Gov. Sam Brownback is having a barbecue for Kansas legislators after they open their special session, and he’s made sure reporters are invited, too.

Brownback spokeswoman Eileen Hawley says the governor’s social get-together for lawmakers is Tuesday evening at Cedar Crest, the governor’s official residence.

The invitation to reporters is noteworthy because of private dinners last year at Cedar Crest for members of 13 legislative committees. Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor later publicly scolded lawmakers for what he called technical violations of the Kansas Open Meetings Act.

The special session called by Brownback convenes Tuesday morning. Lawmakers are rewriting a law allowing convicted murderers to be sentenced to at least 50 years in prison because a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision raised questions about its constitutionality.