Lawyer with over 35 years of litigation experience. Served 28 years in the Kansas House, including two terms as Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives. Upon retirement from the House was hired as President and CEO of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce. Retired there after 4 years and opened my current lobbying firm. That experience has resulted in close personal and work relationships with lawmakers in both parties and executive branch members of both parties.

11-15 years

In addition to the items mentioned in the bio, the years spent in the Kansas Legislature formed friendships and professional relationships with legislators of both parties, their leaders, Governors of both parties, and our Congressional delegation. Those relationships continue. In addition, the years spent at the Kansas Chamber formed lasting relationships with the legislators endorsed and supported as pro-business advocates. Being a past Speaker of the House has benefited me with developing relationships with newly elected legislators I didn't serve with. The heads of several of our state agencies and departments are former legislative colleagues of mine and friends.

Legal Background
*JD, University of Kansas School of Law - 1976
*2-Yr. internship with the Office of Legislative Counsel
*Partner, Reynolds, Peirce, Forker, Suter & O'Neal, Hutchinson, KS - 1979-1984
*Hutchinson Community College Instructor - 1976-1984
*Shareholder, Gilliland & Hayes, P.A., Hutchinson, KS - 1984-2012
*Of Counsel, Gilliland & Hayes, LLC - 2012-2016
*Extensive trial experience in areas of insurance defense and professional liability; handled 100's of workers compensation cases for employers
*Recently completed successful settlement against the State which restored over $3M in fees swept from fee funds by the Legislature and Adminstration
*Currently provide legal services to clients with issues before the Legislature, licensing agencies, regulatory agencies and Boards
*40 Hours of certified mediation training
*Served on the Board of Governors of the KU Law Society
*As attorney/legislator, appeared in Fed. Court both in 2002 and 2012 to defend legislative redistricting maps


Legislative Background
*Elected to Kansas House of Representatives - 1984 - Hutchinson/Reno County
*Served in Kansas House of Representatives - 1985 - 2012
*Served 2 years as V.C. of House Judiciary Committee
*Served 2 years as Ranking Republican of House Judiciary Committee
*Served 16 years as Chairman of the House of Judiciary Committee
*Served 2 years as Chairman of the House Education Committee
*Served as V.C. of the Select Committee on School Finance
*Served 2 years each as Chairman of the House Redistricting Committee during the 2002 and 2012 Legislative and Congressional redistricting
*Served twice as Chairman of House Committee on Contested Elections
*Served twice as Chairman of House Select Investigative Committee
*Other committee assignments included Public Heath, Commerce & Industry, Education Budget and Legislative Budget
*Elected as Minority Whip when Republicans were in the minority and the Majority Whip
*Elected as Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives - 2009-2012
*Served in alternating years with the Senate President as Chairman of the Legislative Coordinating Council and was a member of the State Finance Council
*Executive Committee member, National Speakers' Conference
*Executive Committee member, Council of State Governments
*Kansas Judicial Council member for 16 years
*Commissioner, Uniform Law Commission for 16 years
*Past Member, Kansas Commission on Judicial Performance
*Past Member, Kansas Sentencing Commission
*Past Board member, KTEC
*Past Member Commission on School Efficiency
*Past member Kansas Travel & Tourism Commission


Governmental Relations and Association Management Background
*Hired as President & CEO of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce and Industry - 2012-2016
*Development and execution of annual Kansas Chamber Legislative Agenda
*Extensive lobbying of Legislative members and Administration
*Legal, legislative, and political analysis, member engagement research, public appearances and media interviews
*Upon retirement from the Kansas Chamber, formed O'Neal Consulting LLC in Dec. 2016 to represent individual clients with legislative and legal issues related to the Legislature and State government