First elected to the Kansas Senate in 1996

For 13 of 14 years, Sen. Brownlee has had a perfect voting record.

Standing Committee assignments
Fourth Term 2009-2013:
Chairman, Commerce
Vice-Chair - Financial Institutions & Insurance (FI&I)
Assessment & Taxation
Utilities

Assistant Senate Majority Leader- 2005-2009
Co-chair of the Senate Commerce Committee-2005-2009; chair - 2001-2005

Member-- 2005-2009:
Senate Committees on Federal and State Affairs
Financial Institutions and Insurance
Interstate Cooperation

Senate-House Joint Committees:
Administrative Rules and Regulations
Corrections and Juvenile Justice Oversight
Economic Development

Commerce
Chaired committee during passage of Kansas Economic Growth Act (KEGA) - 2004. This created the Kansas Bioscience Authority and the Kansas Center for Entrepreneurship.
Led the work to adopt Enhanced 9-1-1 services so cell phones users can be located. Re-write of this 2009, 10.
Led the re-write of STAR and TIF bond legislation - 2007
Worked on creation of Rural Policy Authority - 2008
Sponsored incentive legislation to attract NASCAR track to Kansas
Led the efforts to reduce Kansas Universal Service Fund (KUSF) fee on phone bills
Supported reductions in Unemployment Compensation fees
Led reform for Workers Compensation for self-employed sub-contractors

Financial Institutions
2009- Secured $50,000 for increased efforts at diagnosing children w/ Autism
2008- worked on subcommittee to reform governance of credit unions
Supported increased flexibility for local governments in public funds deposits to utilize multi-state banks in addition to state banks.

Insurance
Served on sub-committees to implement Kassebaum/Kennedy Health Insurance Reform and HealthWave, a children’s health insurance program
Sponsored Prompt Payment legislation to require health insurance companies to pay doctors and hospitals in a timely manner

Utilities
2009- supported Kelsey Smith Law - use of location info by law enforcement in emergency situations
2009- work on re-write of Enhanced 9-1-1 (E911)- locates cell phone users
2008 & 2009 - supported new power plants in Holcomb, KS
Worked on Natural Gas Gathering legislation
Supported repeals of siting legislation to encourage the building of power generation plants in Kansas

National Involvement
American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) – Telecommunications Task Force- '98-'05
National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) - Task Force on Communications, Financial Services & Interstate Commerce- vice chair - 2007-2010