State of the State address on tap for tonight

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ State of the State address is the main business for legislators on the first day of their annual session.

Both chambers of the Legislature are scheduled to convene at 2 p.m. to handle the swearing in of new members and other housekeeping chores.

Sebelius is scheduled to give her address at 7 p.m. to a joint session of both chambers in the House.

Lawmakers are waiting to hear what she says about the budget, though they won’t get her detailed recommendations until Tuesday.

Legislative researchers project that Kansas will end its current fiscal year on June 30 with a $186 million budget deficit. Closing the gap will be their first big job.

The session is scheduled to last 90 days.