Sean E. Tarwater
Republican · KS · Kansas State Representative, District 27
Sean E. Tarwater has served in the Kansas House since 2017 and chairs its Commerce, Labor and Economic Development Committee. A business owner and former insurance account executive with an MBA, he focuses on tax relief and reducing state debt.
Where Sean E. Tarwater stands, based on their records
Supports
Government Efficiency (1 record), Public Education Quality (1 record), Public Infrastructure (1 record)
Opposes
Healthcare Affordability (2 records), Labor Rights (1 record), Government Spending Reduction (3 records),
Mixed record
Housing Affordability (2 support · 2 oppose), Personal Income Tax Reduction (2 support · 1 oppose)
Campaign finance information not available
Track record
Track record — Healthcare Affordability
Healthcare Affordability · 2 oppose
Voted no on a second Kansas Medicaid expansion bill; the House approved it 69–54.
March 21, 2019Opposes Healthcare Affordability
Source: kslegislature.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Voted no on Kansas Medicaid expansion through the KanCare Bridge bill; the House passed it 81–44.
February 23, 2017Opposes Healthcare Affordability
Source: kslegislature.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Track record — Labor Rights
Labor Rights · 1 oppose
Defended sheltered workshops that paid disabled workers below minimum wage during debate in his House committee; disability advocates criticized his comments.
March 6, 2023Opposes Labor Rights
Source: apnews.com · researched September 25, 2026
Track record — Government Efficiency
Government Efficiency · 1 support
Co-sponsored a law expanding expedited occupational licenses and temporary licenses for people moving to Kansas; the governor signed it.
April 21, 2021Supports Government Efficiency
Source: kslegislature.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 3 oppose
Requested introduction of a bill creating a Kansas sports facilities authority to oversee construction and financing of a professional football stadium; its provisions advanced in the later conference bill.
March 26, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: kslegislature.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Voted yes to authorize state-backed STAR bonds to help finance possible Kansas City Chiefs or Royals stadiums; the House passed the plan 84–38.
June 18, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: kslegislature.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Voted yes to establish a state broadband grant program under the Commerce Department; the House passed it 120–5.
February 26, 2020Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: kslegislature.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 2 support · 2 oppose
Co-sponsored a proposal requiring landlords to accept partial rent payments and count certain income when screening renters; it died in committee.
April 10, 2026Supports Housing Affordability
Source: kslegislature.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Voted yes to override a veto of a bill barring cities from requiring landlords to rent to housing-voucher recipients or limiting income-source screening; the House voted 85–38.
April 10, 2026Opposes Housing Affordability
Source: kslegislature.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Voted yes on a bill streamlining approval for housing developments that meet local rules; the House passed it 97–27.
March 18, 2026Supports Housing Affordability
Source: kslegislature.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Voted yes to eliminate the Kansas affordable housing tax credit; the House passed the bill 85–36.
February 20, 2025Opposes Housing Affordability
Source: kslegislature.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Track record — Social Programs and Welfare
Social Programs and Welfare · 1 oppose
Voted yes to override the veto of a bill requiring many adults without dependents to complete employment training to receive food aid; the House voted 86–36.
April 28, 2022Opposes Social Programs and Welfare
Source: kslegislature.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Track record — Public Education Quality
Public Education Quality · 1 support
Voted yes on changes to Kansas school funding rules, including local option budgets and capital outlays; the House concurred 111–8.
April 6, 2018Supports Public Education Quality
Source: kslegislature.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Track record — Gun Control
Gun Control · 1 oppose
Voted yes to override the veto of a concealed-carry bill extending license access to 18-to-20-year-olds and recognizing out-of-state licenses; the House voted 84–39.
May 3, 2021Opposes Gun Control
Source: kslegislature.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Track record — Women's Reproductive Rights
Women's Reproductive Rights · 2 oppose
Co-sponsored a bill requiring patients to be told medication abortion may be reversible; it passed the House but died in the Senate.
