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Schedule swells as deadline approaches
Lawmakers introduced 112 more bills in week four of the legislative session. Committees typically go into overdrive to meet approaching legislative deadlines, which is evidenced by the more than 65 hearings scheduled for next week.
Monday was the last day for individuals to request bill drafts from the revisor's office, and next Friday is the last day for bill introductions in non-exempt committees. Exempt committees – not subject to legislative deadlines – are House and Senate Federal and State Affairs, Senate Ways and Means, House and Senate Taxation, and House Appropriations.
Non-exempt committees have two more full weeks to complete their work before bills go to the floor and the Turnaround break, which starts on February 23.
Budget Update
Both the House and Senate budget committees passed budgets for smaller, fee-funded agencies with fewer employees and fewer policy issues or programs requiring budget appropriations.
The House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means Committees received separate presentations from groups working on the 2026 World Cup effort in Kansas City. "KC2026" is organizing the activities and events on the Kansas side and is looking for state funding between $28 and 32 million. Missouri organizers will ask for $70 million, partly because Arrowhead Stadium will be the venue for the soccer matches. Most of the funding in Kansas will go to transportation costs. Event organizers say they need more public transportation to handle the influx of soccer fans coming to Kansas to watch their teams practice and play in matches at Children's Mercy Stadium.
Three other Kansas sites will hold training camps: one in Johnson County, one in Lawrence, one in Manhattan, and possibly one or two different sites in Kansas. Local infrastructure improvements, security, and staffing will use the rest of the requested money.
Organizers say this event could bring in at least $163 million to the Kansas economy, with tens of thousands of tourists worldwide. Legislators are initially interested but would like to see cities use their transient guest and local sales taxes toward the effort. There will indeed be much more discussion on this issue.
Revenue Report Released
A revenue report released yesterday indicates that Kansas' total tax collections fell 6.5% short of estimates in January after bringing in $928.6 million in monthly revenue.
Collections were $64.1 million below estimates last month or down 11.3% from January 2023. Corporate income tax collections represented the most significant decline for the state, with $89.8 million collected, which was $25.2 million, or 21.9%, below estimates and down 45.9% from January 2023. Individual income taxes came in at $475.9 million in January, which was $19.1 million, or 3.9%, below the same month last year.
The state received $344.3 million in combined retail sales and compensating use taxes, which is $18.7 million, or 5.1%, below the estimate and down $16.9 million, or 4.7%, from January 2023. Receipts have fallen below estimates each month of the current fiscal year (which began July 1, 2023) except for July and September, with total collection at $5.6 billion through January, which is $114.8 million, or 2%, below estimates.
Kansas Legislature Hears bill to establish an education funding task force
House Bill 2594, discussed at the House Committee on K-12 Education Budget hearing, proposes a new education funding task force, eliminating the Special Education and Related Services Funding Task Force. Concerns have been raised by education officials who argue for the importance of both task forces, citing the specific expertise required for funding special education.
The proposed task force, comprising 11 voting members and nonvoting members, aims to study the current school finance system, academic reporting requirements, and achievement goals. It must submit a report with recommendations on a new school finance formula and special education funding distribution to the Legislature and the governor by January 11, 2027.
During the hearing, neutral parties expressed concerns about the task force's composition and the elimination of the special education task force. Suggestions were made to include individuals with expertise in school finance history. Committee chairwoman Kristey Williams introduced the bill, arguing that consolidating task forces would enhance efficiency in addressing the broader education funding picture, including special education. However, some maintain that maintaining both task forces is crucial due to the complexities of the respective formulas.
Senate bill seeks changes to student enrollment aid calculation
The Kansas Legislature is considering changes to the calculation of K-12 state aid, specifically regarding student enrollment. Senate Bill 386 and House Bill 2485 propose using the greater of the previous year's enrollment or the current year's enrollment, eliminating the use of enrollment counts from two years ago. If any attendance center closed during the previous school year, the bill mandates using the current school year's count.
Last year, Governor Laura Kelly vetoed a similar provision in the K-12 budget bill, citing concerns about potential noncompliance with the Kansas Supreme Court-approved school finance formula and the need for districts experiencing declining enrollment to make sudden funding adjustments.
The Department of Education estimates that 78 school districts would gain about $13.2 million, while 124 districts would lose $12.7 million if these changes are implemented, with 84 districts seeing no change.
Testimonies during the hearing included officials from North Jackson USD 335 and Prairie Hills USD 113, two districts affected by a recent school closure. North Jackson gained 90 students after the closure, leading to a 22% enrollment increase in one year, necessitating significant adjustments.
Prairie Hills officials defended their decision to close a school building and opposed the bill, arguing that it would override local school board decisions and negatively impact USD 113.
While some education advocates supported using current-year enrollment, they opposed other parts of the bill. G.A. Buie from the United School Administrators of Kansas recommended delaying the implementation of provisions until the 2025-26 school year to allow affected districts time to adjust. Angie Stallbaumer from the Kansas Association of School Boards highlighted the potential for repurposing buildings instead of closing them due to declining enrollment.
The timing of bill passage could pose challenges for school districts, especially concerning teacher contracts, as mentioned by Kellen J. Adams, superintendent of Leavenworth USD 453.
The committee's chair and vice-chair expressed their support for the bill, emphasizing the importance of funding based on actual student enrollment and avoiding double payments for students.
Key 2024 Legislative Deadlines
- February 7 - Last day for individuals to introduce bills
- February 9 - Last day for non-exempt committees to introduce bills
- February 20 - Last day for committees to meet before Turnaround Day
- February 23 - Last day for non-exempt bills in original Chamber (Turnaround Day)
- March 22 - Last day for non-exempt committees to meet
- March 28 - Last day for non-exempt bills in either Chamber
- April 5 - First Adjournment (Drop Dead Day)
- April 29 - Veto Session begins
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