent Defense Services (BIDS), spoke about her legal-aid background and her work in clinical legal education at the University of Kansas School of Law. Vice President Shamburgger questioned Schnug about past political activity, participation in amicus briefs and continuing-legal-education programs; Schnug said she had done some canvassing years earlier, that a prior internship was community-education focused, and that a signatory brief she joined argued Kansas courts can interpret the state constitution independently of federal law.
Greg Smith and Victor Braden, both nominees to the newly constituted Prisoner Review Board, were advanced by the committee. The committee packet also listed reappointments for Julie Allen Murray as administrator for the Department of Credit Unions and Greg Graves to the University of Kansas Hospital Authority; neither reappointee appeared in person.
The committee chair said nominees approved by the committee may serve in their roles on an acting basis until the full Senate votes. The committee adjourned after taking the action.
Next steps: Meredith Schnug is to be considered by the full Senate; the other four nominees will proceed to the full Senate for final confirmation.
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