May 21, 2020Opposes Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: kslegislature.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Voted yes on a proposed Kansas constitutional amendment allowing lawmakers to regulate abortion; it received 80 House votes, short of the required two-thirds majority.
February 7, 2020Opposes Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: kslegislature.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Track record — Personal Income Tax Reduction
Personal Income Tax Reduction · 2 support · 1 oppose
Voted yes to override a veto and make future Kansas income-tax rate cuts contingent on revenue growth; the House voted 87–37.
April 10, 2025Supports Personal Income Tax Reduction
Source: kslegislature.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Voted yes to override the veto of a package lowering Kansas income taxes and removing the state sales tax on food; the House voted 81–42.
February 20, 2024Supports Personal Income Tax Reduction
Source: kslegislature.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Voted yes on a bill to raise Kansas income tax rates and end the pass-through business tax exemption; the House approved it 76–48.
February 16, 2017Opposes Personal Income Tax Reduction
Source: kslegislature.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 3 oppose
Voted yes to override a veto of a bill barring cities from requiring landlords to rent to housing-voucher recipients or limiting income-source screening; the House voted 85–38.
April 10, 2026Opposes Civil Rights
Source: kslegislature.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Voted yes to override a veto and restrict gender-transition treatment for minors and related use of state funds; the House voted 85–34.
February 18, 2025Opposes Civil Rights
Source: kslegislature.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Voted yes to override the veto of a bill defining biological sex in Kansas law for statutory purposes; the House voted 84–40.
April 27, 2023Opposes Civil Rights
Source: kslegislature.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 1 support
Voted yes to establish a state broadband grant program under the Commerce Department; the House passed it 120–5.
February 26, 2020Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: kslegislature.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Track record — General
General · 13 records
Received Kansas Farm Bureau VOTE FBF’s endorsement for the 2026 Kansas House District 27 election.
June 30, 2026
Source: kfb.org · researched September 25, 2026
Chaired a two-day Kansas legislative committee review of affordable housing, rentals, and homeownership.
November 20, 2024
Source: klrd.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Received the Kansas State Rifle Association PAC endorsement for the 2024 Kansas House District 27 general election.
September 15, 2024
Source: kansasrifle.org · researched September 25, 2026
Voted yes to override the veto of a bill creating a crime of coercing a woman to obtain an abortion; the House voted 85–40.
April 29, 2024
Source: kslegislature.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Co-sponsored legislation requiring medical care for infants born alive after attempted abortions; lawmakers overrode the governor’s veto.
April 26, 2023
Source: kslegislature.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Received the National Federation of Independent Business Kansas PAC endorsement for the 2022 Kansas House District 27 election.
August 31, 2022
Source: nfib.com · researched September 25, 2026
Voted yes on a bill allowing Kansas students to transfer to any public school district; the House passed it 63–59.
March 23, 2022
Source: kslegislature.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Co-sponsored the 2021 special-session law requiring employers with COVID-19 vaccine mandates to allow medical and religious exemptions; the governor approved it.
November 23, 2021
Source: kslegislature.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Voted yes to override the veto of an election-law bill restricting private money for election offices and changing advance-ballot rules; the House voted 85–38.
May 3, 2021
Source: kslegislature.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Received Kansas Farm Bureau VOTE FBF’s endorsement for the 2020 Kansas House District 27 election.
September 30, 2020
Source: kfb.org · researched September 25, 2026
Voted yes on the 2020 special-session COVID-19 response bill addressing health, welfare, property, and economic relief; the House passed it 107–12.
June 3, 2020
Source: kslegislature.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Chaired the Kansas House Commerce, Labor and Economic Development Committee.
February 4, 2019
Source: kslegislature.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Co-sponsored a bill to prohibit privatizing Kansas state mental health facilities; it died in House committee.
May 4, 2018
Source: kslegislature.gov · researched September 25, 2026
Race Sean E. Tarwater is in:
- Kansas House of Representatives District 27 · November 3, 2026 · State House District 27; Kansas · incumbent
Profile last researched September 24, 2026.